1961–62 Philadelphia Warriors season

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1961–62 Philadelphia Warriors season
Head coachFrank McGuire
ArenaPhiladelphia Civic Center
Results
Record49–31 (.613)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishDivision finals
(lost to Celtics 3–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWPTZ/WCAU/WFIL
RadioWIBG
(Bill Campbell)
< 1960–61 1962–63 >

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.

Wilt Chamberlain had the most statistically dominating season in NBA history. Chamberlain led the league with an NBA record 50.4 points per game.[1] In one eight-day stretch in January, Chamberlain participated in three games in which he scored at least 63 points per game.[2] 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.[2] The game was actually played at the Warriors' training facility. Despite his high scoring, Wilt did not win the NBA MVP that season. The award was given to Bill Russell. The Warriors finished second behind Russell's Boston Celtics with a 49–31 record.[2] In the playoffs, the Warriors defeated the Syracuse Nationals in five games. Russell and Chamberlain met in the Eastern Division finals. The series went for the full seven games. In Game 7, the Celtics' Sam Jones hit the winning shot with 2 seconds remaining.[2]

Roster[edit]

Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 11 United States Arizin, Paul 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Villanova
G 16 United States Attles, Al 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) North Carolina A&T
C 13 United States Chamberlain, Wilt 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 275 lb (125 kg) Kansas
G/F 7 United States Conlin, Ed 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fordham
G/F 15 United States Gola, Tom 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) La Salle
G 34 United States Larese, York 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 183 lb (83 kg) North Carolina
F 12 United States Luckenbill, Ted 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Houston
F 14 Russia Meschery, Tom 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Saint Mary's
F 9 United States Radovich, Frank 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Indiana
G 5 United States Rodgers, Guy 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Temple
F 17 United States Ruklick, Joe 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Northwestern
Head coach

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season[edit]

Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, named by the National Basketball Association as one of its greatest games,[3][4] 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 Al Attles with 17 points.[5] 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.

Season standings[edit]

W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Boston Celtics 60 20 .750 23–5 26–12 11–3 26–10
x-Philadelphia Warriors 49 31 .613 11 18–11 19–19 12–1 18–18
x-Syracuse Nationals 41 39 .513 19 18–10 11–19 12–10 17–19
New York Knicks 29 51 .363 31 19–15 2–23 8–13 11–25

Record vs. opponents[edit]

1961–62 NBA records
Team BOS CHI CIN DET LAL NYK PHI STL SYR
Boston 9–1 7–1 5–3 6–3 8–4 8–4 7–2 10–2
Chicago 1–9 1–9 3–7 2–8 6–4 0–10 4–6 1–9
Cincinnati 1–7 9–1 6–6 5–7 5–4 3–5 9–3 5–4
Detroit 3–5 7–3 6–6 4–8 5–4 1–7 7–5 4–5
Los Angeles 3–6 8–2 7–5 8–4 6–2 6–3 10–2 6–2
New York 4–8 4–6 4–5 4–5 2–6 4–8 4–4 3–9
Philadelphia 4–8 10–0 5–3 7–1 3–6 8–4 6–3 6–6
St. Louis 2–7 6–4 3–9 5–7 2–10 4–4 3–6 4–4
Syracuse 2–10 9–1 4–5 5–4 2–6 9–3 6–6 4–4

Game log[edit]

1961–62 game log
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 19 N Los Angeles 113–118 Wilt Chamberlain (48) 0–1
2 October 20 Los Angeles 115–122 Wilt Chamberlain (57) 1–1
3 October 21 New York 95–132 Wilt Chamberlain (53) 2–1
4 October 27 Syracuse 126–122 Wilt Chamberlain (55) 2–2
5 October 28 @ Syracuse 119–115 Wilt Chamberlain (43) 3–2
6 November 3 Boston 112–98 Wilt Chamberlain (28) 3–3
7 November 4 Detroit 132–135 Wilt Chamberlain (58) 4–3
8 November 8 @ Detroit 132–128 Wilt Chamberlain (58) 5–3
9 November 9 Syracuse 108–151 Wilt Chamberlain (55) 6–3
10 November 11 @ Boston 125–128 Wilt Chamberlain (41) 6–4
11 November 14 @ New York 122–124 Wilt Chamberlain (34) 6–5
12 November 15 Cincinnati 133–145 Wilt Chamberlain (43) 7–5
13 November 17 Los Angeles 125–121 Wilt Chamberlain (56) 7–6
14 November 18 @ Syracuse 130–148 Wilt Chamberlain (39) 7–7
15 November 19 @ Chicago 122–114 Wilt Chamberlain (51) 8–7
16 November 21 @ Cincinnati 125–118 Wilt Chamberlain (45) 9–7
17 November 23 Boston 119–106 Wilt Chamberlain (31) 9–8
18 November 25 Chicago 102–134 Wilt Chamberlain (39) 10–8
19 November 28 @ St. Louis 121–111 Wilt Chamberlain (39) 11–8
20 December 1 @ Los Angeles 138–117 Wilt Chamberlain (60) 12–8
21 December 2 @ Los Angeles 119–129 Wilt Chamberlain (37) 12–9
22 December 5 @ New York 122–105 Wilt Chamberlain (39) 13–9
23 December 6 St. Louis 137–132 Wilt Chamberlain (39) 13–10
24 December 8 Los Angeles 151–147 (3OT) Wilt Chamberlain (78) 13–11
25 December 9 Chicago 113–135 Wilt Chamberlain (61) 14–11
26 December 10 N Chicago 118–109 Wilt Chamberlain (55) 15–11
27 December 12 N Detroit 132–109 Wilt Chamberlain (54) 16–11
28 December 13 @ Boston 113–123 Wilt Chamberlain (52) 16–12
29 December 14 Syracuse 125–136 Wilt Chamberlain (43) 17–12
30 December 16 @ Chicago 112–110 Wilt Chamberlain (50) 18–12
31 December 19 @ Cincinnati 117–110 Wilt Chamberlain (57) 19–12
32 December 20 @ Detroit 117–102 Wilt Chamberlain (55) 20–12
33 December 25 @ New York 135–136 (2OT) Wilt Chamberlain (59) 20–13
34 December 26 N Syracuse 111–118 Wilt Chamberlain (51) 21–13
35 December 27 New York 119–131 Wilt Chamberlain (53) 22–13
36 December 29 N Los Angeles 123–118 Wilt Chamberlain (60) 23–13
37 December 30 Boston 116–111 (OT) Wilt Chamberlain (41) 23–14
38 January 1 @ Los Angeles 111–114 Wilt Chamberlain (32) 23–15
39 January 3 @ Los Angeles 123–124 Wilt Chamberlain (36) 23–16
40 January 5 St. Louis 116–134 Wilt Chamberlain (53) 24–16
41 January 7 @ St. Louis 112–137 Wilt Chamberlain (55) 24–17
42 January 9 Syracuse 129–120 Wilt Chamberlain (47) 24–18
43 January 10 @ Detroit 113–110 Wilt Chamberlain (39) 25–18
44 January 11 @ Cincinnati 128–145 Wilt Chamberlain (52) 25–19
45 January 13 Chicago 117–135 Wilt Chamberlain (73) 26–19
46 January 14 @ Boston 136–145 Wilt Chamberlain (62) 26–20
47 January 17 N St. Louis 130–136 (OT) Wilt Chamberlain (62) 27–20
48 January 18 Cincinnati 151–133 Wilt Chamberlain (54) 27–21
49 January 19 N Detroit 136–125 Wilt Chamberlain (53) 28–21
50 January 20 Detroit 107–123 Wilt Chamberlain (44) 29–21
51 January 21 N Syracuse 132–139 (OT) Wilt Chamberlain (62) 30–21
52 January 24 N Chicago 122–108 Wilt Chamberlain (55) 31–21
53 January 26 N St. Louis 110–136 Wilt Chamberlain (47) 32–21
54 January 27 Boston 106–131 Wilt Chamberlain (53) 33–21
55 January 28 @ Boston 133–129 (OT) Wilt Chamberlain (50) 34–21
56 January 30 @ New York 110–116 Wilt Chamberlain (55) 34–22
57 February 1 Cincinnati 109–130 Wilt Chamberlain (53) 35–22
58 February 2 N New York 129–116 Wilt Chamberlain (35) 36–22
59 February 3 @ Syracuse 112–134 Wilt Chamberlain (41) 36–23
60 February 4 Syracuse 117–128 Wilt Chamberlain (50) 37–23
61 February 8 N New York 136–120 Wilt Chamberlain (59) 38–23
62 February 9 @ Boston 126–124 Wilt Chamberlain (48) 39–23
63 February 10 Boston 106–107 Wilt Chamberlain (38) 40–23
64 February 11 @ New York 121–111 Wilt Chamberlain (42) 41–23
65 February 13 @ Cincinnati 132–152 Wilt Chamberlain (65) 41–24
66 February 14 @ Detroit 110–119 Wilt Chamberlain (42) 41–25
67 February 16 Cincinnati 132–136 Wilt Chamberlain (48) 42–25
68 February 17 @ St. Louis 121–128 Wilt Chamberlain (67) 42–26
69 February 20 N Chicago 112–107 Wilt Chamberlain (48) 43–26
70 February 21 @ Syracuse 109–150 Wilt Chamberlain (46) 43–27
71 February 22 St. Louis 121–139 Wilt Chamberlain (61) 44–27
72 February 24 Boston 109–86 Wilt Chamberlain (26) 44–28
73 February 25 New York 149–135 Wilt Chamberlain (67) 44–29
74 February 27 @ St. Louis 147–137 Wilt Chamberlain (65) 45–29
75 February 28 @ Chicago 128–119 Wilt Chamberlain (61) 46–29
76 March 2 N New York 169–147 Wilt Chamberlain (100) 47–29
77 March 4 @ New York 129–128 Wilt Chamberlain (58) 48–29
78 March 7 @ Boston 102–153 Wilt Chamberlain (30) 48–30
79 March 11 @ Syracuse 130–148 Wilt Chamberlain (44) 48–31
80 March 14 @ Chicago 119–115 (OT) Wilt Chamberlain (34) 49–31

Player stats[edit]

Note: GP= Games played; MIN=Minutes; FG= Field Goals; FT= Free Throws; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

= Indicates team leader
Player GP MIN FG FT REB AST PTS
Wilt Chamberlain 80 3882 1597 835 2052 192 4029
Paul Arizin
Tom Meschery
Al Attles
Tom Gola
Guy Rodgers 80 2648 267 121 348 643 655

[6]

Playoffs[edit]

1962 playoff game log
Division Semi-finals: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 March 16 Syracuse W 110–103 Paul Arizin (43) Wilt Chamberlain (25) Guy Rodgers (8) Philadelphia Civic Center
6,937
1–0
2 March 18 @ Syracuse W 97–82 Wilt Chamberlain (28) Wilt Chamberlain (26) Wilt Chamberlain (4) Onondaga War Memorial
5,250
2–0
3 March 19 Syracuse L 100–101 Wilt Chamberlain (40) Wilt Chamberlain (25) Guy Rodgers (9) Philadelphia Civic Center
5,328
2–1
4 March 20 @ Syracuse L 99–106 Wilt Chamberlain (29) Wilt Chamberlain (9) Guy Rodgers (7) Onondaga War Memorial 2–2
5 March 22 Syracuse W 121–104 Wilt Chamberlain (56) Wilt Chamberlain (35) Guy Rodgers (10) Philadelphia Civic Center
7,829
3–2
Division finals: 3–4 (home: 3–0; road: 0–4)
1962 schedule

Awards and honors[edit]

Relocation to San Francisco[edit]

Following the season, the Warriors moved west to San Francisco after Edward Gottlieb sold the team to a Bay Area credit card company.[2] Despite the loss, Philadelphia was without pro-basketball for just that one season. The Syracuse Nationals, who challenged the Warriors in the playoffs for many years, moved to Philadelphia in 1963, becoming the Philadelphia 76ers.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ferraro, Michael X.; Veneziano, John (2007). Numbelievable!. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Philadelphia Warriors (1946–1962)
  3. ^ Lawrence, Mitch (October 15, 1999). "Chamberlain's feats the stuff of legend". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Bork, p. 33–35
  5. ^ Ferraro, Michael X.; Veneziano, John (2007). Numbelievable!. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0.
  6. ^ "1961–62 Philadelphia Warriors Roster and Stats".

External links[edit]