▁year ▁before . ▁ ▁In ▁a ▁year ▁highlight ed ▁by ▁the ▁gray ing ▁of ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁game ' s ▁greatest ▁players , ▁New ▁York ' s ▁three ▁big ▁men ▁had ▁key ed ▁an ▁impress ive ▁title ▁run ▁past ▁t ough ▁riv als ▁and ▁two ▁ 6 0 - win ▁teams ▁to ▁cap ▁impress ive ▁care ers . ▁ ▁For ▁Chamber lain ▁and ▁West , ▁it ▁was ▁one ▁more ▁runner - up ▁finish ▁for ▁the ▁road . ▁ ▁Final ▁stand ings ▁ ▁By ▁division ▁ ▁By ▁conference ▁ ▁Notes ▁z , ▁y ▁– ▁division ▁champions ▁x ▁– ▁cl inch ed ▁play off ▁spot ▁ ▁Statistics ▁leaders ▁ ▁NBA ▁awards ▁Most ▁Val u able ▁Player : ▁Dave ▁Cow ens , ▁Boston ▁C elt ics ▁Ro ok ie ▁of ▁the ▁Year : ▁Bob ▁Mc A do o , ▁Buff alo ▁Bra ves ▁Co ach ▁of ▁the ▁Year : ▁Tom ▁Hein so hn , ▁Boston ▁C elt ics ▁All - N BA ▁First ▁Team : ▁John ▁Hav lic ek , ▁Boston ▁C elt ics ▁N ate ▁Arch ib ald , ▁Kansas ▁City - O ma ha ▁Kings ▁K are em ▁Abd ul - J ab bar , ▁Mil w au kee ▁Buck s ▁Sp encer ▁Hay wood , ▁Seattle ▁Super S on ics ▁Jerry ▁West , ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁L akers ▁All - N BA ▁Second ▁Team : ▁El vin ▁Hay es , ▁Capital ▁Bul lets ▁Rick ▁Barry , ▁Golden ▁State ▁War riors ▁Dave ▁Cow ens , ▁Boston ▁C elt ics ▁W alt ▁Fra z ier ,