The Warriors' 1975 championship banner.
The 1974–75 Golden State Warriors season was the 29th season in the franchise's history, its 13th in California and the fourth playing in Oakland . After four seasons of second-place division finishes, the Warriors made various changes. Nate Thurmond was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Clifford Ray , a young defensive center.[ 1] The club drafted Keith Wilkes (later known as Jamaal Wilkes), whose nickname was "Silk". Cazzie Russell had played out his option and joined the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving Rick Barry as the team's leader. Coach Al Attles implemented a team-oriented system that drew on the contributions of as many as ten players during a game. Barry scored 30.6 points per game, led the NBA in free throw percentage and steals per game, and was sixth in the league in assists per game. The Warriors captured the Pacific Division title with a 48–34 record.[ 1] This was the Warriors’ third championship, and first since they were in Philadelphia in 1956.
In the playoffs , the Warriors got to the Western Conference Finals by beating the Seattle SuperSonics in six games.[ 1] In the Western Finals, the Warriors looked like they were about to lose to former teammate Nate Thurmond. The Warriors found themselves down against the Chicago Bulls 3 games to 2. The Warriors rallied to win Game 6 in Chicago and took the series with an 83–79 Game 7 triumph in Oakland.[ 1] In the NBA Finals , the Warriors faced off against the Washington Bullets . The Warriors took the series in four straight games, including 1-point wins in Games 2 and 4.[ 1] Rick Barry was named the series MVP.
The Warriors wouldn't make another NBA Finals appearance again until 2015 , where the team faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers and won its fourth league title. They would also go on to defeat the Cavaliers and Boston Celtics in 2017 , 2018 and 2022 , respectively.
Offseason
Draft picks
Roster
Players
Coaches
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
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
—
Season schedule
1974–75 game log Total: 48–34 (home: 31–10; road: 17–24)
October: 4–2 (home: 3–1; road: 1–1)
November: 11–4 (home: 5–2; road: 6–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
7
November 1
@ Seattle
99–88
Rick Barry (45)
Clifford Ray (13)
Rick Barry (6)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,777
5–2
8
November 2
Milwaukee
90–99
Rick Barry (22)
George Johnson (10)
Rick Barry (9)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,570
6–2
9
November 3
@ Portland
109–100
Rick Barry (41)
George Johnson (14)
Rick Barry (10)
Memorial Coliseum 10,494
7–2
10
November 7
Seattle
104–93
Jamaal Wilkes (27)
Jamaal Wilkes (15)
Rick Barry (11)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,391
7–3
11
November 9
New York
93–97
Rick Barry (32)
George Johnson (15)
Rick Barry (5)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,556
8–3
12
November 10
@ Los Angeles
106–103
Rick Barry (23)
Clifford Ray (11)
Rick Barry (7)
The Forum 11,328
9–3
13
November 12
Atlanta
111–128
Rick Barry (33)
George Johnson (10)
Rick Barry (5)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 4,970
10–3
14
November 16
Philadelphia
106–102
Rick Barry (31)
Clifford Ray (17)
Rick Barry (7)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8,345
10–4
15
November 17
@ Phoenix
106–105
Rick Barry (36)
Dickey , Ray (10)
Charles Johnson (9)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,471
11–4
16
November 19
@ Buffalo
106–111
Rick Barry (31)
Charles Johnson (11)
Butch Beard (9)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 8,529
11–5
17
November 20
@ Boston
120–115
Rick Barry (42)
Clifford Ray (14)
Rick Barry (5)
Providence Civic Center 3,509
12–5
18
November 21
@ Cleveland
74–106
Rick Barry (23)
Jamaal Wilkes (15)
Rick Barry (4)
Richfield Coliseum 5,811
12–6
19
November 23
@ Detroit
110–98
Rick Barry (45)
Clifford Ray (9)
Butch Beard (7)
Cobo Arena 6,902
13–6
20
November 26
Houston
124–144
Rick Barry (37)
George Johnson (12)
Rick Barry (8)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6,015
14–6
21
November 30
Los Angeles
118–128
Rick Barry (43)
George Johnson (14)
Rick Barry (7)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 2,576
15–6
December: 8–6 (home: 5–1; road: 3–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
22
December 3
New Orleans
101–122
Rick Barry (32)
George Johnson (14)
Butch Beard (7)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,081
16–6
23
December 5
@ Phoenix
106–108 (2OT)
Rick Barry (30)
Clifford Ray (13)
Beard , Ray (9)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,053
16–7
24
December 7
Seattle
96–132
Rick Barry (26)
George Johnson (15)
Rick Barry (10)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,608
17–7
25
December 10
@ Houston
97–111
Rick Barry (29)
Clifford Ray (9)
Rick Barry (10)
Hofheinz Pavilion 2,146
17–8
26
December 11
@ New Orleans
103–106
Rick Barry (38)
George Johnson (10)
Rick Barry (8)
Municipal Auditorium 3,731
17–9
27
December 12
@ Atlanta
129–109
Rick Barry (41)
Ray , Wilkes (9)
Rick Barry (10)
Omni Coliseum 3,745
18–9
28
December 14
@ Washington
91–99
Rick Barry (29)
George Johnson (17)
Barry , Beard (4)
Capital Centre 10,396
18–10
29
December 17
@ New York
126–108
Rick Barry (44)
Clifford Ray (11)
Butch Beard (10)
Madison Square Garden 19,694
19–10
30
December 20
@ Philadelphia
94–93
Rick Barry (29)
Jamaal Wilkes (16)
Rick Barry (7)
The Spectrum 6,292
20–10
31
December 21
@ Kansas City–Omaha
84–107
Rick Barry (30)
Clifford Ray (9)
Jamaal Wilkes (5)
Kemper Arena 5,668
20–11
32
December 23
Phoenix
94–111
Rick Barry (43)
Clifford Ray (18)
Rick Barry (7)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,240
21–11
33
December 26
Portland
101–112
Rick Barry (46)
Dickey , Wilkes (10)
Rick Barry (10)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 10,983
22–11
34
December 28
Boston
115–105
Rick Barry (37)
Clifford Ray (13)
Rick Barry (9)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787
22–12
35
December 30
Kansas City–Omaha
102–110
Rick Barry (39)
Clifford Ray (15)
Rick Barry (9)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,374
23–12
January: 7–7 (home: 6–1; road: 1–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
36
January 4
Washington
96–104
Mullins , Wilkes (19)
George Johnson (12)
Butch Beard (7)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787
24–12
37
January 7
New Orleans
94–136
Rick Barry (29)
Jamaal Wilkes (12)
Rick Barry (9)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 4,164
25–12
38
January 9
New York
96–132
Rick Barry (33)
Derrek Dickey (13)
Derrek Dickey (6)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,392
26–12
39
January 10
@ Seattle
119–94
Rick Barry (26)
Dickey , Ray (13)
Jeff Mullins (7)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,055
27–12
40
January 11
Chicago
114–105
Rick Barry (40)
Clifford Ray (13)
Rick Barry (5)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787
27–13
41
January 16
@ Milwaukee
100–119
Rick Barry (26)
Clifford Ray (13)
Rick Barry (6)
MECCA Arena 10,089
27–14
42
January 17
@ Buffalo
116–121
Rick Barry (35)
Jamaal Wilkes (9)
Rick Barry (7)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 13,727
27–15
43
January 18
@ Washington
101–125
Charles Johnson (21)
George Johnson (11)
Rick Barry (7)
Capital Centre 19,035
27–16
44
January 21
Los Angeles
108–138
Rick Barry (38)
Clifford Ray (17)
Jeff Mullins (6)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,847
28–16
45
January 23
Philadelphia
100–108
Rick Barry (55)
George Johnson (17)
Butch Beard (6)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,070
29–16
46
January 25
Portland
109–114 (OT)
Rick Barry (32)
G. Johnson , Ray (11)
Dickey , Smith (5)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,732
30–16
47
January 26
@ Portland
113–128
Rick Barry (36)
Clifford Ray (15)
Butch Beard (6)
Memorial Coliseum 10,231
30–17
48
January 29
@ Detroit
90–93
Rick Barry (25)
Clifford Ray (12)
Rick Barry (8)
Cobo Arena 9,538
30–18
49
January 31
@ Chicago
103–127
Rick Barry (40)
Jamaal Wilkes (13)
Beard , Dudley (5)
Chicago Stadium 13,208
30–19
February: 6–8 (home: 3–3; road: 3–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
50
February 2
@ Kansas City–Omaha
101–127
Rick Barry (34)
Derrek Dickey (12)
Butch Beard (4)
Kemper Arena 9,365
30–20
51
February 4
@ Houston
107–105
Rick Barry (38)
Clifford Ray (9)
Barry , Beard , Mullins (5)
Hofheinz Pavilion 3,173
31–20
52
February 6
Washington
98–97
Rick Barry (34)
Clifford Ray (19)
Rick Barry (8)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787
31–21
53
February 8
Phoenix
96–105
Phil Smith (22)
Clifford Ray (14)
Rick Barry (11)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8,961
32–21
54
February 11
Houston
112–108 (OT)
Rick Barry (30)
Ray , Wilkes (14)
Rick Barry (7)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,775
32–22
55
February 13
@ Cleveland
93–96
Barry , Wilkes (20)
Clifford Ray (11)
Clifford Ray (5)
Richfield Coliseum 9,062
32–23
56
February 14
@ Chicago
87–105
Rick Barry (23)
Clifford Ray (16)
Rick Barry (4)
Chicago Stadium 10,126
32–24
57
February 15
@ Philadelphia
108–101
Rick Barry (37)
Clifford Ray (18)
Charles Dudley (11)
The Spectrum 5,695
33–24
58
February 18
@ New York
98–99
Butch Beard (20)
Clifford Ray (11)
Rick Barry (6)
Madison Square Garden 19,694
33–25
59
February 20
Atlanta
102–108
Phil Smith (26)
Clifford Ray (16)
Rick Barry (5)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,570
34–25
60
February 21
@ Los Angeles
105–93
Phil Smith (26)
Jamaal Wilkes (14)
Butch Beard (9)
The Forum 11,950
35–25
61
February 22
Boston
108–114
Rick Barry (42)
Clifford Ray (12)
Barry , Dudley (5)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,961
36–25
62
February 25
Phoenix
111–97
Rick Barry (31)
Derrek Dickey (16)
Rick Barry (3)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8,550
36–26
63
February 28
@ Phoenix
96–102
Barry , Beard (18)
Jamaal Wilkes (13)
C. Johnson , Ray (4)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,511
36–27
March: 11–6 (home: 9–1; road: 2–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
64
March 1
Cleveland
95–110
Rick Barry (23)
G. Johnson , Ray (10)
Butch Beard (5)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,632
37–27
65
March 2
@ Portland
86–122
Jamaal Wilkes (25)
Clifford Ray (18)
Rick Barry (9)
Memorial Coliseum 10,212
37–28
66
March 4
Chicago
102–117
Butch Beard (28)
George Johnson (11)
Rick Barry (9)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,079
38–28
67
March 6
@ Atlanta
106–110
Rick Barry (28)
Clifford Ray (14)
Rick Barry (8)
Omni Coliseum 2,625
38–29
68
March 7
@ New Orleans
107–110
Jamaal Wilkes (22)
George Johnson (9)
Rick Barry (10)
Municipal Auditorium 6,218
38–30
69
March 9
@ Boston
102–101
Rick Barry (31)
Jamaal Wilkes (13)
Butch Beard (9)
Boston Garden 15,320
39–30
70
March 11
@ Milwaukee
107–90
Rick Barry (30)
Jamaal Wilkes (12)
Butch Beard (8)
MECCA Arena 10,687
40–30
71
March 13
Buffalo
122–103
Rick Barry (29)
Jamaal Wilkes (12)
Rick Barry (10)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787
40–31
72
March 15
Seattle
84–120
Jamaal Wilkes (25)
Jamaal Wilkes (16)
Jamaal Wilkes (7)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,594
41–31
73
March 16
@ Los Angeles
95–111
Jamaal Wilkes (31)
Derrek Dickey (13)
Butch Beard (6)
The Forum 11,019
41–32
74
March 18
Phoenix
103–133
Rick Barry (28)
Jamaal Wilkes (14)
Phil Smith (6)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6,795
42–32
75
March 20
Portland
95–97
Butch Beard (29)
Clifford Ray (14)
Rick Barry (6)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,141
43–32
76
March 22
Milwaukee
117–133
Rick Barry (38)
Clifford Ray (15)
Rick Barry (11)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787
44–32
77
March 25
Los Angeles
122–139
Rick Barry (40)
Dickey , G. Johnson (7)
Barry , Mullins , Smith (6)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,806
45–32
78
March 27
Kansas City–Omaha
103–111
Rick Barry (34)
Derrek Dickey (23)
Rick Barry (8)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787
46–32
79
March 28
@ Seattle
92–96
Butch Beard (19)
Clifford Ray (9)
Rick Barry (5)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,082
46–33
80
March 29
Detroit
112–115
Rick Barry (26)
Clifford Ray (10)
Rick Barry (8)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787
47–33
April: 1–1 (home: 0–1; road: 1–0)
Source: www.basketball-reference.com
Playoffs
1975 playoff game log
Conference Semi-finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
April 14
Seattle
W 123–96
Rick Barry (39)
Clifford Ray (13)
Rick Barry (11)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,279
1–0
2
April 16
Seattle
L 99–100
Rick Barry (29)
Ray , Dickey (10)
Barry , Beard (6)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787
1–1
3
April 17
@ Seattle
W 105–96
Rick Barry (33)
George Johnson (13)
Rick Barry (7)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,082
2–1
4
April 19
@ Seattle
L 94–111
Jamaal Wilkes (22)
Wilkes , Ray (9)
three players tied (3)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,082
2–2
5
April 22
Seattle
W 124–100
Jamaal Wilkes (24)
Ray , G. Johnson (13)
Rick Barry (10)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787
3–2
6
April 24
@ Seattle
W 105–96
Rick Barry (31)
George Johnson (15)
Charles Johnson (6)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,082
4–2
Conference Finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
NBA Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
1975 schedule
Awards and honors
Notes
References
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1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s