1974–75 Chicago Bulls season

The 1974–75 NBA season was the Bulls' ninth season in the NBA.^[1] The season saw the Bulls clinch the Midwest Division championship, their first title of any kind, and the only one prior to the dynasty years of the 1990s.

1974–75 Chicago Bulls season
Division champions
Head coach	Dick Motta
General manager	Dick Motta
Owner(s)	Arthur Wirtz and Jonathan Kovler
Arena	Chicago Stadium
Results
Record	47–35 (.573)
Place	Division: 1st (Midwest) Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finish	Conference finals (lost to Warriors 3–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WSNS-TV (Andy Musser, Dick Gonski)
Radio	WIND (Jim Durham, Bill Berg)
< 1973–74 1975–76 >

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1974 NBA draft

Roster

1974–75 Chicago Bulls roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 5 Leon Benbow 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1950-07-23 Jacksonville F 35 John Block 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1944-04-16 USC C 18 Tom Boerwinkle 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1945-08-23 Tennessee F 23 Rowland Garrett 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1950-07-16 Florida State G 14 Matt Guokas 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1944-02-25 Saint Joseph's F 8 Mickey Johnson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1952-08-31 Aurora F 10 Bob Love 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1942-12-08 Southern G/F 4 Jerry Sloan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1942-03-28 Evansville C 42 Nate Thurmond 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1941-07-25 Bowling Green G 2 Norm Van Lier 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 173 lb (78 kg) 1947-04-01 Saint Francis (PA) F 25 Chet Walker 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 212 lb (96 kg) 1940-02-22 Bradley G 34 Bobby Wilson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1951-01-15 Wichita State

Head coach Dick Motta Assistant(s) Ed Badger Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: November 27, 1974

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Chicago Bulls	47	35	.573	–	29–12	18–23	11–15
x-Kansas City–Omaha Kings	44	38	.537	3	29–12	15–26	17–9
x-Detroit Pistons	40	42	.488	7	26–15	14–27	10–16
Milwaukee Bucks	38	44	.463	9	25–16	13–28	14–12

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Golden State Warriors	48	34	.585	–
2	y-Chicago Bulls	47	35	.573	1
3	x-Kansas City–Omaha Kings	44	38	.537	4
4	x-Seattle SuperSonics	43	39	.524	5
5	x-Detroit Pistons	40	42	.488	8
6	Portland Trail Blazers	38	44	.463	10
6	Milwaukee Bucks	38	44	.463	10
8	Phoenix Suns	32	50	.390	16
9	Los Angeles Lakers	30	52	.366	18

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

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: 47–35 (home: 29–12; road: 18–23)
October: 3–5 (home: 2–2; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 18 Atlanta 115–120 (OT) Chet Walker (25) Nate Thurmond (14) Nate Thurmond (13) Chicago Stadium 7,351 1–0 2 October 19 Milwaukee 70–87 Chet Walker (18) Nate Thurmond (20) Nate Thurmond (5) Chicago Stadium 9,031 2–0 3 October 22 @ Milwaukee 90–92 Chet Walker (21) Nate Thurmond (14) Chet Walker (5) MECCA Arena 9,439 2–1 4 October 23 @ Kansas City–Omaha 98–99 Chet Walker (24) Nate Thurmond (12) Tom Boerwinkle (5) Omaha Civic Auditorium 4,759 2–2 5 October 25 Kansas City–Omaha 112–91 Bobby Wilson (18) Nate Thurmond (17) Sloan, Walker, Wilson (3) Chicago Stadium 6,942 2–3 6 October 26 @ Buffalo 104–105 Jerry Sloan (24) Nate Thurmond (11) Nate Thurmond (10) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 12,767 2–4 7 October 29 Washington 96–80 Chet Walker (17) Nate Thurmond (14) Adelman, Boerwinkle (4) Chicago Stadium 4,413 2–5 8 October 30 @ Boston 105–104 Chet Walker (26) Bill Hewitt (15) Rick Adelman (7) Boston Garden 7,964 3–5
November: 7–6 (home: 1–1; road: 6–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 9 November 2 @ New York 95–90 Chet Walker (20) Nate Thurmond (13) Bill Hewitt (5) Madison Square Garden 19,543 4–5 10 November 3 @ Kansas City–Omaha 86–79 Chet Walker (26) Nate Thurmond (14) Rick Adelman (5) Kemper Arena 4,430 5–5 11 November 6 @ Philadelphia 90–105 Mickey Johnson (13) Sloan, Thurmond (8) Sloan, Thurmond (4) The Spectrum 5,287 5–6 12 November 9 @ Washington 89–96 Jerry Sloan (24) Nate Thurmond (11) Norm Van Lier (6) Capital Centre 8,083 5–7 13 November 12 @ New Orleans 88–79 Chet Walker (30) Nate Thurmond (14) Norm Van Lier (7) Municipal Auditorium 4,412 6–7 14 November 14 @ Houston 96–105 Chet Walker (33) Jerry Sloan (8) Thurmond, Van Lier (9) Hofheinz Pavilion 2,523 6–8 15 November 15 @ Phoenix 102–95 Chet Walker (27) John Block (12) Nate Thurmond (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,071 7–8 16 November 17 @ Los Angeles 96–76 Chet Walker (23) Nate Thurmond (18) Norm Van Lier (12) The Forum 12,417 8–8 17 November 19 @ Portland 92–98 (OT) Nate Thurmond (25) Nate Thurmond (13) Nate Thurmond (7) Memorial Coliseum 10,897 8–9 18 November 22 @ Seattle 93–89 Block, Van Lier (24) Block, Thurmond (14) Norm Van Lier (6) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,082 9–9 19 November 24 Buffalo 89–91 Chet Walker (27) Nate Thurmond (18) Nate Thurmond (9) Chicago Stadium 13,346 10–9 20 November 26 Kansas City–Omaha 93–90 John Block (29) Nate Thurmond (10) Norm Van Lier (14) Chicago Stadium 7,321 10–10 21 November 30 @ Milwaukee 99–101 (2OT) Chet Walker (25) Norm Van Lier (9) Thurmond, Van Lier (6) MECCA Arena 10,938 10–11
December: 7–6 (home: 5–4; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 22 December 3 Portland 91–96 Love, Van Lier (18) Nate Thurmond (14) Nate Thurmond (9) Chicago Stadium 7,241 11–11 23 December 6 Milwaukee 99–96 John Block (22) John Block (16) Norm Van Lier (7) Chicago Stadium 17,107 11–12 24 December 10 Boston 107–89 Jerry Sloan (20) Nate Thurmond (12) Guokas, Love (4) Chicago Stadium 11,036 11–13 25 December 13 New Orleans 76–109 Block, Walker (21) Nate Thurmond (11) Sloan, Thurmond (4) Chicago Stadium 5,198 12–13 26 December 17 Seattle 84–87 Chet Walker (21) Nate Thurmond (15) Jerry Sloan (6) Chicago Stadium 5,591 13–13 27 December 19 @ Atlanta 88–80 Chet Walker (18) Nate Thurmond (14) Sloan, Thurmond (5) Omni Coliseum 3,043 14–13 28 December 20 Kansas City–Omaha 73–96 Bob Love (30) Nate Thurmond (14) Matt Guokas (8) Chicago Stadium 5,021 15–13 29 December 21 @ Cleveland 87–74 Bob Love (28) Sloan, Thurmond (9) Norm Van Lier (8) Richfield Coliseum 6,871 16–13 30 December 23 @ Kansas City–Omaha 87–97 Chet Walker (24) Jerry Sloan (10) Norm Van Lier (7) Kemper Arena 6,454 16–14 31 December 26 Philadelphia 91–92 Chet Walker (22) Nate Thurmond (14) Boerwinkle, Guokas (5) Chicago Stadium 9,224 17–14 32 December 27 Los Angeles 105–93 Norm Van Lier (21) Nate Thurmond (11) Thurmond, Van Lier (3) Chicago Stadium 11,148 17–15 33 December 28 @ Detroit 70–79 John Block (14) Nate Thurmond (11) Bob Love (5) Cobo Arena 11,015 17–16 34 December 30 Detroit 86–81 Bob Love (18) Nate Thurmond (11) Norm Van Lier (7) Chicago Stadium 10,846 17–17
January: 11–4 (home: 8–2; road: 3–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 35 January 3 Phoenix 99–126 Bob Love (20) Boerwinkle, Thurmond (9) Tom Boerwinkle (10) Chicago Stadium 6,047 18–17 36 January 4 Kansas City–Omaha 88–100 Bob Love (25) Nate Thurmond (15) Norm Van Lier (9) Chicago Stadium 8,771 19–17 37 January 5 @ Milwaukee 95–96 Bob Love (23) Nate Thurmond (14) Nate Thurmond (6) MECCA Arena 10,938 19–18 38 January 7 Houston 97–106 Bob Love (27) Nate Thurmond (10) Norm Van Lier (10) Chicago Stadium 4,881 20–18 39 January 10 Atlanta 113–116 Chet Walker (39) Nate Thurmond (12) Norm Van Lier (9) Chicago Stadium 7,132 21–18 40 January 11 @ Golden State 114–105 Bob Love (31) Norm Van Lier (13) Norm Van Lier (9) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787 22–18 41 January 12 @ Seattle 127–123 (2OT) Norm Van Lier (42) Jerry Sloan (10) Norm Van Lier (9) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,082 23–18 42 January 17 Phoenix 115–105 Norm Van Lier (23) Nate Thurmond (11) Sloan, Walker (4) Chicago Stadium 7,174 23–19 43 January 18 New York 104–91 Chet Walker (24) Jerry Sloan (10) Tom Boerwinkle (4) Chicago Stadium 17,422 23–20 44 January 21 @ New York 97–94 Bob Love (31) Nate Thurmond (14) Nate Thurmond (7) Madison Square Garden 19,694 24–20 45 January 24 Seattle 81–86 Chet Walker (21) Nate Thurmond (13) Norm Van Lier (6) Chicago Stadium 7,107 25–20 46 January 25 Detroit 96–116 Bob Love (23) Nate Thurmond (9) Norm Van Lier (8) Chicago Stadium 18,720 26–20 47 January 26 @ Detroit 93–102 (OT) Chet Walker (23) Jerry Sloan (10) Norm Van Lier (9) Cobo Arena 10,210 26–21 48 January 28 Cleveland 97–125 Bob Love (37) Nate Thurmond (13) Nate Thurmond (9) Chicago Stadium 5,210 27–21 49 January 31 Golden State 103–127 Bob Love (34) Garrett, Thurmond (10) Tom Boerwinkle (8) Chicago Stadium 13,208 28–21
February: 11–2 (home: 8–0; road: 3–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 50 February 2 Washington 80–97 Bob Love (24) Nate Thurmond (17) Norm Van Lier (8) Chicago Stadium 10,885 29–21 51 February 4 Portland 90–102 Bob Love (38) Nate Thurmond (20) Norm Van Lier (7) Chicago Stadium 8,014 30–21 52 February 7 Detroit 83–95 Chet Walker (23) Love, Sloan (7) Norm Van Lier (11) Chicago Stadium 18,836 31–21 53 February 9 @ Philadelphia 97–109 Chet Walker (25) Nate Thurmond (8) Norm Van Lier (5) The Spectrum 6,370 31–22 54 February 11 New York 84–101 Bob Love (39) Nate Thurmond (13) Norm Van Lier (8) Chicago Stadium 12,317 32–22 55 February 12 @ Detroit 103–93 Norm Van Lier (26) Norm Van Lier (8) Tom Boerwinkle (6) Cobo Arena 10,706 33–22 56 February 14 Golden State 87–105 Bob Love (29) Nate Thurmond (17) Norm Van Lier (6) Chicago Stadium 10,126 34–22 57 February 16 Buffalo 109–114 Bob Love (31) Nate Thurmond (14) Norm Van Lier (7) Chicago Stadium 15,972 35–22 58 February 18 Los Angeles 105–128 Bob Love (27) Tom Boerwinkle (20) Boerwinkle, Van Lier (7) Chicago Stadium 10,214 36–22 59 February 21 Milwaukee 85–96 Bob Love (29) Nate Thurmond (11) Norm Van Lier (10) Chicago Stadium 19,549 37–22 60 February 25 @ New Orleans 120–105 Chet Walker (29) Nate Thurmond (16) Boerwinkle, Walker (5) Municipal Auditorium 7,024 38–22 61 February 27 @ Atlanta 111–91 Bob Love (31) Rowland Garrett (13) Boerwinkle, Van Lier (6) Omni Coliseum 3,563 39–22 62 February 28 @ Houston 87–102 Matt Guokas (13) Tom Boerwinkle (6) Tom Boerwinkle (4) Hofheinz Pavilion 8,475 39–23
March: 5–11 (home: 4–3; road: 1–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 63 March 1 @ Detroit 94–95 Bob Love (23) Jerry Sloan (8) Norm Van Lier (9) Cobo Arena 10,666 39–24 64 March 4 @ Golden State 102–117 Bob Love (36) Tom Boerwinkle (11) Norm Van Lier (6) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,079 39–25 65 March 6 @ Phoenix 65–88 Norm Van Lier (14) Nate Thurmond (10) Tom Boerwinkle (4) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,683 39–26 66 March 7 @ Los Angeles 89–87 Norm Van Lier (24) Nate Thurmond (14) Tom Boerwinkle (7) The Forum 11,116 40–26 67 March 8 @ Portland 82–88 Bob Love (21) Nate Thurmond (15) Guokas, Van Lier (5) Memorial Coliseum 11,744 40–27 68 March 11 Boston 121–115 (OT) Love, Van Lier (28) Nate Thurmond (14) Boerwinkle, Thurmond (5) Chicago Stadium 19,121 40–28 69 March 14 Detroit 94–97 Norm Van Lier (21) Tom Boeriwnkle (13) Tom Boerwinkle (6) Chicago Stadium 14,377 41–28 70 March 16 Milwaukee 103–90 Bob Love (28) Tom Boerwinkle (8) Nate Thurmond (5) Chicago Stadium 18,222 41–29 71 March 18 Philadelphia 96–111 Chet Walker (30) Nate Thurmond (16) Norm Van Lier (7) Chicago Stadium 8,741 42–29 72 March 20 @ Cleveland 83–87 Chet Walker (31) Nate Thurmond (11) Nate Thurmond (9) Richfield Coliseum 7,491 42–30 73 March 21 Kansas City–Omaha 98–104 Bob Love (28) Bob Love (13) Nate Thurmond (7) Chicago Stadium 14,792 43–30 74 March 23 @ Kansas City–Omaha 101–103 Bob Love (38) Bob Love (11) Norm Van Lier (6) Kemper Arena 16,805 43–31 75 March 25 Houston 94–112 Bob Love (29) Nate Thurmond (11) Boerwinkle, Guokas, Thurmond (7) Chicago Stadium 9,863 44–31 76 March 27 Cleveland 86–83 Chet Walker (18) Nate Thurmond (12) Guokas, Love, Van Lier (3) Chicago Stadium 10,031 44–32 77 March 28 @ Boston 92–97 Bob Love (26) Nate Thurmond (12) Norm Van Lier (5) Boston Garden 15,320 44–33 78 March 30 @ Washington 82–94 Bob Love (18) Rowland Garrett (13) Tom Boerwinkle (7) Capital Centre 10,149 44–34
April: 3–1 (home: 1–0; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 79 April 1 @ Buffalo 98–93 Chet Walker (24) Tom Boerwinkle (11) Tom Boerwinkle (11) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 12,888 45–34 80 April 2 @ Detroit 89–97 Boerwinkle, Van Lier (17) Tom Boerwinkle (9) Tom Boerwinkle (10) Cobo Arena 9,336 45–35 81 April 4 New Orleans 87–111 Norm Van Lier (32) Thurmond, Walker (11) Norm Van Lier (6) Chicago Stadium 11,312 46–35 82 April 6 @ Milwaukee 112–100 Norm Van Lier (24) Tom Boerwinkle (12) Tom Boerwinkle (6) MECCA Arena 10,938 47–35
Source: www.basketball-reference.com

Playoffs

1975 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 9 Kansas City–Omaha W 95–89 Bob Love (38) Tom Boerwinkle (12) Tom Boerwinkle (5) Chicago Stadium 15,433 1–0 2 April 13 @ Kansas City–Omaha L 95–102 Chet Walker (20) Tom Boerwinkle (12) Tom Boerwinkle (3) Kemper Arena 11,378 1–1 3 April 16 Kansas City–Omaha W 93–90 Bob Love (31) Tom Boerwinkle (24) Norm Van Lier (6) Chicago Stadium 18,347 2–1 4 April 18 @ Kansas City–Omaha L 100–104 (OT) Bob Love (34) Tom Boerwinkle (17) Tom Boerwinkle (5) Kemper Arena 14,945 2–2 5 April 20 Kansas City–Omaha W 104–77 Bob Love (30) Tom Boerwinkle (19) Tom Boerwinkle (8) Chicago Stadium 16,247 3–2 6 April 23 @ Kansas City–Omaha W 101–89 Bob Love (26) Tom Boerwinkle (14) Norm Van Lier (4) Kemper Arena 12,445 4–2
Conference finals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 27 @ Golden State L 89–107 Bob Love (37) Nate Thurmond (7) Tom Boerwinkle (4) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787 0–1 2 April 30 Golden State W 90–89 Chet Walker (28) Tom Boerwinkle (14) Tom Boerwinkle (5) Chicago Stadium 18,533 1–1 3 May 4 Golden State W 108–101 Norm Van Lier (35) Nate Thurmond (12) Norm Van Lier (9) Chicago Stadium 19,128 2–1 4 May 6 @ Golden State L 106–111 Bob Love (27) Jerry Sloan (12) Norm Van Lier (9) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787 2–2 5 May 8 @ Golden State W 89–79 Chet Walker (21) Sloan, Boerwinkle (10) Van Lier, Boerwinkle (4) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,787 3–2 6 May 11 Golden State L 72–86 Norm Van Lier (24) Sloan, Boerwinkle (8) Nate Thurmond (5) Chicago Stadium 19,594 3–3 7 May 14 @ Golden State L 79–83 Chet Walker (21) Tom Boerwinkle (16) Tom Boerwinkle (6) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3–4
1975 schedule

Awards and records

• Jerry Sloan, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Norm Van Lier, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Bob Love, NBA All-Defensive Second Team