1974–75 Portland Trail Blazers season

The 1974–75 Portland Trail Blazers 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.

1974–75 Portland Trail Blazers season
Head coachLenny Wilkens
General managerHarry Glickman
Owners
ArenaMemorial Coliseum
Results
Record38–44 (.463)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKOIN
RadioKOIN
< 1973–74 1975–76 >

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

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

NBA draft

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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

Roster

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Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 33 Anderson, Dan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1951-01-01 USC
F 40 Clemens, Barry 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943-05-01 Ohio Wesleyan
SF 27 Johnson, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1947-10-18 Iowa
PG 10 Lumpkin, Phil 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1951-12-20 Miami (OH)
C 25 Martin, LaRue 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1950-03-30 Loyola Chicago
PF 36 Neal, Lloyd 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1950-10-10 Tennessee State
SG 45 Petrie, Geoff 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1949-05-05 Princeton
SF 4 Smith, Greg 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1947-01-28 Western Kentucky
F 15 Steele, Larry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1949-05-05 Kentucky
C 32 Walton, Bill 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1952-11-05 UCLA
PF 21 Wicks, Sidney 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1949-09-19 UCLA
PG 19 Wilkens, Lenny 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1937-10-28 Providence
Head coach

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

Regular season

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

Season Standings

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W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Golden State Warriors 48 34 .585 31–10 17–24 19–11
x-Seattle SuperSonics 43 39 .524 5 24–16 19–23 18–12
Portland Trail Blazers 38 44 .463 10 29–13 9–31 16–14
Phoenix Suns 32 50 .390 16 22–19 10–31 12–18
Los Angeles Lakers 30 52 .366 18 21–20 9–32 10–20
#
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

Record vs. opponents

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1974–75 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SEA WAS
Atlanta 0–4 1–3 0–4 3–4 2–2 1–3 2–5 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5 0–4 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–5
Boston 4–0 5–4 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 4–0 4–0 4–0 7–2 5–3 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2
Buffalo 3–1 4–5 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 4–0 1–3 4–0 5–3 6–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2
Chicago 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 4–5 3–1 2–2 4–5 3–1 3–5 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–3
Cleveland 4–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–4 2–2 2–2 1–3 6–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5
Detroit 2–2 1–3 2–2 5–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–6 3–1 3–6 4–0 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3
Golden State 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 5–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 5–3 5–3 4–3 1–3
Houston 5–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 4–4 2–2 2–2 4–0 2–2 3–1 5–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–5
Kansas City-Omaha 2–2 2–2 3–1 5–4 2–2 6–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 6–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3
Los Angeles 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–5 2–2 1–3 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 4–4 2–5 2–6 1–3
Milwaukee 2–2 0–4 3–1 5–3 3–1 6–3 1–3 1–3 3–6 0–4 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4
New Orleans 5–3 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–6 0–4 2–2 3–5 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–7
New York 4–0 2–7 3–5 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 4–5 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3
Philadelphia 2–2 3–5 3–6 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 5–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3
Phoenix 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5 2–2 1–3 4–4 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–6 4–3 1–3
Portland 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–5 2–2 1–3 5–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 6–1 2–6 1–3
Seattle 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 3–4 3–1 3–1 6–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–4 6–2 1–3
Washington 5–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 5–3 3–1 3–1 5–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 7–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ "NBA.com: Walton, Lucas Ignite 'Blazermania'". Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Portland Trail Blazers (1970–Present)
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