On March 26, 1972 Chamberlain’s Philadelphia Sets Record
1972: Earlier in the season, the Los Angeles Lakers set a pro sports record with 33 consecutive victories. Tonight, the Lakers close out the season with a record-setting 69th victory, routing the Seattle SuperSonics, 124-98, in the Forum.
The Lakers (69-13), with Chamberlain at center, replace another Wilt team in the record book. Chamberlain’s Philadelphia 1966-67 team went 68-13. In 81 of their 82 games, coach Bill Sharman’s Lakers score at least 100 points, another NBA record. Also, their road winning percentage of .816 (31-7) is the NBA’s best ever.
Despite gaining the NBA Finals seven times in the past 10 years, the Lakers haven’t won the championship since moving from Minneapolis in 1960. It will change this year, as the Lakers of Jerry West, Gail Goodrich and Chamberlain will beat the Knicks in five games.
The Lakers’ record of 69 victories will last until 1995-96, when the Chicago Bulls will go 72-10.
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