1967–68 Indiana Pacers season

The 1967–68 Indiana Pacers season was Indiana's first season in the ABA and its first as a team.

1967–68 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach	Larry Staverman
Arena	Indiana State Fair Coliseum
Results
Record	38–40 (.487)
Place	Division: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Division Semifinals (lost to Pipers 0–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WLWI 13
Radio	WIRE
1968–69 >

During the first season, the Pacers played most of their games at Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, but they staged a handful of games across Indiana to help build attention for the team, playing one game in Fort Wayne, Shelbyville, New Castle, Madison along with two in Kokomo.

ABA Draft

Main article: 1967 ABA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position(s)	College
1	1	Jimmy Walker	SG	Providence[1]
2	22	Bob Netolicky	PF/C	Drake

Roster

1967–68 Indiana Pacers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From PF 45 Matthew Aitch 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) September 21, 1944 Michigan State SF 30 Ron Bonham 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 192 lb (87 kg) May 31, 1942 Cincinnati SF 35 Roger Brown 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) May 22, 1942 George W. Wingate High School PF 33 Ollie Darden 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) July 28, 1944 Michigan PG 12 Jimmy Dawson 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) April 18, 1945 Illinois SF 44 Bobby Joe Edmonds 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) March 8, 1941 Tennessee State C 32 Reggie Harding 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 249 lb (113 kg) May 4, 1942 Nashville Christian Institute PG 15 Jerry Harkness 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) May 7, 1940 Loyola University of Chicago SF 42 Ronald Kozlicki 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) December 12, 1944 Northwestern PG 14 Freddie Lewis 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) July 1, 1943 Arizona State PF 24 Bob Netolicky 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) August 2, 1942 Drake C 43 George Peeples 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) October 30, 1943 Iowa PG 23 Jimmy Rayl 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) June 21, 1941 Indiana

Head coach Larry Staverman Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Season standings

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	Pct.
Pittsburgh Pipers	54	24	.692
Minnesota Muskies	50	28	.641
Indiana Pacers	38	40	.487
Kentucky Colonels	36	42	.462
New Jersey Americans	36	42	.462

Western Division

Team	W	L	Pct.
New Orleans Buccaneers	48	30	.615
Dallas Chaparrals	46	32	.590
Denver Rockets	45	33	.577
Houston Mavericks	29	49	.372
Anaheim Amigos	25	53	.321
Oakland Oaks	22	56	.282[2]

Record vs. opponents

1967–68 ABA Records
Team	ANA	DAL	DEN	HOU	IND	KEN	MIN	NJA	NOB	OAK	PIT
Anaheim	—	2–8	3–7	6–3	2–4	0–6	1–5	2–4	2–7	6–4	1–5
Dallas	8–2	—	4–5	8–2	3–3	5–1	2–4	3–3	4–6	7–2	2–4
Denver	7–3	5–4	—	6–3	4–2	2–4	2–4	5–1	5–5	7–3	2–4
Houston	3–6	2–8	3–6	—	3–3	3–3	3–3	3–3	0–10	7–3	2–4
Indiana	4–2	3–3	2–4	3–3	—	6–5	3–8	6–4	3–3	4–2	4–6
Kentucky	6–0	1–5	4–2	3–3	5–6	—	5–5	4–7	2–4	3–3	3–7
Minnesota	5–1	4–2	4–2	3–3	8–3	5–5	—	7–3	5–1	5–1	4–7
New Jersey	4–2	3–3	1–5	3–3	4–6	7–4	3–7	—	3–3	5–1	3–8
New Orleans	7–2	6–4	5–5	10–0	3–3	4–2	1–5	3–3	—	6–3	3–3
Oakland	4–6	2–7	3–7	3–7	2–4	3–3	1–5	1–5	3–6	—	0–6
Pittsburgh	5–1	4–2	4–2	4–2	6–4	7–3	7–4	8–3	3–3	6–0	—

Awards, records, and honors

ABA All-Stars

• Roger Brown
• Mel Daniels
• Bob Netolicky

Playoffs

Eastern Division semifinals^[3]

1968 playoff game log
Eastern Division Semifinals: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 March 25 @ Pittsburgh L 127–146 Roger Brown (32) Roger Brown (12) Civic Arena 0–1 2 March 26 @ Pittsburgh L 108–121 Freddie Lewis (21) Ollie Darden (16) Civic Arena 0–2 3 March 27 Pittsburgh L 114–133 Freddie Lewis (32) George Peeples (20) Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum 0–3
1968 schedule

Team leaders

Stat	Player	Average
Points	Freddie Lewis	20.6
Rebounds	Bob Netolicky	11.5
Assists	Roger Brown	4.3
Win shares	Freddie Lewis	7.5

^[4]