Head coach Frank McGuire | Record 49–31 (.613) | |
Arena Philadelphia Civic Center Place Division: 2nd (Eastern) Playoff finish East Finals
(Eliminated 3–4) | ||
The 1961–62 Philadelphia Warriors season was the sixteenth season for the National Basketball Association franchise in Philadelphia, and the last before their relocation to San Francisco, California, for the following season.
Contents
- Regular season
- Player stats
- East Division Semifinals
- East Division Finals
- Awards and honors
- Relocation to San Francisco
- References
Wilt Chamberlain had perhaps the most dominating season in NBA history. Chamberlain led the league with an NBA record 50.4 points per game. In one eight-day stretch in January, Chamberlain participated in three games, where he scored at least 63 points. On March 2, 1962, the Warriors played the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Chamberlain had one of the most dominating performances in NBA history as he notched 100 points before 4,124 fans. The game was actually played at the Warriors training facility. Despite his high scoring, Wilt would not win the NBA MVP. The award was given to Bill Russell. The Warriors finished 2nd behind Russell's Boston Celtics with a 49–31 record. In the playoffs, the Warriors would defeat the Syracuse Nationals in five games. Russell and Chamberlain would meet in the Eastern Division Finals. The series would go seven games. In Game 7, Sam Jones would hit the winning shot with 2 seconds remaining.
Regular season
Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, named by the National Basketball Association as one of its greatest games, took place between the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962, at Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
The Warriors won the game, 169–147, setting what was then a record for the most combined points in a game by both teams. But the game is most remembered for the 100 points scored by Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain, who set the NBA single-game scoring record. The next leading scorer for Philadelphia was Phil Attles with 17 points. The Knicks leading scorer was Guerin with 39 points. In that game, Chamberlain also broke five other NBA scoring records, of which four still stand.
Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; MIN=Minutes; FG= Field Goals; FT= Free Throws; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; AVG = Average
East Division Semifinals
(2) Philadelphia Warriors vs. (3) Syracuse Nationals: Warriors win series 3–2
Last Playoffs meeting: 1961 Eastern Division Semifinals (Syracuse won 3–0).
East Division Finals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Philadelphia Warriors: Celtics win series 4–3
Last Playoffs meeting: 1960 Eastern Division Finals (Boston won 4–2).
Awards and honors
Relocation to San Francisco
Following the season, the Warriors moved west to San Francisco. Edward Gottlieb sold the team to a Bay Area Credit Card company. Despite the loss, Philadelphia would only be without pro-basketball for just that one season. The Syracuse Nationals, who challenged the Warriors in the playoffs for many years had moved to the city the Warriors vacated in 1963, becoming the Philadelphia 76ers.