PSA . Money was hard to come by for basketball players in the early days of the league as well. 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 a sophomore, he led the "Flying Clouds" to . Plus, he was hilarious in Airplane! Who are the best basketball players of the 70s of all time? Fast And Free U.S. . He was easily the best point guard of the era, and he led his New York Knicks to NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. He was an All-Star every year of his career, racking up 16 selections while dominating both leagues. 22 episodes 1970-1971 Rudy Clark 22 episodes 1970-1971 Scatman Crothers George 'Meadowlark' Lemon 22 episodes 1970-1971 Robert DoQui Pablo Robertson 22 episodes 1970-1971 Richard Elkins J.C. 'Gip' Gipson 22 episodes 1970-1971 Stu Gilliam Freddie 'Curly' Neal 22 episodes 1970-1971 Meadowlark Lemon 22 episodes 1970-1971 Nancy Wible Just as the game took a step back in the national consciousness, it survived and even prospered in some quarters, such as the Pacific Northwest. 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. 15,159 Sets. Im going to pressure you with three-quarters, half-court defense. Do folks give Jerry credit for building future champions as a GM?). Do you have a sports website? 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. The pictures are all taken from the time to give you a better idea of how the sneakers were worn. Abdul-Jabbar was dominant in all aspects of the game, but he was particularly unstoppable on offense. The player who scored the most points in the 1970s was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (All this said, it's pretty clear that Kobe eclipsed him as the second best Laker guard ever right around 2009 or 2010. [25] Packs. Jordan played college basketball for three seasons under coach Dean Smith with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Why take a 30-foot jump shot if making it counted for the same as a two-footer? 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. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. (LogOut/ Something not often mentioned about West is his excellent defense. George Gervin: The Ice Man could have been a second-team guard here, but he'll be back on the '80s team thanks to some great work in that decade so I don't feel too bad about elevating West and Tiny. Which NBA player from the 1980's & 1990's helped popularized basketball and turn it into a global game? Change). Fearing bankruptcy and finally willing to concede to player movement, the summer of 1976 witnessed the first crop of NBA free agents. Find out more. The 2021 NBA Draft is less than three weeks away. Clockwise from upper left: Issel, Lanier, Mount and Maravich (not pictured: Murphy). (LogOut/ Atlanta General Manager Stan. 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. The mans desire to be the best is legendary and propelled him to six championships, five MVP awards, All-Star appearances in every full season he played, and the status as possibly the best defender ever. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Mac remains one of the greatest athletes in Buffalo history, though, which is something. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Cowens was known for his intensity that could get him in trouble with some fights. He was named an All-Star every year of the decade that he played, from the 1969-1970 season through the 1977-78 season.Havlicek did retire shortly before the three-point line was introduced to the NBA, but he was still known as one of the best jump shooters in the league. J Julius Erving against LeBron James? LeBron James overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBAs leading scorer in February 2023.]. Vtg 70's AAU USA Basketball Shoes Upside Down Swoosh Logo Travis Size 3.5 Scott. FLANNERY DISSENTS: I had Dave Cowens on my Third Team and forgot to include him on the Honorable Mention list when we pubbed this list. 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) 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. At the opposite end of the attractive play spectrum from Duncan is Shaquille ONeal. Rick Barry, a two-time NBA All-Star, made $45,000 in the NBA and jumped leagues for a $75,000 payday. 12. Could todays players deal with the more physical play of the 1970s? ABA Commissioner George Mikan held a $1 million check he was to give Big Lew. There were also great centers like Bob McAdoo, Artis Gilmore and Bill Walton. 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 competition between the two leagues became fierce. 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. Top 30 Greatest NBA Players Of The 1970s 1. 6 of 13. I included ABA contributions as warranted. Admittedly, Chamberlain played at a time when post players were significantly smaller and basketball wasnt drawing the types of athletic marvels we see today, but the man was so incredibly dominant that he deserves a spot in the top five regardless of context. The 70s was, as novelist Tom Wolfe once famously wrote, the me decade. Boston Celtics, American professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. You also had the burgeoning troupe of high-flyers with style: guys like Julius Erving, David Thompson and George Gervin. 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. Another player who made his debut after the decade was already underway, Bob Lanier hit the ground running. and fought Bruce Lee in Game of Death, so his cool quotient is easily the highest of anyone on this list. [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. But let's face it: the old-school center has been going out of style for a long, long time, all thanks to the chaos and rebirth in the '70s. Maravich averaged 25+ points, 4+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game in the 1970s for five All-Star selections, four All-NBA teams, and the 1976-1977 scoring title. Before the seventies, many players spent their summers barnstorming (making a few hundred bucks for a week or two of work) or working a white-collar job selling insurance or cars. In 1975-76, Brewer had his best season as a Cavalier, averaging a. Adam Augustyn is Managing Editor, Reference Content at Encyclopdia Britannica. $11.45 shipping. And how might retired NBA legends fare in todays game? Michael Gearon, president of the Hawks, said he believes that as many as half the players in the league may use cocaine and as many as 10 percent may use free base. When people knocked him for not winning championships early in his career, they overlooked that he almost single-handedly took an overmatched Cleveland Cavaliers squad to the 2007 NBA finals at just 22 years old. 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. These coaches do not understand the game of basketball, as far as Im concerned. They were no strong national rivalries, no dynasties, no epic G.O.A.T. University of California at Berkeley was given an outdoor basketball court for women by philanthropist Phoebe Hearst. Most important player ever? Dr. The pace of play increased, players were given more freedom, and the talent in the league was at an all-time high. Why did salaries increase so much during the decade? 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. Parish was drafted in 1976 by the Golden State Warriors and didnt retire until 1997, capping off a 21-year career. He didn't play for really excellent teams until joining the Showtime Lakers in '80s, however, which hampers his legacy. 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. But they seem inconsequential when compared to the off-court changes that took place in the seventies. Body Size of NBA Basketball Players Body Size in Basketball Fitness testing for basketball Height records, including the tallest and shortest in sports. 6. On defense, he was one of the most feared rim protectors of his time, swatting away every attempt that was thrown up. Nicknamed Big Red for his ginger hair, Dave Cowens was the anchor for many great Boston Celtics teams during the seventies. 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. 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. Who Is Better: Lebron James Or Wilt Chamberlain? Rick Barry Career Highlights UNDERRATED! While his famously vanilla playing style and quiet demeanor kept him from having a cultural impact similar to the other greats, his four championships, 14 All-Star Games, and two NBA MVP awards are indisputable evidence of his fantastic ability. ABC News Live. UK welcomed its first African-American basketball player in Tom Payne, an All-American high-schooler from Louisville . 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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 Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. $2000 Risk Free $1000 + $100 in site credits, Must be 21+. New technology was being used to make better sneakers for running, basketball, and skateboarding. 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. Copyright 2017-2023 Rookie Road Inc. All rights reserved. 1970s and the Chicago Bulls. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Walton was so damn good that it's impossible to imagine a world where he stayed healthy and reached his potential. Arguably the greatest college basketball player of all time, Christian Laettner's success didn't translate well to the NBA. Gambling Problem? Like it or not, the three-point field goal and the slam dunk have greatly changed the on-court product in the NBA. 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. Plus his 30.1 points per game is the NBAs highest career scoring average. 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. He wasn't just a pure shooter and scorer. Top 10 NBA Players of the 1970s - The Grueling Truth Ranking the top 10 players of the 1970s TGT Tips! Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? He was never the best player in either league -- Dr. J and Kareem ensured that --. Malone entered 1981-82 ready to exact vengeance. Do you have a blog? [7] The following is the 196970 Academic All-America Men's Basketball Team as selected by CoSIDA: Members of the 1970 Consensus All-America first team. The big guy out of Duke looked like the demonic love child of John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell just after Ferrell . Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born April 16, 1947) is an American retired professional basketball player with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. Captured consecutive state championships in 1970 and 1971 3-time All State choice Charles Smith - Harding - 1984 1984 McDonald's All American 1 st Team Parade Magazine All American in 1984 Captured state championships in 1983 and 1984 2-time All State honoree Chris Smith - Kolbe Cathedral - 1988 1988 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year He is a retired professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association who played small forward (NBA). 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. Two answers: the ABA and free agency. Hes bigger than a good portion of the players in the NFL and yet he still moves as gracefully as the most nimble guards in basketball. 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. Boasting five players who averaged. Moreover, he not only faced the incredible pressure of being anointed The Chosen One by Sports Illustrated as a teenager, but hes actually exceeded the lofty expectations set for him. He is one of only five players to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals, all in one season. 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. 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. Its time for BritannicaOK, one editor at Britannicato jump into the perpetually unresolved greatest ever in [insert sport here] fray. In 1979, few players specialized as three-point marksmen. 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. He might belong ahead of Hayes on the first team All-1970s. Unless you agree with me, in which case this was the most meaningful thing Ive ever written. After helping . Whatever.) Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Ja Morant suspended 2 games after flashing gun on Instagram following allegations, Luka and Kyrie make Mavs history with 40+ point efforts vs. Sixers, How ballscreen-centered sets can help unleash Jordan Pooles potency, LeBron James diagnosed with foot tendon injury, will be re-evaluated in three weeks, surgery not required, NBA Scores: Kevin Durants Suns debut was an easy W. A high scorer and rebounder, the purveyor of the Sky Hook and a thoughtful off-court presence, it's really a shame KAJ isn't more beloved. Then the American Basketball Association (ABA) came along and celebrated the showmanship of their top stars. But a decade before kids wanted to Be like Mike, they wanted to operate above the rim like Dr. After the Converse "Chuck Taylor All Stars" and before Michael "Air" Jordan was the 1970's. He was a 7x All-Star and 6x All-NBA/All-Defensive selection during the 1970s. His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. 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. Gervin was famous for his finger roll and seemed to score at will against any opponent the Spurs played against. The Top 10 Best Basketball Players of the 1970's, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born April 16, 1947) is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. Alas, it was soon overtaken by the NFL, which lapped the field and has maintained its hold on the public ever since. 1970: 'Mr. Clutch' sinks a must-see 60-footer Jerry West showed he deserved his nickname when he buried a 60-foot, game-tying bomb at the buzzer in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Knicks.. He was voted as an all-star five times in the 1970s. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The shirts were fastened like a current-day body suit to keep them from becoming untucked. So, yeah, Magic Johnsonneat guy.
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