The 1969 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1968–69 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.
Despite finishing in 4th place, the Celtics won their second straight NBA title, marking their 11th overall as their era of 1960s dominance drew to a close. They upset Philadelphia and New York on the way to the Finals. Out west, the San Francisco Warriors stunned the Lakers by winning the first 2 in L.A., and Bay Area fans were thinking of avenging the prior year's sweep by the Lakers with a sweep of their own. But the Lakers won 4 straight to win the series in 6.
This year marked the debut of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award; it was awarded to Jerry West of the Lakers, which marks the only time so far that the trophy has been given to a player on the losing team.
The Celtics were the first team seeded below third in their conference or division and win the NBA championship. It would not happen again until the 1995 NBA playoffs.[1]
The second-year San Diego Rockets made their first playoff appearance; the next time they appeared was in 1975 as the Houston Rockets.
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[2]
This was the 13th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning seven of the first 12 meetings.
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the first two meetings.
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[5]
This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the first six meetings.
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning five of the first eight meetings while in St. Louis.
This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first six meetings.