1968 NBA Finals

1968 NBA Finals
Dates	April 21–May 2
Hall of Famers	Celtics:; Sam Jones (1984); John Havlicek (1984); Bailey Howell (1997); Don Nelson (2012, coach); Bill Russell (1975); Lakers:; Elgin Baylor (1977); Gail Goodrich (1996); Jerry West (1980); Coaches:; Bill Russell (2021); Officials:; Mendy Rudolph (2007); Earl Strom (1995)
Eastern finals	Celtics defeated 76ers, 4–3
Western finals	Lakers defeated Warriors, 4–0

The 1968 NBA World Championship Series pitted the Boston Celtics from the East, against the Los Angeles Lakers from the West, for the sixth time in ten years. The Celtics won their tenth NBA Championship in twelve seasons, by defeating the Lakers in six games. Significantly, Game 6 marked the first time that any NBA competition had taken place during the month of May. This was the last NBA Finals without a Finals MVP named as the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award was introduced the following year.

Series summary

Game	Date	Home team	Result	Road team
Game 1	April 21	Boston Celtics	107–101 (1–0)	Los Angeles Lakers
Game 2	April 24	Boston Celtics	113–123 (1–1)	Los Angeles Lakers
Game 3	April 26	Los Angeles Lakers	119–127 (1–2)	Boston Celtics
Game 4	April 28	Los Angeles Lakers	119–105 (2–2)	Boston Celtics
Game 5	April 30	Boston Celtics	120–117 (OT) (3–2)	Los Angeles Lakers
Game 6	May 2	Los Angeles Lakers	109–124 (2–4)	Boston Celtics

Celtics win series 4–2

Team rosters

Boston Celtics

1967–68 Boston Celtics roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB	From
F/C	28	Embry, Wayne	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	1937-03-26	Miami (OH)
PG	11	Graham, Mal	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1945-02-23	NYU
G/F	17	Havlicek, John	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	203 lb (92 kg)	1940-04-08	Ohio State
SF	18	Howell, Bailey	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1937-01-20	Mississippi State
PF	27	Jones, Johnny	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	1933-03-12	Cal State LA
SG	24	Jones, Sam	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	198 lb (90 kg)	1933-06-24	North Carolina Central
F	19	Nelson, Don	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1940-05-15	Iowa
C	6	Russell, Bill	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	1934-02-12	San Francisco
SF	16	Sanders, Satch	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1938-11-08	NYU
C/G	20	Siegfried, Larry	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	1939-10-14	Ohio State
G/F	12	Thacker, Tom	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	1939-11-02	Cincinnati
PG	26	Weitzman, Rick	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	1946-04-30	Northeastern

Head coach

Bill Russell

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Los Angeles Lakers

1967–68 Los Angeles Lakers roster