1974–75 Portland Trail Blazers season

1974–75 Portland Trail Blazers season
Bill Walton's debut season
Head coach Lenny Wilkens
Arena Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record 38–44 (.463)
Place Division: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finish DNQ

Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com

The 1974–75 season was the fifth season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After a 27–55 record the previous season, the Blazers earned the #1 pick in the 1974 NBA Draft, and made perhaps the most important selection in franchise history: Hall of Famer Bill Walton out of UCLA.

In three years of varsity competition, Walton led UCLA to two NCAA championships and 88 consecutive wins, smashing the 60-game streak set by Bill Russell's teams at the University of San Francisco. Walton also set UCLA's career assists record, which left observers declaring him the best passing center in the history of the game.[1] [2]

Injuries would limit Walton to just 35 games in his rookie year, but nevertheless the Blazers challenged for a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history. The Blazers fell just two games short with a 38-44 record.[2]

Offseason

The Trail Blazers selected Bill Walton first overall in the 1974 NBA draft.

NBA Draft

Main article: 1974 NBA Draft

Note: This is not a complete list; only the first two rounds are covered, as well as any other picks by the franchise who played at least one NBA game.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 1 Bill Walton C  United States UCLA
2 20 Jan van Breda Kolff G/F  United States Vanderbilt
2 34 Phil Lumpkin G  United States Miami (OH)
2 36 Rubin Collins G  United States Maryland-Eastern Shore
4 56 Mickey Johnson F  United States Aurora
6 92 Daniel Anderson G  United States USC

Regular season

The Trail Blazers played their home games at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Season Standings

Pacific Division
Team W L PCT. GB
Golden State Warriors C 48 34 .585 -
Seattle SuperSonics 43 39 .524 5
Portland Trail Blazers 38 44 .463 10
Phoenix Suns 32 50 .390 16
Los Angeles Lakers 30 52 .366 18

[3]

# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Golden State Warriors 48 34 .585 –
2 y-Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 1
3 x-Kansas City–Omaha Kings 44 38 .537 4
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics 43 39 .524 5
5 x-Detroit Pistons 40 42 .488 8
6 Portland Trail Blazers 38 44 .463 10
6 Milwaukee Bucks 38 44 .463 10
8 Phoenix Suns 32 50 .390 16
9 Los Angeles Lakers 30 52 .366 18
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Awards and honors

References

  1. ↑ NBA.com: Walton, Lucas Ignite 'Blazermania'
  2. 1 2 Portland Trail Blazers (1970-Present)
  3. ↑ 1974-75 NBA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com
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