The 1966–67 NBA season was the Warriors' 21st in the NBA, fifth in the San Francisco Bay Area and among the most wildly successful in franchise history. They entered the season on the heels of a 35–45 record that barely failed to make the postseason cut. Led by All-Stars Rick Barry and Nate Thurmond, they surprised the basketball world with a Western Division title on the strength of a 44-37 record. They advanced to the NBA Finals, losing to the heavily favored Philadelphia 76ers in six games.[1]
In the 1966 offseason, the Warriors made three transactions, the first being made on June 7, when the team signed center Bill McGill. The veteran would not be on the team's final roster. On September 1, the Warriors purchased swingman Bob Warlick from the Detroit Pistons. Warlick would spend two seasons with the team, averaging 8 points per game during his tenure.[2]
On September 7, the Warriors pulled off one of the most fruitful in their history, sending guard Guy Rodgers to the expansion Chicago Bulls in return for guards Jim King and Jeff Mullins plus cash.[3] The trade marked the end of Rodgers' eight-year tenure with the Warriors. After the trade, he would play for the Bulls, the Cincinnati Royals, and the Milwaukee Bucks.[4] King would play with the Warriors for three complete seasons before being traded in the beginning of the season to the Cincinnati Royals.[5] Mullins would stay with the team for ten seasons, retiring in 1976.[6]