# 1968–69 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1968–69 NBA season was the Bucks' inaugural season in the NBA.

## Expansion draft

| Player | Position | Team |
| Len Chappell | Forward | Detroit Pistons |
| Larry Costello | Guard | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Johnny Egan | Guard | Baltimore Bullets |
| Wayne Embry | Center | Boston Celtics |
| Dave Gambee | Forward | San Diego Rockets |
| Gary Gray | Guard | Cincinnati Royals |
| Fred Hetzel | Forward | San Francisco Warriors |
| Johnny Jones | Forward | Boston Celtics |
| Bob Love | Forward | Cincinnati Royals |
| Jon McGlocklin | Guard | San Diego Rockets |
| Jay Miller | Guard | Atlanta Hawks |
| Bud Olsen | Forward | Seattle SuperSonics |
| George Patterson | Center | Detroit Pistons |
| Jim Reid | Forward | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Guy Rodgers | Guard | Cincinnati Royals |
| Tom Thacker | Guard | Boston Celtics |
| Bob Warlick | Guard | San Francisco Warriors |
| Bob Weiss | Guard | Seattle SuperSonics |

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 7 | Charlie Paulk | Forward | United States | Northeastern State |
| 2 | 22 | Gene Moore | | United States | Saint Louis |
| 3 | 35 | Sam Williams | | United States | Iowa |
| 4 | 50 | Greg Smith | | United States | Western Kentucky |
| 5 | 63 | Joe Franklin | | United States | Wisconsin |
| 6 | 78 | Fred Smith | | United States | Hawaii |
| 7 | 91 | Tom Kondla | | United States | Minnesota |
| 8 | 106 | Elbert Miller | | United States | Nevada-Las Vegas |
| 9 | 119 | Cliff Berger | | United States | Kentucky |
| 10 | 134 | Eugene Jones | | United States | Missouri |
| 11 | 146 | Brad Luchini | | United States | Marquette |
| 12 | 159 | Dave Miller | | United States | Florida |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Eastern Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Neutral | Div |
| x-Baltimore Bullets | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 29–9 | 24–15 | 4–1 | 26–14 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 | 26–8 | 24–16 | 5–3 | 23–17 |
| x-New York Knicks | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3 | 30–7 | 19–20 | 5–1 | 26–14 |
| x-Boston Celtics | 48 | 34 | .585 | 9 | 24–12 | 21–19 | 3–3 | 23–17 |
| Cincinnati Royals | 41 | 41 | .500 | 16 | 15-13 | 16–21 | 10–7 | 20–20 |
| Detroit Pistons | 32 | 50 | .390 | 25 | 21–17 | 7–30 | 4–3 | 13–27 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 27 | 55 | .329 | 30 | 15–19 | 8–27 | 4–9 | 7–29 |
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1968-69 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | CHI | CIN | DET | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | SDR | SFW | SEA |
| Atlanta | – | 2–4 | 3–3 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 6–0 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 4–2 |
| Baltimore | 4–2 | – | 5–2 | 6–0 | 4–3 | 7–0 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 |
| Boston | 3–3 | 2–5 | – | 4–2 | 5–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–6 | 5–2 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 |
| Chicago | 1–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | – | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 4–3 |
| Cincinnati | 2–4 | 3–4 | 2–5 | 5–1 | – | 3–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 |
| Detroit | 0–6 | 0–7 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–3 | – | 3–3 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 |
| Los Angeles | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 6–0 | 7–0 | 4–3 | 5–1 |
| Milwaukee | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | – | 0–6 | 0–6 | 6–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–5 |
| New York | 4–2 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 6–0 | – | 4–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 |
| Philadelphia | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–5 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 4–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 3–4 | – | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 6–0 |
| Phoenix | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–6 | 1–5 | 1–5 | – | 1–7 | 2–4 | 3–3 |
| San Diego | 4–3 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 0–7 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 7–1 | – | 3–3 | 3–3 |
| San Francisco | 3–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 4–3 |
| Seattle | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 5–3 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–4 | — |

### Game log

1968–69 game log Total: 27–55 (home: 15–19; road: 8–27; neutral: 4–9) :
October: 1–5 (home: 1–3; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 16, 1968Chicago
L 84–89
Guy Rodgers (16)
Wayne Embry (20)
Guy Rodgers (9)
Milwaukee Arena
0–1
2October 19, 1968@ Atlanta
L 107–125
Guy Rodgers (25)
Wayne Embry, Len Chappell, Dick Cunningham (6)
Guy Rodgers (11)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum
0–2
3October 23, 1968New York
L 112–114
Wayne Embry (26)
Wayne Embry (17)
Guy Rodgers (13)
Milwaukee Arena
0–3
4October 26, 1968@ Boston
L 89–102
Wayne Embry (20)
Bob Love (9)
Boston Garden
0–4
5October 29, 1968Baltimore
L 112–129
Fred Hetzel, Jon McGlocklin (21)
Charlie Paulk (10)
Guy Rodgers (11)
Milwaukee Arena
0–5
6October 31, 1968Detroit
W 134–118
Wayne Embry (30)
Milwaukee Arena
1–5 :
November: 5–10 (home: 4–3; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
7November 1, 1968@ Cincinnati
L 114–132
Dave Gambee (21)
Fred Hetzel (13)
Guy Rodgers (7)
Cincinnati Gardens
1–6
8November 2, 1968San Francisco
W 102–101
Dave Gambee (20)
Wayne Embry (15)
Guy Rodgers (11)
Milwaukee Arena
2–6
9November 6, 1968N Los Angeles
L 115-128
Wayne Embry (30)
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2–7
10November 9, 1968Boston
L 97-98
Wayne Embry, Fred Hetzel (16)
Milwaukee Arena
2–8
11November 12, 1968Seattle
W 127-114
Dave Gambee (29)
Wayne Embry (13)
Guy Rodgers (16)
Milwaukee Arena
3–8
12November 15, 1968@ Baltimore
L 102–129
Wayne Embry (24)
Wayne Embry, Fred Hetzel (13)
Guy Rodgers (12)
Baltimore Civic Center
3–9
13November 16, 1968@ Philadelphia
L 92-136
Jon McGlocklin (19)
Fred Hetzel (14)
Guy Rodgers (8)
The Spectrum
3–10
14November 19, 1968Atlanta
W 119-98
Guy Rodgers (26)
Fred Hetzel (13)
Guy Rodgers (10)
Milwaukee Arena
4–10
15November 21, 1968@ Chicago
L 111-120
Guy Rodgers (29)
Wayne Embry (19)
Jon McGlocklin (6)
Chicago Stadium
4–11
16November 23, 1968Phoenix
W 115-112
Fred Hetzel (28)
Fred Hetzel, Wayne Embry (18)
Guy Rodgers (11)
Milwaukee Arena
5–11
17November 24, 1968@ Seattle
L 120-141
Wayne Embry (29)
Wayne Embry (12)
Guy Rodgers (6)
Seattle Center Coliseum
5–12
18November 25, 1968Seattle
L 113-123
Jon McGlocklin (25)
Fred Hetzel, Wayne Embry, Greg Smith (9)
Jon McGlocklin (6)
Milwaukee Arena
5–13
19November 28, 1968@ Seattle
L 103-115
Wayne Embry (27)
Wayne Embry (14)
Guy Rodgers (13)
Seattle Center Coliseum
5–14
20November 29, 1968@ San Francisco
W 119-140
Fred Hetzel (29)
Fred Hetzel (10)
Guy Rodgers (9)
Cow Palace
5–15
21November 30, 1968@ San Francisco
W 107–101
Fred Hetzel (22)
Wayne Embry, Fred Hetzel (11)
Guy Rodgers (9)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
6–15 :
December: 4–15 (home: 4–7; road: 0–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
22December 1, 1968@ Los Angeles
L 112-119
Fred Hetzel (25)
Wayne Embry (20)
Guy Rodgers (10)
The Forum
6–16
23December 3, 1968Boston
L 115-137
Wayne Embry (29)
Milwaukee Arena
6–17
24December 4, 1968@ Boston
L 99-101
Jon McGlocklin (20)
Len Chappell (13)
Guy Rodgers (9)
Boston Garden
6–18
25December 6, 1968Philadelphia
L 112-121
Guy Rodgers (24)
Dave Gambee (12)
Jon McGlocklin (6)
Milwaukee Arena
6–19
26December 7, 1968@ New York
L 113-119
Jon McGlocklin (24)
Jon McGlocklin (9)
Jon McGlocklin (9)
Madison Square Garden
6-20
27December 8, 1968N Philadelphia
L 117-122
Len Chappell (28)
Len Chappell (13)
Guy Rodgers (10)
Onondaga War Memorial
6-21
28December 10, 1968Cincinnati
L 96-107
Jon McGlocklin (20)
Greg Smith (15)
Milwaukee Arena
6-22
29December 11, 1968N San Francisco
W 106-96
Flynn Robinson (24)
Greg Smith (19)
Guy Rodgers (7)
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7-22
30December 13, 1968San Diego
W 101-96
Guy Rodgers (20)
Greg Smith (13)
Guy Rodgers (8)
Milwaukee Arena
8-22
31December 14, 1968@ Cincinnati
L 115-121
Wayne Embry (23)
Greg Smith (15)
Cincinnati Gardens
8-23
32December 18, 1968@ Atlanta
L 116-122
Len Chappell, Jon McGlocklin (23)
Len Chappell, Greg Smith (10)
Guy Rodgers (5)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum
8-24
33December 19, 1968@ Chicago
L 111-113
Len Chappell (35)
Len Chappell (16)
Jon McGlocklin, Wayne Embry, Flynn Robinson, Fred Hetzel (2)
Chicago Stadium
8-25
34December 20, 1968Seattle
W 100-92
Flynn Robinson (28)
Greg Smith (16)
Guy Rodgers (7)
Milwaukee Arena
9-25
35December 22, 1968Phoenix
W 127-116
Fred Hetzel (31)
Fred Hetzel (14)
Flynn Robinson (11)
Milwaukee Arena
10–25
36December 25, 1968Detroit
L 113-119
Guy Rodgers (24)
Milwaukee Arena
10–26
37December 26, 1968@ Boston
L 106-139
Jon McGlocklin, Flynn Robinson (17)
Fred Hetzel (13)
Flynn Robinson, Guy Rodgers (3)
Boston Garden
10–27
38December 27, 1968@ Baltimore
L 122-136
Fred Hetzel, Flynn Robinson (25)
Fred Hetzel (8)
Guy Rodgers (8)
Baltimore Civic Center
10–28
39December 29, 1968Chicago Bulls
L 97-102
Jon McGlocklin (24)
Len Chappell (16)
Guy Rodgers (6)
Milwaukee Arena
10–29
40December 31, 1968Philadelphia
L 107-128
Len Chappell (22)
Greg Smith (15)
Flynn Robinson, Guy Rodgers (6)
Milwaukee Arena
10–30 :
January: 5–9 (home: 4–6; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
41January 2, 1969N Cincinnati
L 109-113
Jon McGlocklin (26)
Greg Smith (20)
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10–31
42January 3, 1969Phoenix
W 121-104
Len Chappell (33)
Greg Smith (22)
Guy Rodgers (12)
Milwaukee Arena
11–31
43January 7, 1969@ Cincinnati
W 116-101
Len Chappell (30)
Fred Hetzel (13)
Cincinnati Gardens
12–31
44January 8, 1969New York
L 101-115
Jon McGlocklin (23)
Fred Hetzel, Wayne Embry (12)
Guy Rodgers (4)
Milwaukee Arena
12–32
45January 10, 1969Seattle
W 115-104
Jon McGlocklin, Flynn Robinson (24)
Greg Smith (23)
Guy Rodgers (6)
Milwaukee Arena
13–32
46January 12, 1969Boston
W 114-110
Flynn Robinson (26)
Milwaukee Arena
14–32
47January 17, 1969@ Detroit
L 108-123
Flynn Robinson (23)
Cobo Arena
14–33
48January 18, 1969N New York
L 109-117
Flynn Robinson (22)
Greg Smith (15)
Guy Rodgers (8)
Boston Garden
14–34
49January 20, 1969N Detroit
W 102-101
Jon McGlocklin (38)
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
15–34
50January 21, 1969Los Angeles
L 105-122
Jon McGlocklin (33)
Milwaukee Arena
15–35
51January 25, 1969@ New York
L 96-113
Jon McGlocklin (26)
Jon McGlocklin, Greg Smith (10)
Flynn Robinson (9)
Madison Square Garden
15–36
52January 27, 1969N Seattle
L 107-128
Wayne Embry, Fred Hetzel (20)
Len Chappell (12)
Jon McGlocklin (7)
Tacoma, WA
15–37
53January 29, 1969N Phoenix
L 107-111
Len Chappell, Fred Hetzel (27)
Len Chappell (11)
Jon McGlocklin (10)
Tucson, Arizona
15–38
54January 31, 1969@ Los Angeles
L 104-105
Flynn Robinson (43)
Greg Smith (15)
Flynn Robinson (8)
The Forum
15–39 :
February: 8–7 (home: 6–4; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
55February 1, 1969@ San Diego
L 95-101
Flynn Robinson (22)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (23)
Guy Rodgers (6)
San Diego Sports Arena
15–40
56February 2, 1969@ Phoenix
L 121-122
Len Chappell (32)
Len Chappell (16)
Flynn Robinson (7)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
15–41
57February 4, 1969@ Chicago
W 107-98
Flynn Robinson (22)
Len Chappell (12)
Guy Rodgers (8)
Chicago Stadium
16–41
58February 5, 1969New York
L 102-111
Flynn Robinson (35)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (14)
Flynn Robinson (8)
Milwaukee Arena
16–42
59February 7, 1969Baltimore
L 107-114
Jon McGlocklin (22)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (23)
Jon McGlocklin (8)
Milwaukee Arena
16–43
60February 9, 1969San Diego
W 117-109
Len Chappell (23)
Len Chappell (15)
Flynn Robinson (10)
Milwaukee Arena
17–43
61February 12, 1969Atlanta
L 106-113
Len Chappell (26)
Greg Smith (18)
Flynn Robinson, Dick Cunningham (9)
Milwaukee Arena
17–44
62February 14, 1969@ Baltimore
L 122-132
Jon McGlocklin (37)
Dick Cunningham (17)
Flynn Robinson (8)
Baltimore Civic Center
17–45
63February 16, 1969Los Angeles
W 106-97
Flynn Robinson (41)
Greg Smith (16)
Flynn Robinson, Guy Rodgers (6)
Milwaukee Arena
18–45
64February 17, 1969N Atlanta
W 123-111
Flynn Robinson (43)
Baltimore Civic Center
19–45
65February 22, 1969@ Detroit
W 108-107
Flynn Robinson (45)
Cobo Arena
20–45
66February 23, 1969N Phoenix
L 107-103
Len Chappell (24)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (18)
Guy Rodgers (9)
Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena
21–45
67February 25, 1969San Diego
W 114-112
Len Chappell (26)
Greg Smith (15)
Guy Rodgers (13)
Milwaukee Arena
22–45
68February 27, 1969Baltimore
W 126-117
Flynn Robinson (35)
Greg Smith (21)
Flynn Robinson (9)
Milwaukee Arena
23–45
69February 28, 1969N Philadelphia
L 102-123
Jon McGlocklin (27)
Greg Smith (10)
Greg Smith (5)
Boston Garden
23–46 :
March: 4–9 (home: 0–5; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
70March 2, 1969@ Atlanta
L 108-112
Flynn Robinson (28)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (13)
Flynn Robinson (6)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum
23–47
71March 3, 1969Philadelphia
L 132-143
Flynn Robinson (34)
Greg Smith (18)
Flynn Robinson (10)
Milwaukee Arena
23–48
72March 5, 1969Chicago
L 108-124
Jon McGlocklin (38)
Len Chappell (13)
Jon McGlocklin, Flynn Robinson (5)
Milwaukee Arena
23–49
73March 6, 1969Cincinnati
L 110-112
Flynn Robinson (39)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (17)
Milwaukee Arena
23–50
74March 9, 1969@ Detroit
W 126-121
Jon McGlocklin, Flynn Robinson (21)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (16)
Jon McGlocklin (8)
Cobo Arena
24–50
75March 10, 1969San Francisco
L 106-123
Jon McGlocklin (31)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (16)
Jon McGlocklin (8)
Milwaukee Arena
24–51
76March 13, 1969N Seattle
L 118-141
Flynn Robinson (27)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (11)
Guy Rodgers (9)
Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena
24–52
77March 14, 1969@ Los Angeles
L 103-111
Jon McGlocklin (32)
Greg Smith (12)
Flynn Robinson (7)
The Forum
24–53
78March 18, 1969@ San Diego
L 108-128
Jon McGlocklin, Flynn Robinson (25)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (12)
Flynn Robinson (6)
San Diego Sports Arena
24–54
79March 19, 1969@ Phoenix
W 117-110
Jon McGlocklin (26)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (16)
Jon McGlocklin, Flynn Robinson (8)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
25–54
80March 21, 1969@ San Francisco
L 100-103
Flynn Robinson (20)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (23)
Flynn Robinson (7)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
25–55
81March 22, 1969@ San Diego
W 120-106
Flynn Robinson (28)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (17)
Guy Rodgers (9)
San Diego Sports Arena
26–55
82March 23, 1969@ Phoenix
W 128-118
Flynn Robinson (33)
Zaid Abdul-Aziz (19)
Jon McGlocklin (9)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
27–55 :
1968–69 schedule :

## Player statistics

| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
| Zaid Abdul-Aziz | 29 | 28.9 | .363 | .642 | 13.0 | 1.1 | 11.0 |
| Len Chappell | 80 | 27.6 | .454 | .737 | 8.0 | 1.2 | 14.6 |
| Dick Cunningham | 77 | 16.1 | .425 | .651 | 5.7 | 0.8 | 4.6 |
| Wayne Embry | 78 | 30.2 | .427 | .664 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 13.1 |
| Dave Gambee | 34 | 18.4 | .464 | .827 | 5.3 | 0.9 | 12.1 |
| Fred Hetzel | 53 | 30.0 | .416 | .837 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 15.9 |
| Bob Love | 14 | 16.2 | .368 | .763 | 4.6 | 0.2 | 7.9 |
| Jon McGlocklin | 80 | 36.1 | .487 | .842 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 19.6 |
| Jay Miller | 3 | 9.0 | .200 | .714 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| Rich Niemann | 18 | 8.3 | .407 | .733 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 3.3 |
| Charlie Paulk | 17 | 12.8 | .226 | .565 | 4.6 | 0.2 | 3.0 |
| Flynn Robinson | 65 | 31.8 | .436 | .841 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 20.3 |
| Guy Rodgers | 81 | 26.6 | .377 | .793 | 2.8 | 6.9 | 10.3 |
| Greg Smith | 79 | 27.9 | .450 | .587 | 10.2 | 1.7 | 8.1 |
| Bob Warlick | 3 | 7.3 | .125 | .800 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.0 |
| Bob Weiss | 15 | 16.1 | .316 | .794 | 1.8 | 1. 8 | 6.6 |
| Sam Williams | 55 | 11.4 | .342 | .537 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 4.1 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| November 23, 1968 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- Flynn Robinson | To Chicago Bulls---- Bob Love Bob Weiss |
| January 1, 1969 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- Rich Niemann | To Detroit Pistons---- Dave Gambee |
| January 31, 1969 | To Milwaukee Bucks---- Zaid Abdul-Aziz | To Cincinnati Royals---- Fred Hetzel |