Though the game was still primarily dominated by big men, the seventies saw a number of Hall of Fame wings, as well as exceptional guards. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. 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. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. 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. There was actually a good deal of legal wrangling over the reserve clause, the ABA merger, draft eligibility and What Team Rick Barry Would Be Playing For. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Arguably the greatest college basketball player of all time, Christian Laettner's success didn't translate well to the NBA. The league was a creation of sports promoter Bill Byrne, who had previous involvement in start-up ventures such as the World Football League (1974-1975) and the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (1977-1980). In 1970, three expansion teams enteredthe Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo on right by: Ronald Martinez/ Getty Images) These days, when basketball players hit the court, there is so much swish-swashing of damn clothing going on, it's hard to focus on anything else. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. You had Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier in the Big Apple, drawing attention and respect to the Mecca of basketball. This list is, naturally, incredibly subjective, and shouldnt be taken too seriously. They didnt. Playing for the Detroit Pistons until he was traded in 1980, Lanier was the heart and soul of his teams and promoted a tough, intense culture. 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. Their mantra was simple: Find the open man. Previous Decade > Next Decade . Get the best deals on 1970s Athletic Shoes for Men when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. But they seem inconsequential when compared to the off-court changes that took place in the seventies. See the rankings as for this Basketball Player Sets set on 3/2/2023 3:23:10 PM. Facebook Watch. He made the All-Star Game in four of his first five seasons and in 1974 was named the All-Star Game MVP.Overall, he made seven All-Star teams during the decade, playing as one of the best centers of the era.He averaged over 22 points and 11 rebounds per game for the seventies, and also rejected over two shots per game. His ability to rebound as just a 64 guard was tremendous, averaging six boards per game for his 13-year run in the league. 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. 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. Our apologies, George Mikan, K.C. Erving was the most outstanding player in ABA history and won the 1976 ABA Dunk contest against David Thompson. Who are the best basketball players of the 70s of all time? The 40th anniversary of the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team and its infamous Cold War gold-medal game again the Soviet Union, up until the last week or so, had been passing rather quietly. What sneakers do you like from the 70's? He was also a three-time MVP in the ABA during the seventies, capturing a three-peat in the award from 1974-1976. And, frankly, its sort of fun tweaking all the Chicagoans who are surprisingly defensive about their sporting accomplishments. Odds & lines subject to change. He racked up three championship rings and 12 All-Star appearances in his injury-shortened 13-year career. While Kareem put up a whopping 38,387 points during his playing days, I cant look past the fact that he spent a good chunk of his career receiving passes from Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson, the two greatest point guards 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. The glory the NBA would enjoy in the '80s and '90s wouldn't be possible without players like Dr. J and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar laying the groundwork for the league in the '70s. Before 1976, NBA players were bound to their teams through a reserve clause similar to that which existed in Major League Baseball. Known as Clyde Frazier, Walt brought the razzle dazzle to Madison Square Garden in the seventies. Calvin Murphy San Diego/Houston Rockets 1970-79 Calvin Murphy was a scoring machine at Niagara and San Diego rolled the dice on the 5-foot-9 guard in the second round of the 1970 NBA Draft.. In 1973, just his third season in the league, he won the MVP award after averaging 20 points and 16 rebounds per game. You still see them at the Garden and no sport has ever had a more dedicated celebrity fan than Jack Nicholson. Boston Celtics, American professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. He led the league in minutes played for the decade, and also grabbed more rebounds than anyone else.He was no slouch when it came to scoring either, recording the second-most points of the decade behind only Abdul-Jabbar.Hayes was a 12-time All-Star, being selected in each of his first twelve years, and was also a six-time All-NBA selection. But it was in New York, and specifically in the World's Most Famous Arena, where the '70s made their strongest impression. See the rankings as for this Basketball Player Sets set on 3/2/2023 3:23:10 PM. Sure, we still saw centers like Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaq, Tim Duncan and Yao Ming rise and dominate down the road. He won two championships alongside Havlicek in 1974 and 1976, and was also extremely successful as an individual player. Basketball. He wasn't just a pure shooter and scorer. 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. Gilmore wasn't the most fluid looking player, but he dominated the paint on both ends in both leagues. This decade served as the start of the second Sooner. 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. UCLAs Lew Alcindor. 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. 1970s Basketball Players Basketball 1970s vs. now. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. So, yeah, Magic Johnsonneat guy. When Bill Walton signed a huge contract with the San Diego (later Los Angeles) Clippers in 1979, his former team received two players and a first-round draft pick in return, essentially gutting Waltons new team. There have been some great shooters in the past. The pace of play increased, players were given more freedom, and the talent in the league was at an all-time high. John Havlicek 6. Nevertheless, he was an awesome force who dominated the sport for two decades and perfected the sky hook, one of the most gorgeous shots the game has ever seen. Could todays players deal with the more physical play of the 1970s? Basketball has not escaped the fashion roller-coaster of the past century. 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, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans. Most importantly, free agency also gave players newfound leverage in negotiations. The last remaining player from the 1970s in the NBA was Robert Parish. Bob McAdoo was a poster child for seventies basketball. Clockwise from upper left: Issel, Lanier, Mount and Maravich (not pictured: Murphy). My argument was that it was a time of testing new limits, of parity and of transition. [This list was originally published in April 2014. . From there, its just a short jump to comparing players from the past with present stars. At their best the Knicks were a hybrid of downtown artistry mixed with old-school values. When the Boston Athletic Association, the pre-cursor to the NBA, awarded prize money to the winning team . Jo Jo White: It's a bit criminal that Jo Jo is just now being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Background. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Though Frazier was a model point guard, running the offense and dishing out a plethora of sweet dimes, he also possessed a skill that would foreshadow the direction of the position. He was amazing, but he had a lot of help, at least more than the last guy on this list. (All this said, it's pretty clear that Kobe eclipsed him as the second best Laker guard ever right around 2009 or 2010. At the time, the best basketball players in the world were signed with Adidas and Converse, Nike was creating their first running sneaker, and Vans was makingsneakers tailored specifically for skaters. Star Power: Now we are on the to 70's. As Paul Flannery wrote this week, the ABA's mere presence helped push the NBA in a fateful direction toward style, panache and run-and-gun tactics by introducing the three and elevating the dunk to a respectable art form. In retrospect, it's a minor miracle that we got as much of Walton's career as we did, but what a world it could have been. reserve clause similar to that which existed in Major League Baseball. The '70s were not an easy time for basketball, defined as they were by drugs and dissension, as well as the notion that the sport was simply too urban (read: too black) for middle America. As Araton put it: "When The Captain and Clyde and the rest of the Old Knicks played, when the city and country convulsed with pain, oh what a beautiful game it was.". (LogOut/ Most famous player ever? 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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 many great new & used options and get the best deals for VINTAGE HARD PLASTIC BASKETBALL PLAYER CAKE TOPPER / DECORATION 1970s at the best online prices at eBay! Hayes was perhaps Kareem's only true rival, even though they didn't run into each other much in the NBA. Football. His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. Best 1970s Basketball Players | Top 70s NBA Player List The Best Players in the NBA in 2022 Greatest Players with No Rings The Best Ever Team Owners Tall Players Over 7'2 Best Players from Foreign Countries Short Players Under 5'9 The Best White Guys in the NBA Hall of Fame Candidates Worst Team Owners of All Time Players with Their Numbers Retired Sure Barry was an asshole, but he was also a prolific scorer who averaged 24+ points, 6+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game during the 1970s across the NBA and ABA; during the decade, he was also a 9x All-Star and 7x All-ABA/NBA selection who took home Finals MVP in 1974-1975 while guiding the Golden State Warriors to the championship. Director: Ron Shelton | Stars: Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Rosie Perez, Tyra Ferrell Votes: 89,504 | Gross: $76.25M 66 (4) Blu-ray 8. After helping . Other Links > Basketball > Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . His height is 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), and his weight is 205 lb (93 kg). Overall, they have won 17 NBA titles. Oh, and the 12-time All-Star also helped initiate true free agency into the NBA through a landmark antitrust suit, an accomplishment just as impressive as his jaw-dropping on-court exploits. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He led the league in scoring three straight times from 1974-1976, pouring in over 30 points per game in each season. Data Provided By He won six MVPs during his career, tied for the most all-time, and was also a six-time NBA champion. They were no strong national rivalries, no dynasties, no epic G.O.A.T. Hondo led the C's to titles in '74 and '76, was an All-Star every year of the decade until retiring in 1978 and made four straight All-NBA first teams from '71 through '74. J.. One of the most successful franchises in sports history, the Celtics won 11 of 13 National Basketball Association (NBA) championships from 1957 to 1969. From baggy street clothes to signature form-fitting apparel and back to baggy, basketball uniforms have undergone transition until what has settled today is both comfortable and functional, and invokes a sense of nostalgic pride among players and fans alike. Plus, he was hilarious in Airplane! Its uniform reflects the ever-changing trends and times. In the 1970s Barry claimed six NBA All-Star bids, three ABA All-Star bids and three All-NBA first team nods. Oh, and while this has nothing to do with his ranking on this list, its still incredibly awesome and noteworthy that he has successfully fought off HIV for over two decades, helped de-stigmatize AIDS through his high-profile advocacy, and launched a second career as an entrepreneur who opens businesses predominantly in poverty-stricken areas in efforts to spur urban revitalization. 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. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Julius Erving Although many small changes took place during the seventies, three major changes rocked the very foundation of the league: its embrace of the slam dunk and three-point shot; salary escalation; and the arrival of free agency. The pictures are all taken from the time to give you a better idea of how the sneakers were worn. Parish was drafted in 1976 by the Golden State Warriors and didnt retire until 1997, capping off a 21-year career. Impressive, right? In addition, the decade saw the merging of the ABA and the NBA, the two top leagues of the time. He was never the best player in either league -- Dr. J and Kareem ensured that -- but he was always in that second tier as a really great scorer. 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. In the 10th and 11th round, the Atlanta Hawks drafted Mexican Manuel Raga and Italian Dino Meneghin; both were playing in the Italian league at the time. There was no need to, Robertson later explained, because a layup counted the same as a dunk. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Tennessee Texas Virginia The 1970s NBA. But now they dont do that. Most importantly, he led a very weak team in the New Orleans Jazz. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. This brought an even greater influx of stars to the NBA, making for a great new era of basketball. Top 21 ACC Basketball Players of All Time: Where does Michael Jordan Rank? Artis Gilmore: The best stiff ever. as a member of the Miami Heat. He finished his NBA career in '76 having averaged 20-10. 1970s NBA Average Height: 6'6 Average male height: 5'8 Notable stars of the decade: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Elvin Hayes, John Havlicek 1980s NBA Average Height: 6'6 Average male height: 5'8 He debuted in 1972 and proceeded to make an All-Star team seven times during the decade, continuing the great legacy of big men in the NBA.He was named MVP of the 1974-75 season, a year that came in the middle of a dominant run for the Buffalo Braves. Havlicek is widely considered to have been one of the greatest players in the history of the game and was inducted as a. Elvin Ernest Hayes (born November 17, 1945) is an American retired professional basketball player and radio analyst for his alma-mater Houston Cougars. When Lew Alcindor graduated from UCLA in 1969, both sides negotiated for his services. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball, racking up 400 more steals than any other player in the seventies.Like Gervin, he is a member of both the All-Time ABA Team and the NBAs 75th Anniversary Team. Something not often mentioned about West is his excellent defense. Regardless of the cigar-chomping coachs recommendation, the league introduced the three-point shot in 1979 and never looked back. If Team A signed a player from Team B, A owed B some combination of players, draft choices, or money in compensation. Ranking Explanations . Russell Westbrook is being left wide open on offense, and hes still hurting the Clippers. 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. But a decade before kids wanted to Be like Mike, they wanted to operate above the rim like Dr. Curious about the story behind the basketball card, intern Curtis Harris interviewed Jim Barnett, whose pro basketball career began in 1966 with the Boston Celtics.Aside from the outlandish hair and flamboyant jerseys of the players, basketball cards of the 1970s provide a fascinating window into an exciting and chaotic era in the sport's history. 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. The five players represented by LA Tech during the 1980s all played a huge part in the success of these Bulldog teams. Wagers only accepted in CO. For full terms and conditions, click here. You had dominating centers, of course, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a perennial MVP candidate and a fully dependable superstar in the middle for both Milwaukee and Los Angeles. Hondo's back as the star of the post-Russell Celtics. Founded in Boston in 1946 by Walter Brown, the Celtics were charter members of the Basketball Association of America, a . He pulled down 14 rebounds per game from 1970-1980, and any game that he finished without a double-double was a rarity.. 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. The decade has some incredible players and good teams, but with how different the game would become in terms of the rules and the way it's played, it is not an easy measurement. Drake and Bradley are the favorites in the MVC mens basketball conference tournament. He led all players in the seventies in scoring and blocks, and he was second in both minutes and rebounds.. What hasn't been said about Gervin? . Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Investors founded the ABA in 1967 as a rival to the more established NBA (then just an eight-team league). Where Timmy would work his way around an opponent in the post with his superb footwork, Shaq would often use his extraordinary bulk (71 and 315 pounds) to bully his way to the basket. One on One (1977) PG | 98 min | Drama, Sport 6.5 Rate Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1970-74), New Orleans/Utah Jazz (1974-80), Boston Celtics (1980 . 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. webster groves high school principal, ford regenerative braking,

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