1966–67 San Francisco Warriors season

The 1966–67 San Francisco Warriors season was the 21st for the Warriors in the NBA, fifth in the San Francisco Bay Area and one of the most successful in franchise history. On the heels of a 35–45 record and fourth-place finish the previous season, new head coach Bill Sharman quickly put his imprint on the team in training camp. True to his Boston Celtics roots, he placed an emphasis on physical condition and the fast break, which allowed his team to get a jump on the rest of the league. Led by All-Stars Rick Barry and Nate Thurmond, the Warriors shot out to a 12-6 start that put it at the top of the division for the rest of the season. Included was a seven-game win streak, the longest since their move from Philadelphia four years earlier. The Warriors went on to capture the Western Division title with a 44–37 mark, third best in the league. Barry led all players with a 35.7-points-per-game average, while Thurmond (21.3) ranked second in rebounds. On Jan. 10, the Warriors hosted the NBA All-Star Game for the first time since their move from Philadelphia. In front of a sellout crowd of 13,972 fans and national television audience, the West squad upset the East by a 135-120 score at the Cow Palace. Barry captured Most Valuable Player honors with 38 points, the second most in league history. Fatigue and assorted health issues slowed the Warriors down the stretch, but they were able to regroup in time for the playoffs. In the first two rounds, they swept the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers in three games then dispatched the St. Louis Hawks in six. In the NBA Finals, the Warriors fell to the heavily favored Philadelphia 76ers in six games, but not before Barry averaged 40.3 points to set the league record for a championship series. == Offseason == Prior to the regular season, the Warriors sent backcourt leader Guy Rodgers to the expansion Chicago Bulls in return for veteran guards Jim King and Jeff Mullins plus cash. Not only did the fresh, young legs of King and Mullins made for the up-tempo offense, but they also provided much-needed depth in the backcourt. Meanwhile, the absence of Rodgers put the ball in the hands of Barry at the offensive end most often. For Rodgers, the transaction marked the conclusion of an eight-year tenure with the club. In addition to the Bulls, he played for the Cincinnati Royals, and the Milwaukee Bucks. King played with the Warriors for three seasons before he was dealt to the Cincinnati Royals early in the 1969-79 campaign. Mullins became a core piece for the team for ten seasons before his retirement after the 1975-1976 season. Earlier in the offseason, the Warriors signed center Bill McGill, who was placed on waivers before the season opener. They also purchased swingman Bob Warlick from the Detroit Pistons. === Draft picks === == Roster == == Regular season == === Season standings === x – clinched playoff spot === Game log === == Playoffs == == Awards and records == Rick Barry, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award Rick Barry, NBA All-Star Game Nate Thurmond, NBA All-Star Game Rick Barry, NBA Scoring Champion Rick Barry, All-NBA First Team == References ==