Dr. J isn't just symbolically important as a harbinger of the style that would arrive in the '80s: he was a two-time ABA champion and won the last three MVPs of the ABA. Adam Criblez is an Assistant Professor of History at Southeast Missouri State University and the author of the new book Tall Tales and Short Shorts: Dr. J, Pistol Pete, and the Birth of the Modern NBA. Best-known for his underhand free throw technique, Rick Barry was not someone to be taken lightly on the basketball court.He was a 12-time All-Star selection between the ABA and NBA, and also made a total of 10 All-League teams between the two leagues. LeBron James overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBAs leading scorer in February 2023.]. Frazier had a flair for style that had been sparsely seen in the league before his debut, but once he arrived, all eyes were glued on him. Mel Daniels, drafted by both leagues out of New Mexico, signed with the ABAs Minnesota Muskies (great name, by the way) for $36,000triple what he was offered to play in the NBA. Basketball has not escaped the fashion roller-coaster of the past century. Call 1-800-522-4700. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. In the National Basketball Association he is one of four players to have won eight championships in their playing careers; only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones have won more, with 11 and 10 championships respectively. In 1975-76, Brewer had his best season as a Cavalier, averaging a. Bernard King Bernard King was born in 1956 in New York. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Most obsessively competitive to the detriment of ever having normal human relations with anybody? And, frankly, its sort of fun tweaking all the Chicagoans who are surprisingly defensive about their sporting accomplishments. Elvin Hayes Career Highlights THE BIG E! Famously, he played center in place of the injured Abdul-Jabbar in the title-clinching game six of the 1980 NBA finals as a 20-year-old rookie. 26,045 Sets. But they seem inconsequential when compared to the off-court changes that took place in the seventies. He worked at both ends. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Until others called the 80s and 90s the same. J Julius Erving and Skywalker David Thompson headlined the leagues first slam dunk contest in 1976, but their in-game dunks might have been even more impressive. Dunk Darnell Hillman) and the fans love of the dunk only grew, peaking in the eighties with the powerful dunks of Dominique Wilkins and the tongue-wagging exploits of Michael Air Jordan. He was more than just a dunker, though, and when he moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers, his play was dominant. Rick Barry, a two-time NBA All-Star, made $45,000 in the NBA and jumped leagues for a $75,000 payday. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Highlights in his Prime / 1969 1975, Top 13 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 8 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History. Top 21 ACC Basketball Players of All Time: Where does Michael Jordan Rank? Product: Set. Hondo's back as the star of the post-Russell Celtics. Boasting five players who averaged. Once there, he would finish with an emphatic dunk, a foolproof strategy that helped ONeal lead the NBA in field-goal percentage 10 times in his career. Find out more. He was voted as an all-star five times in the 1970s. Richardson was a four-time All-Star in the NBA. Abdul-Jabbar also made 19 All-Star teams during his career and was a two-time Finals MVP, recording one of the most legendary and impactful resumes in league history.. The uber-confident Bird had arguably the quickest release of anyone to ever play basketball and hed often let his defender know that the shot was going in soon after it left his hands. He was an All-NBA selection every year from 1970-1976, and he also won two championships with the Boston Celtics in the seventies, one in 1974 and again in 1976.. 6 of 13. Last edited on 18 February 2023, at 16:44, National Association of Basketball Coaches, 196970 NCAA University Division men's basketball season, 2005 NCAA Basketball's Finest - All-Americans, "Awtrey leads All-American Academic unit", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1970_NCAA_Men%27s_Basketball_All-Americans&oldid=1140133496, No second, third or fourth teams (10-man first team), This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 16:44. Battle for the soul of basketball: Meet the All-1970s NBA (and ABA)team, The Clippers Russell Westbrook experiment is off to a terrible start. Spalding issued women's basketball rules, edited by Senda Berenson, establishing 3 zones with 5-10 players per team; some teams used men's rules, some used Baer's rules, and some used Spalding's/Berenson's rules. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Walt Frazier 7. Do you have a blog? It's hard to understand why this is a debate, as great as West was. When it all clicked, the Knicks flowed like the deadline poetry that was emanating from the press box. It was a time when the great civil rights . One of the most successful franchises in sports history, the Celtics won 11 of 13 National Basketball Association (NBA) championships from 1957 to 1969. When Brandon Figueroa and Mark Magsayo bang gloves Michigan vs Indiana Preview W/Steve Risley: Indiana Basketball Preview, MLB Rule Changes | Can F1 Compete With NASCAR | Froggy Talkin Sports #MLB #indianahoosiers #nascar. [This list was originally published in April 2014. The '70s were a time of chaos in pro basketball, but the chaos was caused by the fate of pro basketball being completely up in the air. The other big on-court change during the decade was that NBA players began embracing the slam dunk as a form of artistic expression. 1970-71 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats | Basketball-Reference.com via Sports Logos.net About logos 1970-71 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats Previous Season Next Season Record: 48-34, Finished 1st in NBA Pacific Division Coach: Joe Mullaney (48-34) Executive: Fred Schaus PTS/G: 114.8 (7th of 17) Opp PTS/G: 111.7 (6th of 17) How to Win While Sports Betting? Overall, he averaged 26.6 points per game for the seventies, the third-most of any player. For whatever reason, he kept it in his pocket and Alcindor signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for a $250,000 annual salary. Change). UCLAs Lew Alcindor. 1. If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. Walton was so damn good that it's impossible to imagine a world where he stayed healthy and reached his potential. Not once. College basketball career scoring leaders. Why did salaries increase so much during the decade? Hondo was the original sixth man, but by the 1970s, he was a dominant fixture in the NBA. 1. Were not technically a sports website, but this editor (hi!) Dan Issel, Calvin Murphy, Gail Goodrich, Spencer Haywood, Lou Hudson, Paul Silas, Dave Cowens, Bill Walton*, * Bill Walton should have challenged Kareem for decade supremacy but his feet betrayed him at the moment when he was ready to take over. Notice the striped tubed socks and short shorts in almost every picture. At the opposite end of the attractive play spectrum from Duncan is Shaquille ONeal. PSA Set Registry. Most important player ever? See the rankings as for this Basketball Player Sets set on 3/2/2023 3:23:10 PM. -- Flannery. During the 1970 tournament Jairzinho scored in each and every game, finishing with seven goals and a reputation as one of the world's best players. He never averaged fewer than 10 rebounds in the seventies, and also never dipped below two blocks per game.Although Hayes was only 69, he played the center position with more ferocity than nearly anyone else in the game, and was known as one of the toughest competitors in the league. The last remaining player from the 1970s in the NBA was Robert Parish. He absolutely dominated the seventies, leading the NBA in points scored and blocks for the decade, as well as recording the second-most rebounds.Abdul-Jabbar was a force on the offensive end, armed with a skyhook shot that was seemingly unstoppable. A member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach, Abdul-Jabbar twice was voted NBA Finals MVP. Though Barry had many of his best seasons in the ABA, he also found success on a team scale in the NBA. Abdul-Jabbar was a six-time NBA MVP, a 19-time All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA pick, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. Atlanta General Manager Stan. He averaged 20+ points, 6+ rebounds, and 6+ assists per game during the decade while guiding the New York Knicks to a pair of championships. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1970-71 Topps Basketball Complete Set - Premier 7.5 - NM+ at the best online prices at eBay! Mostly, players shot three-pointers out of desperation, not as a strategic element. Because they played in New York at a time when the literary branch of sportswriting was blossoming, there have been numerous magazine pieces, books and even movies about the books dedicated to this particular team. But he was so much more than a dazzling smile. In 1970, the average player earned a $35,000 salary (equivalent to around $224,000 today). Starting in 1966, he served as player-coach for the Celtics, becoming the first Black coach in the NBA and the first to win an NBA championship. Check out his website at https://www.adamcriblez.com/. Previous Decade > Next Decade . Fast And Free U.S. Despite the creation of the National Basketball Players Association in 1954 (the first team sports players union), NBA owners held most of the power in the league until the merger. He won two championships alongside Havlicek in 1974 and 1976, and was also extremely successful as an individual player. PSA . The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Oh jeez, this guy. Parish was drafted in 1976 by the Golden State Warriors and didnt retire until 1997, capping off a 21-year career. Clockwise from upper left: Issel, Lanier, Mount and Maravich (not pictured: Murphy). The potential matchups are endless (and, to be honest, probably pointless). He might belong ahead of Hayes on the first team All-1970s. Learn more and register, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. The Lakers got one championship, while Kareem got two on his own including one with Milwaukee. In the first season with a three-point line, Maravich's last season, Pete went 10 for 15 from three-point range. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. His patented skyhook was unguardable, and he used it to score over 22,000 points during the decade. But they somehow managed to turn the simple act of making the extra pass into an exercise of communal cool. 1972-73 Missing player: Bob McAdoo The 1971-72 squad fell to Florida State in the Final Four, before defeating Louisville in the now defunct consolation game. (All this said, it's pretty clear that Kobe eclipsed him as the second best Laker guard ever right around 2009 or 2010. Nash is one of the best, most productive point guards in the league, having won back-to-back season MVP trophies after reaching the age of 30. Johnsons otherworldly passing set the stage for the Showtime L.A. Lakers teams that captured five championships during his 13 years with the franchise. Julius Erving 3. J Erving. He was a 7x All-Star and 6x All-NBA/All-Defensive selection during the 1970s. He was an All-Star every year of his career, racking up 16 selections while dominating both leagues. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? His impact didnt stop on the offensive end of the court; Havlicek also made eight All-Defensive Teams in his career, epitomizing what it meant to be a two-way player. The 1970s saw another national title, a coaching change of epic proportions, and several stars comes through the door. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. But a decade before kids wanted to Be like Mike, they wanted to operate above the rim like Dr. He finished his NBA career in '76 having averaged 20-10. What hasn't been said about Gervin? eBay item number: 404182195911. Artis Gilmore: The best stiff ever. One of the most ebullient personalities to ever play in the NBA, Johnsons charm was a major factor in the massive increase in the leagues popularity during the 1980s. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. Yes, the NBA consisted of just 8 to 14 teams during this period, so capturing championships was a statistically easier feat for a single franchise, but even that fact doesnt minimize Russells historic accomplishments. On May 12, 1970, CoSIDA announced the 1970 Academic All-America team. But Maravich was so unbelievably '70s. In 1971, the San Francisco Warriors changed cities and names, leaving the Cow Palace. Another, less easily explained difference, is that NBA players coming of age in the seventies grew up playing a game in which *every* shot counted for two points. Note: We wanted guys who brought it for an extended period of time, so the bar was set at 20,000 minutes, the equivalent of 25 minutes per game, 80 games per season for 10 seasons. Our apologies, George Mikan, K.C. On defense, he was one of the most feared rim protectors of his time, swatting away every attempt that was thrown up. His height is 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), and his weight is 205 lb (93 kg). In his prime, Duncan, nicknamed The Big Fundamental by no less a nickname authority than Shaquille ONeal, was one of the most sound players of all time. He averaged 21+ points, 6+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game in the 1970s, in the process earning nine All-Star selections, making seven All-NBA and All-Defensive teams, and winning two titles. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. $2000 Risk Free $1000 + $100 in site credits, Must be 21+. Money was hard to come by for basketball players in the early days of the league as well. Dave Cowens 9. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. This years playoffs confirmed that the NBA is in good hands. (Editors Note: For a brief excerpt of the book, click here; for author reflections, click here.) National Basketball Association, book | 296 views, 8 likes, 1 loves, 0 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from ABC News Live: "The NBA is the most woke league because the players pushed it to. 1970 Consensus All-America team Individual All-America teams AP Honorable Mention: [6] Nate Archibald, UTEP Jim Ard, Cincinnati Dennis Awtrey, Santa Clara Henry Bibby, UCLA Bill Cain, Iowa State Corky Calhoun, Penn Jim Collins, New Mexico State Dave Cowens, Florida State Jarrett Durham, Duquesne Mike Grosso, Louisville Jeff Halliburton, Drake Owners hoped this would disincentivize large contracts. It was this transition, from earth-bound giants to brilliant athleticism, that paved the way for the glorious rebirth that was to come. FLANNERY DISSENTS: No offense to your old man, but Jerry West should be here now and forever. Through the publication of this list, James has averaged a Robertson-esque 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.9 steals per game andunlike the Big Ohe was doing so against teams stocked with elite athletes and not players who smoked cigarettes at halftime. The glory of the '80s was only possible because of the work done by Dr. J, Skywalker, The Ice Man, Kareem and the Rolls-Royce backcourt in the '70s. When Lew Alcindor graduated from UCLA in 1969, both sides negotiated for his services. Erving was one of the defining figures of the game during the decade, combining exceptional athleticism and finesse in a style that has remained popular all these years later. His only title as a player came in 1972; he darn near led the Lakers to one in 1970, as well. Indeedy. Goose Givens won National Player of the Year. One of the most brilliant scorers ever, David Thompson's wing rival in the late '70s and the first great Spur. How Many Championships Does Michael Jordan Have? [1] To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. In 1970, three expansion teams enteredthe Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers. . Its uniform reflects the ever-changing trends and times. The easy answer would be to point to a lack of analytics (seriously, how did they survive without WAR, BPM, or VORP?)[1]. Initially, free agency was restricted. The only NBA Hall of Famer for whom a Gossip Girl character was named. Check the Blazers in 77-78 when they were 44-9 the year after they won the title, for an example. The Women's Professional Basketball League was the first attempt to launch a nationwide professional basketball league for women. http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/bpm.html, Steph CurryThe Male Machine Gun Molly? A brutal sucker punch in the OVC tournament stopped the game in its tracks. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Billy Cunningham: The Kangaroo Kid didn't win a title in the '70s (he was a Wilt sidekick on that great '67 team) but he cranked out some great seasons with the Sixers and the Carolina Cougars of the ABA. J.. Dr. NBA coach Pat Riley and players Isiah Thomas and Julius Erving have called, John Joseph Havlicek ( HAV-li-chek; April 8, 1940 April 25, 2019) was an American professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA championships, four of them coming in his first four seasons. Free shipping for many products! He went on to play for Brazil until 1982 before finally calling time on a glittering eighteen-year career in the yellow and green of his home country, retiring as one of the most revered Brazilian . You still see them at the Garden and no sport has ever had a more dedicated celebrity fan than Jack Nicholson. Al Lankford, Lee Averaged a double-double through much of his career with the Generals, scoring more than 20 points per game as a senior.. He was a perennial All-Star, won the scoring title in 1970 and had four All-NBA first team nods in the decade. The league officially adopted the three-point field goal in 1979 and the San Diego Clippers led the NBA that season with 543 three-point attempts (making 32.6%). Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2. Basketball. He led all players in the seventies in scoring and blocks, and he was second in both minutes and rebounds.. or Best Offer . Bet with your head, not over it. A great post scorer, McHale was a huge spark off the Celtics bench, as he is even regarded as one of the best 6th man in all of basketball history. McAdoo was the 1972-1973 NBA Rookie of the Year; he also won three straight scoring titles mid-decade and averaged 27+ points and 12+ rebounds per game in the 1970s en route to five All-Star Games, two All-NBA selections, and the 1974-1975 MVP. Star Power: Now we are on the to 70's. Top 5 Ranked Mens Basketball Players Of All Time, Top 6 Best NBA Power Forwards of All Time, Top 6 Best NBA Shooting Guards of All Time, Top 6 Best NBA Small Forwards of All Time, Top 6 Best Womens Basketball Players Of All Time. Years with Cavaliers: 1973-1979 Playing a key role for the Cavs for much of the 70's, Brewer was a strong defender and rebounder. What is the Best Decade of Basketball in NBA History? Packs. Sam Teets 2021 NBA mock draft 1.0: Cunningham goes first, Top 50 NBA players under 25 years old in 2021: Doncic bests Young, Ranking the top 70 free agents in the 2021 NBA offseason, Grading every NFL teams picks from the 2021 NFL Draft, Sam Teets two-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 with Kyle the Commish, UFC 285: Jon Jones returns, facing Ciryl Gane for heavyweight title, Top 13 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 8 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History. It's famously noted that in this era the NBA Finals were on tape delay. Injuries hampered and eventually shortened his career, but Cowbns was a great player winning Rookie of the Year in 1970-1971 and MVP in 1972-1973; he was a 7x All-Star, 2x NBA champion, 3x All-NBA, and 3x All-Defensive during the decade while averaging 18+ points and 14+ rebounds per game. Jo Jo White: It's a bit criminal that Jo Jo is just now being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Check this out: http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/bpm.html, Pingback: Review of Tall Tales and Short Shorts | Sport in American History. With the Knicks leading the way, this early to mid-70s period was the moment when the NBA was supposed to take hold as the nation's trendiest sport, just as baseball went through one of its periodic downturns. Yes, they played the kind of slow-paced ball that put most fans to sleep by the third quarter, but there was often a thing of pure beauty hidden among the tire-fire of a 7871 final score: Tim Duncans bank shot. Football. Missouri Valley Tournament 2023: Bracket, schedule, scores, teams, and more. Mel Daniels, drafted by both leagues out of New Mexico, signed with the ABA's Minnesota Muskies (great name, by the way) for $36,000-triple what he was offered to play in the NBA. Quite possibly. He is a retired professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association who played small forward (NBA). 17 Reasons why Jordan is greater than Lebron, 16 Reasons why Lebron is greater than Jordan, The 18 greates Coaches in College Football History, The Top 21 Offensive Linemen in NFL History, The Top 10 Seattle Mariners of all Time, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans, If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into The Grueling Truth sports shows, Where the legends speak. . Before 1976, NBA players were bound to their teams through a reserve clause similar to that which existed in Major League Baseball. Rick Barry Career Highlights UNDERRATED! 1970 Topps #75 Lew Alcindor. He made the All-NBA Second Team in 1974 and was promoted to the First Team the following year.Although he began to struggle with injuries towards the end of the decade, theres still no doubt that McAdoo was one of the most impressive players of his time. Read Kareem Abdul-Jabbars Britannica essay on the New York Rens. The anticipated plateau of salaries never arrived, and continues today. Free shipping on . Not only does he routinely pull off feats that Ive never before seen, he has consistently evolved his game to fix the relative weak spots he was previously criticized for. He played in Boston for the entirety of the '70s, and was the engine that allowed Havlicek, Dave Cowens and company to thrive with two titles. Was . has been obsessively watching sports for nearly three decades and arguing about them with friends for nearly as long. Facebook Watch. He made eight All-Star games in the seventies, only missing out in his rookie year and in 1978-79 when he was injured. For his unbelievable scoring and ball-handling ability, Maravich was a three-time SEC Player of the Year and Consensus First-Team All-American and was the National College Player of the Year in 1969 and 1970. There was no need to, Robertson later explained, because a layup counted the same as a dunk. During the 196162 season, The Big O averaged a triple-double with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game. His pro career essentially spanned the entire decade, and he racked up five All-Star bids, two first team All-NBA nods and a scoring title. He was integral in helping to popularize the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a global cultural icon in the process. He finished his career eighth all-time in both points and steals as a player who truly had a complete game.His ability to dominate as a wing was something the NBA had not seen much of before, and his mark on the game will always be remembered. Then the American Basketball Association (ABA) came along and celebrated the showmanship of their top stars. The 1970'swas a time when you had a lot of emerging sneaker companies and no one company completely dominating thesneaker market. Parish was able to stick around for so long because of his great talent as a basketball player, making nine All-Star teams during his career as well as winning four NBA championships. The 6-foot . Sneaker Name: Nike Cortez Year: 1972 The Nike Cortez was created by Nike Co-Founder and Oregon Head Track and Field Coach Bill Bowerman. Birthdate: May 4, 1970 Sun Sign: Taurus Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States 9 Becky Hammon (Basketball player) 20 4 Birthdate: March 11, 1977 Sun Sign: Pisces Birthplace: Rapid City, South Dakota, United States 10 Cheryl Miller (Basketball coach) 21 4 Birthdate: January 3, 1964 Sun Sign: Capricorn Birthplace: Riverside, California The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. The player who scored the most points in the 1970s was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Moreover, his rivalry with Magic Johnsonwho, spoiler alert, youll see a bit later in this listduring the 1980s launched basketball into an unprecedented level of national popularity that the sport has never fallen from. Which NBA player from the 1980's & 1990's helped popularized basketball and turn it into a global game? When the Boston Athletic Association, the pre-cursor to the NBA, awarded prize money to the winning team . The Knicks also won two championships and it's this team that stands out as the enduring essence of '70s basketball. There have been some great shooters in the past. He led the league in scoring three straight times from 1974-1976, pouring in over 30 points per game in each season. His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. When it comes to the 1970s, there was no greater basketball player than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.In fact, Abdul-Jabbars game has transcended eras, as he remains one of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball. Steve Downing (1970-73) - overshadowed by his high school teammate George McGinnis for a long time, Downing came into his own after McGinnis left for riches of professional basketball.