# 1968–69 Atlanta Hawks season

The 1968–69 Atlanta Hawks season was the team's first season in Atlanta, 20th in the NBA, and 23rd overall. The Hawks relocated from St. Louis, where the franchise played the previous thirteen seasons. Lenny Wilkens was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Walt Hazzard, who would help lead the Hawks to a second-place finish with a record of 48 wins and 34 losses. In the playoffs, the Hawks eliminated the San Diego Rockets in six games. In the Western Conference Finals, the Hawks challenged the Los Angeles Lakers; the Lakers would eliminate the Hawks in 5 games.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 13 | Skip Harlicka | Guard | United States | South Carolina |
| 10 | 131 | Dwight Waller | Forward | United States | Tennessee State |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Western Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Neutral | Div |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 55 | 27 | .671 | – | 32–9 | 21–18 | 2–0 | 30–10 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 48 | 34 | .585 | 7 | 28–12 | 18–21 | 2–1 | 26–14 |
| x-San Francisco Warriors | 41 | 41 | .500 | 14 | 22–19 | 18–21 | 1–1 | 20–20 |
| x-San Diego Rockets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 18 | 25–16 | 8–25 | 4–4 | 20–20 |
| Chicago Bulls | 33 | 49 | .402 | 22 | 19–21 | 12–25 | 2–3 | 19–21 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 30 | 52 | .366 | 25 | 18–18 | 6–29 | 6–5 | 15–23 |
| Phoenix Suns | 16 | 66 | .195 | 39 | 11–26 | 4–28 | 1–12 | 8–30 |

### 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: 48–34 :
October (Total: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 16Cincinnati110–125Alexander Memorial Coliseum0–1
2October 19Milwaukee125–107Alexander Memorial Coliseum1–1
3October 23Chicago106–91Alexander Memorial Coliseum2–1
4October 25Seattle112–123Seattle Center Coliseum2–2
5October 27Phoenix123–100Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum3–2
6October 29L.A. Lakers124–125The Forum3–3
7October 30San Diego116–127San Diego Sports Arena3–4 :
November (Total: 9–8)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
8November 1San Francisco109–105Alexander Memorial Coliseum4–4
9November 3Boston103–123Alexander Memorial Coliseum4–5
10November 6Baltimore119–140Baltimore Civic Center4–6
11November 8San Diego114–101Alexander Memorial Coliseum5–6
12November 9San Francisco113–106Alexander Memorial Coliseum6–6
13November 12San Francisco108–123Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena6–7
14November 13Seattle142–113Seattle Center Coliseum7–7
15November 15Philadelphia115–116Alexander Memorial Coliseum7–8
16November 16Cincinnati125–130Cincinnati Gardens7–9
17November 19Milwaukee89–119Milwaukee Arena7–10
18November 20New York111–106Alexander Memorial Coliseum8–10
19November 21Detroit129–121Cobo Arena9–10
20November 23Chicago114–96Chicago Stadium10–10
21November 24Baltimore111–118Alexander Memorial Coliseum10–11
22November 26Baltimore99–102Baltimore Civic Center10–12
23November 27Cincinnati94–91Alexander Memorial Coliseum11–12
24November 30Cincinnati126–109Cincinnati Gardens12–12 :
December (Total: 10–3)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
25December 3New York93–126Madison Square Garden12–13
26December 4New York113–121Alexander Memorial Coliseum12–14
27December 6L.A. Lakers94–99Alexander Memorial Coliseum12–15
28December 8Phoenix121–99Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum13–15
29December 10San Francisco111–100Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena14–15
30December 12Seattle93–91Seattle Center Coliseum15–15
31December 13L.A. Lakers105–103The Forum16–15
32December 17Chicago87–83Chicago Stadium17–15
33December 18Milwaukee122–116Alexander Memorial Coliseum18–15
34December 21Detroit120–110Alexander Memorial Coliseum19–15
35December 26Seattle126–96Alexander Memorial Coliseum20–15
36December 28Boston110–97Alexander Memorial Coliseum21–15
37December 29Baltimore101–99Alexander Memorial Coliseum22–15 :
January (Total: 11–7)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
38January 2Chicago106–88Chicago Stadium23–15
39January 3Detroit128–106Cobo Arena24–15
40January 4L.A. Lakers111–121Alexander Memorial Coliseum24–16
41January 5Phoenix97–96Alexander Memorial Coliseum25–16
42January 8Philadelphia111–112Spectrum25–17
43January 10Detroit104–101Alexander Memorial Coliseum26–17
44January 11L.A. Lakers104–100Alexander Memorial Coliseum27–17
45January 16Phoenix112–107Columbia, South Carolina28–17
46January 17Phoenix112–107Alexander Memorial Coliseum29–17
47January 19New York100–96Alexander Memorial Coliseum30–17
48January 21San Diego113–124San Diego Sports Arena30–18
49January 22Phoenix125–107Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum31–18
50January 24L.A. Lakers110–106Alexander Memorial Coliseum32–18
51January 25Baltimore112–109Baltimore Civic Center33–18
52January 26Philadelphia115–119Alexander Memorial Coliseum33–19
53January 28Boston96–108Boston Garden33–20
54January 29Philadelphia96–119Spectrum33–21
55January 31Seattle112–119Alexander Memorial Coliseum33–22 :
February (Total: 9–7)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
56February 1Detroit119–99Alexander Memorial Coliseum34–22
57February 2San Diego115–103Alexander Memorial Coliseum35–22
58February 4New York97–122Madison Square Garden35–23
59February 7Boston109–107Boston Garden36–23
60February 8Chicago106–97Alexander Memorial Coliseum37–23
61February 9Baltimore101–102Alexander Memorial Coliseum37–24
62February 11San Francisco87–92Alexander Memorial Coliseum37–25
63February 12Milwaukee113–106Milwaukee Arena38–25
64February 14Boston104–101Alexander Memorial Coliseum39–25
65February 16San Francisco106–113Alexander Memorial Coliseum39–26
66February 17Milwaukee111–123Baltimore, MD39–27
67February 18Cincinnati124–123Cleveland40–27
68February 20Detroit97–87Cobo Arena41–27
69February 23San Diego124–92Alexander Memorial Coliseum42–27
70February 25New York101–122Madison Square Garden42–28
71February 28Boston120–122Boston Garden42–29 :
March (Total: 6–5)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
72March 2Milwaukee112–108Alexander Memorial Coliseum43–29
73March 6Philadelphia139–99Alexander Memorial Coliseum44–29
74March 9Cincinnati134–107Alexander Memorial Coliseum45–29
75March 11Chicago90–102Chicago Stadium45–30
76March 12Chicago109–90Alexander Memorial Coliseum46–30
77March 15Philadelphia120–122Spectrum46–31
78March 16Seattle131–127 (OT)Alexander Memorial Coliseum47–31
79March 18San Francisco128–115Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena48–31
80March 20San Diego97–115San Diego Sports Arena48–32
81March 21L.A. Lakers103–116The Forum48–33
82March 23San Diego121–128San Diego Sports Arena48–34 :
1968–69 schedule :

## Playoffs

1969 playoff game log :
Division Semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
March 27
San Diego
W 107–98
Lou Hudson (39)
Bill Bridges (22)
Ohl, Hazzard (3)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 4,194
1–0
2
March 29
San Diego
W 116–114
Zelmo Beaty (31)
Bill Bridges (14)
Joe Caldwell (8)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 6,006
2–0
3
April 1
@ San Diego
L 97–104
Zelmo Beaty (31)
Zelmo Beaty (17)
Joe Caldwell (6)
San Diego Sports Arena 9,340
2–1
4
April 4
@ San Diego
L 112–114
Walt Hazzard (34)
Beaty, Bridges (11)
Walt Hazzard (5)
San Diego Sports Arena 12,337
2–2
5
April 6
San Diego
W 112–101
Joe Caldwell (26)
Bill Bridges (17)
Caldwell, Hazzard (5)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 4,007
3–2
6
April 7
@ San Diego
W 108–106
Lou Hudson (27)
Bill Bridges (17)
Caldwell, Hazzard (4)
San Diego Sports Arena 10,117
4–2 :
Division Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 11
Los Angeles
L 93–95
Zelmo Beaty (29)
Bill Bridges (20)
Walt Hazzard (6)
The Forum 16,190
0–1
2
April 13
@ Los Angeles
L 102–104
Joe Caldwell (34)
Caldwell, Bridges (10)
Bill Bridges (5)
The Forum 15,136
0–2
3
April 15
Los Angeles
W 99–86
Zelmo Beaty (22)
Zelmo Beaty (15)
Lou Hudson (5)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 7,140
1–2
4
April 17
Los Angeles
L 85–100
Lou Hudson (35)
Zelmo Beaty (20)
Bill Bridges (5)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 7,140
1–3
5
April 20
@ Los Angeles
L 96–104
Zelmo Beaty (30)
Bill Bridges (22)
Lou Hudson (7)
The Forum 16,273
1–4 :
1969 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
| Walt Hazzard | 80 | 30.3 | .397 | .707 | 3.3 | 5.9 | 11.2 |
| Zelmo Beaty | 72 | 35.8 | .470 | .731 | 11.1 | 1.8 | 21.5 |
| Bill Bridges | 80 | 36.6 | .453 | .677 | 14.2 | 3.7 | 11.8 |
| Joe Caldwell | 81 | 33.6 | .507 | .537 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 15.8 |
| Jim Davis | 78 | 17.5 | .467 | .667 | 6.8 | 1.2 | 8.8 |
| Richie Guerin | 27 | 17.5 | .423 | .770 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 5.6 |
| Dennis Hamilton | 25 | 5.6 | .552 | .400 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 3.0 |
| Skip Harlicka | 26 | 8.4 | .456 | .774 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 4.1 |
| Lou Hudson | 81 | 35.4 | .492 | .777 | 6.6 | 2.7 | 21.9 |
| George Lehmann | 11 | 12.5 | .388 | .667 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 5.5 |
| Don Ohl | 76 | 26.3 | .427 | .707 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 12.1 |
| Paul Silas | 79 | 23.5 | .419 | .613 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 8.7 |
| Dwight Waller | 11 | 2.6 | .222 | .429 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.6 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
| Walt Hazzard | 11 | 32.7 | .393 | .787 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 14.0 |
| Zelmo Beaty | 11 | 43.0 | .432 | .672 | 12.9 | 2.3 | 22.5 |
| Bill Bridges | 11 | 40.2 | .442 | .708 | 16.2 | 3.4 | 15.6 |
| Joe Caldwell | 11 | 36.7 | .485 | .464 | 5.0 | 3.4 | 14.7 |
| Jim Davis | 8 | 6.5 | .267 | .625 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 1.6 |
| Richie Guerin | 3 | 10.7 | .250 | .500 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 |
| Skip Harlicka | 1 | 1.0 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lou Hudson | 11 | 38.5 | .468 | .769 | 5.4 | 2.9 | 22.0 |
| Don Ohl | 11 | 17.6 | .349 | .591 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 6.6 |
| Paul Silas | 11 | 23.5 | .362 | .514 | 8.4 | 1.9 | 5.5 |

## Awards

* Bill Bridges, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

## Transactions

| Atlanta Hawks | Players Added Via Draft Skip Harlicka Dwight Waller Via Trade Walt Hazzard (From SuperSonics) | Players Lost Via Trade Lenny Wilkens (To SuperSonics) |