1975–76 Golden State Warriors season

The 1975–76 Golden State Warriors season was the 31st season of NBA basketball in Oakland, California Coming off their NBA Championship, the Warriors finished with a then-franchise-best 59–23 record. The Warriors would however lose in the Western Conference finals to the upstart Phoenix Suns, four games to three. The Warriors’ franchise-best regular-season record would be surpassed when the team won the 2014–15 championship, but in between the Warriors would play thirty-eight seasons without even reaching the conference finals, the fourth-longest such drought in NBA history.

Playoffs
In the playoffs, the Warriors returned to the Western Conference finals by beating the Detroit Pistons in 6 games. In the Western Finals, the Warriors faced the Phoenix Suns. The Warriors had a 2 games to 1 lead. Game 4 went in overtime and the Warriors were unable to grab a 3–1 series lead. The Suns would rally to win the game 133–129. The Warriors would bounce back to take Game 5, but the Suns would win Games 6 & 7 to stun the defending Champions.


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * April 20
 * Detroit
 * W 127–103
 * Phil Smith (26)
 * Clifford Ray (12)
 * Rick Barry (14)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,067
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * April 22
 * Detroit
 * L 111–123
 * Rick Barry (27)
 * Clifford Ray (12)
 * Rick Barry (8)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,067
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * April 24
 * @ Detroit
 * W 113–96
 * Phil Smith (34)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (18)
 * Rick Barry (10)
 * Cobo Arena 10,022
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * April 26
 * @ Detroit
 * L 102–106
 * Phil Smith (31)
 * Clifford Ray (8)
 * Rick Barry (6)
 * Cobo Arena 11,389
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * April 28
 * Detroit
 * W 128–109
 * Phil Smith (28)
 * Clifford Ray (14)
 * Rick Barry (11)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,067
 * 3–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * April 30
 * @ Detroit
 * W 118–116 (OT)
 * Phil Smith (37)
 * three players tied (8)
 * Phil Smith (7)
 * Cobo Arena 10,361
 * 4–2


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 2
 * Phoenix
 * W 128–103
 * Rick Barry (38)
 * Clifford Ray (11)
 * Gus Williams (6)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,475
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * May 5
 * Phoenix
 * L 101–108
 * Rick Barry (44)
 * George Johnson (11)
 * Rick Barry (4)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,067
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 7
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 99–91
 * Jamaal Wilkes (22)
 * Rick Barry (7)
 * Barry, Smith (6)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,306
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * May 9
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 129–133 (2OT)
 * Phil Smith (30)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (14)
 * Phil Smith (8)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,884
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * May 12
 * Phoenix
 * W 111–95
 * Phil Smith (25)
 * Clifford Ray (16)
 * Phil Smith (6)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,067
 * 3–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * May 14
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 104–105
 * Rick Barry (30)
 * Clifford Ray (12)
 * Barry, Smith (6)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,396
 * 3–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * May 16
 * Phoenix
 * L 86–94
 * Rick Barry (20)
 * Wilkes, Ray (13)
 * Phil Smith (6)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,067
 * 3–4

Awards and honors

 * Rick Barry, All-NBA First Team
 * Rick Barry, NBA All-Star Game
 * Phil Smith, All-NBA Second Team
 * Phil Smith, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
 * Gus Williams, NBA All-Rookie Team First Team