1969 NBA Finals
Encyclopedia
The 1969 NBA World Championship Series to determine the champion of the 1968-69 NBA season
was played between the Los Angeles Lakers
and Boston Celtics
, the Lakers being heavily favored due to the presence of three formidable stars: Elgin Baylor
, Wilt Chamberlain
, and Jerry West
. In addition, Boston was an aging team; they made the playoffs as the 4th place team in the Eastern Division, and were not favored to make it to the finals. The Celtics' march through the playoffs and finals victory are considered one of the great upsets in NBA history.
This series is also notable in that West, with an average of nearly 38 points a game, won the Finals Most Valuable Player award, despite being on the losing team. This was the first year a finals MVP award was given, and it remains the only time in NBA Finals history that the MVP was awarded to a player on the losing team. It also marks the first time ever in NBA Finals history that a Game 7 was won by the road team.
before the season prompted many observers to predict for them the title that had previously eluded them, their arrival at the Finals had not been easy; the season could have been described as a "soap opera
"; Chamberlain and reigning Laker superstars Elgin Baylor
and Jerry West
had some difficulty in meshing their accustomed styles. And second-year coach Butch van Breda Kolff and Chamberlain clashed terribly throughout the season, frustrating the entire team. In Boston, player-coach Bill Russell
was suffering from age and exhaustion, hampering the team both as the starting center and as the coach. In addition, perennial scorer Sam Jones
played so poorly that he lost his position as starting shooting guard to Larry Siegfried
. The Lakers's appearance in the Finals was expected, but they lost the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals to the San Francisco Warriors on their home court before prevailing, and then outlasted the Atlanta Hawks
to gain the rematch with the Celtics. Boston's campaign was considered a surprise. They upset the 2nd place 76ers and 3rd place Knicks in the Eastern Division playoffs.
On the hardwood, there were several key matchups. On center, low scoring, defensive stalwart Celtics center Bill Russell
was matched up against his long-time rival Wilt Chamberlain (Lakers), multiple scoring champion. On forward, agile Celtic Bailey Howell
played against perennial All-NBA member Elgin Baylor
, captain of the Lakers, while Laker Keith Erickson
tried to slow down high-scoring Celtics forward John Havlicek
. At guard, a somewhat revitalised Sam Jones was matched up against Lakers superstar Jerry West
. X-factors on both teams respectively were Don Nelson
, the sixth man
of the Celtics, and sharpshooting Laker Johnny Egan
, the only other pure guard except West on the L.A. roster.
Celtics win the series 4-3
Prior to the series, Celtics player-coach Bill Russell
decided not to double-team Lakers star guard Jerry West
. West was initially complaining of exhaustion, but in the game, all was forgotten. He used this freedom to score 53 points on opposing guards Sam Jones
and Larry Siegfried
. In an action-packed match, the lead changed 21 times, and it was Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain
who sealed the game with a clutch basket 23 seconds before the end.
Again, Russell declined to double-team West. In a tough, physical match, West continued his scoring dominance by scoring 41 points. Along with fellow guard Johnny Egan
, who scored 26 points, and 31 points of Elgin Baylor
(among them the last 12 Lakers points), the Lakers won. Celtics forward Don Nelson
and Lakers forward Bill Hewitt
required a half-dozen stitches each after in-game collisions.
In Game 3, Russell finally decided to double-team West. With the heightened pressure, West lost his shooting touch. Also, the exhaustion he was complaining about prior to the series became so big that he asked to be taken out for longer stretches. In both pauses, the Lakers fell back by double digits. The heroics belonged to Celtics forward John Havlicek
: playing with a swollen eye after being poked by Keith Erickson
, he scored 34 points.
This was an ugly game filled with 50 turnovers and low shooting percentages that was the turning point in the series. The Lakers had a one-point lead with 7 seconds left and the ball. However, Baylor stepped out of bounds, causing a turnover. For the last play, Celtics players Havlicek, Siegfried, Bailey Howell
and Jones executed a so-called "Ohio", with the three former players setting a triple pick for the latter. Jones jumped off the wrong foot, but the ball avoided the block attempt of Lakers center Chamberlain, hit the front rim, bounced on the back rim and somehow dropped in for the series-equalizing buzzer beater
. So instead of the Lakers going home with a 3-1 series lead, it was all even at 2 games apiece.
Enraged by the unlucky Game 4 loss, the Lakers overran the Celtics with high-power basketball. Wilt Chamberlain played through a swollen eye, after Celtics guard Em Bryant
had poked him. With just three minutes remaining and the Lakers safely ahead, Bryant stole the ball from West. Instead of letting Bryant run, he lunged for the ball, pulled his hamstring and had to be carried out of the game. It was immediately evident that West's swollen leg would not heal until the end of the series.
In another ugly game, the Celtics were up 55–39 at halftime and never looked back. The Celtics at one point went 6-of-27 from the field, but the Lakers could not make use of this slump. With neither Baylor nor the limping West providing consistent scoring, Boston cruised to an easy victory. This game was also one of Chamberlain's lesser games: with Russell hounding him, the multiple scoring champion scored only 8 points, provoking criticism that he had choked when it counted most.
In anticipation of a Lakers win, Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke
had ordered thousands of balloons with "World Champion Lakers" printed on them suspended from the rafters of the Forum. Flyers were placed in every seat stating, "When, not if, the Lakers win the title, balloons will be released from the raftors, the USC marching band will play "Happy Days Are Here Again
" and broadcaster Chick Hearn will interview Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain in that order." Before the game, the Celtics circulated in their locker room a memo about the Lakers' celebration plans. Russell noted the giant net hanging from the ceiling during pregame warmups and said to West, "Those [expletive deleted] balloons are staying up there." West was furious at the balloons for providing the Celtics extra motivation. With only two true guards on the Laker roster and West still feeling the effects of the hamstring pull, Celtics coach Russell ordered his men to fast break at every opportunity.
Los Angeles shot poorly in the early going, and the Celtics jumped out to a first-quarter 24–12 lead which was cut to 59–56 at halftime. Then, Celtics sixth man
Don Nelson scored 12 points in the third quarter, while the Lakers hardly connected on a quarter of their field goal attempts: the Celtics led 91–76 after the third. In the final period the Lakers, especially the limping West, finally found their shooting range, and Boston suddenly seemed to show the effects of age and a long season. Buoyed by their home crowd, now on its feet and cheering loudly, the Lakers dramatically closed the gap. But early in the fourth quarter, Chamberlain incurred his fifth foul (he had never fouled out) and had to play more tentative defense. Eventually the Lakers trailed 103–96, at which point Chamberlain turned an ankle after a rebound and left the game in favor of backup Mel Counts
. West and Counts fired in key jumpshots, and the Lakers cut the lead to 103–102 with two minutes left. Chamberlain, according to all accounts, informed Van Breda Kolff that he was ready to return, but the coach told the superstar center to remain on the bench, electing to stay with the lineup that had sparked the rally. Boston still had that 103-102 lead with 1:33 left in the game when reserve guard Keith Erickson
knocked the ball away from John Havlicek. The ball went right to Don Nelson, who put up a shot from the free throw line that hit the back rim, bounced high in the air and fell through the hoop to give Boston a 105-102 lead. The Lakers committed a few costly turnovers in the last moments and lost the game 108-106.
The Celtics' 1969 victory proved to be the end of a significant chapter in NBA history; Boston's long run of excellence was over. Russell's retirement as a player and a coach had been anticipated, and Sam Jones's farewell had been announced some time earlier. General manager "Red" Auerbach's leadership over the team's fortunes continued, and the former great forward Tom Heinsohn was selected as the new coach. The Celtics slowly adjusted to new times, and, with another group of star players (the stalwart John Havlicek remained), won the NBA title five years later.
The Lakers' Game 7 loss led to the departure of Butch Van Breda Kolff. Much public opinion sided against the coach, who was quickly branded as the man who banished his star center to the bench in the crucial final minutes of a Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Elgin Baylor, the team captain, diplomatically stated that the coach had made his decision in the team's best interests, and, whatever the results, all had to live by it. West by all accounts was furious over Chamberlain's benching, claiming that all coaches are obligated to place their five best players on the floor in such a crucial situation. Chamberlain had no forgiveness in store for Van Breda Kolff, for whom he had harsh words in his 1974 autobiography. Above all, owner Cooke, whose goal was a Laker championship, was determined to find the coach who could bring it to pass. Providence College
's Joe Mullaney was hired for the 1969-70 season.
1968-69 NBA season
The 1968–69 NBA season was the 23rd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
was played between the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, the Lakers being heavily favored due to the presence of three formidable stars: Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
, Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
, and Jerry West
Jerry West
Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
. In addition, Boston was an aging team; they made the playoffs as the 4th place team in the Eastern Division, and were not favored to make it to the finals. The Celtics' march through the playoffs and finals victory are considered one of the great upsets in NBA history.
This series is also notable in that West, with an average of nearly 38 points a game, won the Finals Most Valuable Player award, despite being on the losing team. This was the first year a finals MVP award was given, and it remains the only time in NBA Finals history that the MVP was awarded to a player on the losing team. It also marks the first time ever in NBA Finals history that a Game 7 was won by the road team.
Prologue
The Los Angeles Lakers had won 55 games in the regular season, seven more than their perennial rivals, the Boston Celtics, and therefore held homecourt advantage for the first time ever in a finals meeting vs. the Russell-led Celtics. Both teams had their share of problems in the regular season. Though the Lakers's acquisition of star center Wilt ChamberlainWilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
before the season prompted many observers to predict for them the title that had previously eluded them, their arrival at the Finals had not been easy; the season could have been described as a "soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
"; Chamberlain and reigning Laker superstars Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
and Jerry West
Jerry West
Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
had some difficulty in meshing their accustomed styles. And second-year coach Butch van Breda Kolff and Chamberlain clashed terribly throughout the season, frustrating the entire team. In Boston, player-coach Bill Russell
Bill Russell
William Felton "Bill" Russell is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association...
was suffering from age and exhaustion, hampering the team both as the starting center and as the coach. In addition, perennial scorer Sam Jones
Sam Jones (basketball)
Samuel Jones is a retired American professional basketball player at shooting guard and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was known for his quickness and game-winning shots, especially during the NBA Playoffs...
played so poorly that he lost his position as starting shooting guard to Larry Siegfried
Larry Siegfried
Larry E. Siegfried was an American National Basketball Association player.-Early years:Siegfried led Ohio in scoring as a senior at Shelby High School....
. The Lakers's appearance in the Finals was expected, but they lost the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals to the San Francisco Warriors on their home court before prevailing, and then outlasted the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
to gain the rematch with the Celtics. Boston's campaign was considered a surprise. They upset the 2nd place 76ers and 3rd place Knicks in the Eastern Division playoffs.
On the hardwood, there were several key matchups. On center, low scoring, defensive stalwart Celtics center Bill Russell
Bill Russell
William Felton "Bill" Russell is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association...
was matched up against his long-time rival Wilt Chamberlain (Lakers), multiple scoring champion. On forward, agile Celtic Bailey Howell
Bailey Howell
Bailey E. Howell is a former professional basketball player now enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A 6'7" forward from Mississippi State University, he played 12 seasons in the NBA as a member of the Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia...
played against perennial All-NBA member Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
, captain of the Lakers, while Laker Keith Erickson
Keith Erickson
Keith Raymond Erickson is a former American basketball player.After graduating from El Segundo High School , Erickson played at UCLA, where he was a member of the 1964 and 1965 NCAA Champion teams. Erickson, who attended UCLA on a shared baseball/basketball scholarship, also played on the 1964 US...
tried to slow down high-scoring Celtics forward John Havlicek
John Havlicek
John J. "Hondo" Havlicek is a retired American professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA titles, half of them coming in his first four seasons....
. At guard, a somewhat revitalised Sam Jones was matched up against Lakers superstar Jerry West
Jerry West
Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
. X-factors on both teams respectively were Don Nelson
Don Nelson
Donald Arvid "Don" Nelson is a former NBA player and head coach. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors....
, the sixth man
Sixth man
The sixth man in basketball is a player who is not a starter but comes off the bench much more often than other reserves, often being the first player to be substituted in. The sixth man often plays minutes equal to or exceeding some of the starters and posts similar statistics. He is often a...
of the Celtics, and sharpshooting Laker Johnny Egan
Johnny Egan
John Francis "Johnny" Egan is a retired American professional basketball player and coach.A 5' 11" guard from Weaver High School and Providence College, he played 11 seasons in the NBA, spending time with the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Baltimore Bullets, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland...
, the only other pure guard except West on the L.A. roster.
Series summary
| Game | Date | Home Team | Result | Road Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | April 23 | Los Angeles Lakers | 120–118 (1-0) | Boston Celtics |
| Game 2 | April 25 | Los Angeles Lakers | 118–112 (2-0) | Boston Celtics |
| Game 3 | April 27 | Boston Celtics | 111–105 (1-2) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Game 4 | April 29 | Boston Celtics | 89–88 (2-2) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Game 5 | May 1 | Los Angeles Lakers | 117–104 (3-2) | Boston Celtics |
| Game 6 | May 3 | Boston Celtics | 99–90 (3-3) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Game 7 | May 5 | Los Angeles Lakers | 106–108 (3-4) | Boston Celtics |
Celtics win the series 4-3
Game 1
- Lakers win 120–118, Lakers lead series 1–0
Prior to the series, Celtics player-coach Bill Russell
Bill Russell
William Felton "Bill" Russell is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association...
decided not to double-team Lakers star guard Jerry West
Jerry West
Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
. West was initially complaining of exhaustion, but in the game, all was forgotten. He used this freedom to score 53 points on opposing guards Sam Jones
Sam Jones (basketball)
Samuel Jones is a retired American professional basketball player at shooting guard and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was known for his quickness and game-winning shots, especially during the NBA Playoffs...
and Larry Siegfried
Larry Siegfried
Larry E. Siegfried was an American National Basketball Association player.-Early years:Siegfried led Ohio in scoring as a senior at Shelby High School....
. In an action-packed match, the lead changed 21 times, and it was Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
who sealed the game with a clutch basket 23 seconds before the end.
Game 2
- Lakers win 118–112, Lakers lead series 2–0
Again, Russell declined to double-team West. In a tough, physical match, West continued his scoring dominance by scoring 41 points. Along with fellow guard Johnny Egan
Johnny Egan
John Francis "Johnny" Egan is a retired American professional basketball player and coach.A 5' 11" guard from Weaver High School and Providence College, he played 11 seasons in the NBA, spending time with the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Baltimore Bullets, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland...
, who scored 26 points, and 31 points of Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
(among them the last 12 Lakers points), the Lakers won. Celtics forward Don Nelson
Don Nelson
Donald Arvid "Don" Nelson is a former NBA player and head coach. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors....
and Lakers forward Bill Hewitt
Bill Hewitt (basketball)
William Severlyn Hewitt is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward from the University of Southern California, Hewitt played six seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Buffalo Braves, and Chicago Bulls...
required a half-dozen stitches each after in-game collisions.
Game 3
- Celtics win 111–105, Lakers lead series 2–1
In Game 3, Russell finally decided to double-team West. With the heightened pressure, West lost his shooting touch. Also, the exhaustion he was complaining about prior to the series became so big that he asked to be taken out for longer stretches. In both pauses, the Lakers fell back by double digits. The heroics belonged to Celtics forward John Havlicek
John Havlicek
John J. "Hondo" Havlicek is a retired American professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA titles, half of them coming in his first four seasons....
: playing with a swollen eye after being poked by Keith Erickson
Keith Erickson
Keith Raymond Erickson is a former American basketball player.After graduating from El Segundo High School , Erickson played at UCLA, where he was a member of the 1964 and 1965 NCAA Champion teams. Erickson, who attended UCLA on a shared baseball/basketball scholarship, also played on the 1964 US...
, he scored 34 points.
Game 4
- Celtics win 89–88, series tied 2–2
This was an ugly game filled with 50 turnovers and low shooting percentages that was the turning point in the series. The Lakers had a one-point lead with 7 seconds left and the ball. However, Baylor stepped out of bounds, causing a turnover. For the last play, Celtics players Havlicek, Siegfried, Bailey Howell
Bailey Howell
Bailey E. Howell is a former professional basketball player now enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A 6'7" forward from Mississippi State University, he played 12 seasons in the NBA as a member of the Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia...
and Jones executed a so-called "Ohio", with the three former players setting a triple pick for the latter. Jones jumped off the wrong foot, but the ball avoided the block attempt of Lakers center Chamberlain, hit the front rim, bounced on the back rim and somehow dropped in for the series-equalizing buzzer beater
Buzzer beater
In basketball, a buzzer beater is a shot taken just before the game clock of a period expires, when the buzzer sounds. The term is normally reserved for baskets that win or tie the game, but also refers to shots that beat an end-of-quarter or halftime buzzer...
. So instead of the Lakers going home with a 3-1 series lead, it was all even at 2 games apiece.
Game 5
- Lakers win 117–104, Lakers lead series 3–2
Enraged by the unlucky Game 4 loss, the Lakers overran the Celtics with high-power basketball. Wilt Chamberlain played through a swollen eye, after Celtics guard Em Bryant
Em Bryant
Emmette Bryant is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'1" guard from DePaul University, Bryant played eight seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Buffalo Braves...
had poked him. With just three minutes remaining and the Lakers safely ahead, Bryant stole the ball from West. Instead of letting Bryant run, he lunged for the ball, pulled his hamstring and had to be carried out of the game. It was immediately evident that West's swollen leg would not heal until the end of the series.
Game 6
- Celtics win 99–90, series tied 3–3
In another ugly game, the Celtics were up 55–39 at halftime and never looked back. The Celtics at one point went 6-of-27 from the field, but the Lakers could not make use of this slump. With neither Baylor nor the limping West providing consistent scoring, Boston cruised to an easy victory. This game was also one of Chamberlain's lesser games: with Russell hounding him, the multiple scoring champion scored only 8 points, provoking criticism that he had choked when it counted most.
Game 7
- Celtics win 108–106 and win series 4–3
In anticipation of a Lakers win, Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke was a Canadian entrepreneur and former owner of the Washington Redskins , the Los Angeles Lakers , and the Los Angeles Kings , and built The Forum in Inglewood, California and FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.-Early career:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Cooke moved with his family to...
had ordered thousands of balloons with "World Champion Lakers" printed on them suspended from the rafters of the Forum. Flyers were placed in every seat stating, "When, not if, the Lakers win the title, balloons will be released from the raftors, the USC marching band will play "Happy Days Are Here Again
Happy Days Are Here Again
"Happy Days Are Here Again" is a song copyrighted in 1929 by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen and published by EMI Robbins Catalog, Inc./Advanced Music Corp...
" and broadcaster Chick Hearn will interview Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain in that order." Before the game, the Celtics circulated in their locker room a memo about the Lakers' celebration plans. Russell noted the giant net hanging from the ceiling during pregame warmups and said to West, "Those [expletive deleted] balloons are staying up there." West was furious at the balloons for providing the Celtics extra motivation. With only two true guards on the Laker roster and West still feeling the effects of the hamstring pull, Celtics coach Russell ordered his men to fast break at every opportunity.
Los Angeles shot poorly in the early going, and the Celtics jumped out to a first-quarter 24–12 lead which was cut to 59–56 at halftime. Then, Celtics sixth man
Sixth man
The sixth man in basketball is a player who is not a starter but comes off the bench much more often than other reserves, often being the first player to be substituted in. The sixth man often plays minutes equal to or exceeding some of the starters and posts similar statistics. He is often a...
Don Nelson scored 12 points in the third quarter, while the Lakers hardly connected on a quarter of their field goal attempts: the Celtics led 91–76 after the third. In the final period the Lakers, especially the limping West, finally found their shooting range, and Boston suddenly seemed to show the effects of age and a long season. Buoyed by their home crowd, now on its feet and cheering loudly, the Lakers dramatically closed the gap. But early in the fourth quarter, Chamberlain incurred his fifth foul (he had never fouled out) and had to play more tentative defense. Eventually the Lakers trailed 103–96, at which point Chamberlain turned an ankle after a rebound and left the game in favor of backup Mel Counts
Mel Counts
Mel Grant Counts is a retired American basketball player who was in the NBA from 1964 to 1976. He was on the United States Olympic basketball team that won the gold at the 1964 Summer Olympics. He played in college for Oregon State University and was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1964...
. West and Counts fired in key jumpshots, and the Lakers cut the lead to 103–102 with two minutes left. Chamberlain, according to all accounts, informed Van Breda Kolff that he was ready to return, but the coach told the superstar center to remain on the bench, electing to stay with the lineup that had sparked the rally. Boston still had that 103-102 lead with 1:33 left in the game when reserve guard Keith Erickson
Keith Erickson
Keith Raymond Erickson is a former American basketball player.After graduating from El Segundo High School , Erickson played at UCLA, where he was a member of the 1964 and 1965 NCAA Champion teams. Erickson, who attended UCLA on a shared baseball/basketball scholarship, also played on the 1964 US...
knocked the ball away from John Havlicek. The ball went right to Don Nelson, who put up a shot from the free throw line that hit the back rim, bounced high in the air and fell through the hoop to give Boston a 105-102 lead. The Lakers committed a few costly turnovers in the last moments and lost the game 108-106.
Aftermath
After Game 7 ended, the Celtic players happily sprinted off the floor to a locker-room celebration, but Bill Russell sought out the disconsolate Jerry West, embracing him and offering his admiration. West averaged 38 points during the series and had a triple double in Game 7 (42 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists). West was named Finals MVP, making him the only Finals MVP from the losing team. This was the first year of the award.The Celtics' 1969 victory proved to be the end of a significant chapter in NBA history; Boston's long run of excellence was over. Russell's retirement as a player and a coach had been anticipated, and Sam Jones's farewell had been announced some time earlier. General manager "Red" Auerbach's leadership over the team's fortunes continued, and the former great forward Tom Heinsohn was selected as the new coach. The Celtics slowly adjusted to new times, and, with another group of star players (the stalwart John Havlicek remained), won the NBA title five years later.
The Lakers' Game 7 loss led to the departure of Butch Van Breda Kolff. Much public opinion sided against the coach, who was quickly branded as the man who banished his star center to the bench in the crucial final minutes of a Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Elgin Baylor, the team captain, diplomatically stated that the coach had made his decision in the team's best interests, and, whatever the results, all had to live by it. West by all accounts was furious over Chamberlain's benching, claiming that all coaches are obligated to place their five best players on the floor in such a crucial situation. Chamberlain had no forgiveness in store for Van Breda Kolff, for whom he had harsh words in his 1974 autobiography. Above all, owner Cooke, whose goal was a Laker championship, was determined to find the coach who could bring it to pass. Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
's Joe Mullaney was hired for the 1969-70 season.