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. 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. 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. 26,045 Sets. Bob McAdoo 5. Instead, coaches demanded that players only take the shot during late-game rallies to overcome huge deficits, often done in concert with a full-court pressing defense, hoping to create turnovers. He was an All-Star every year from 1970-76, and from 1970-75 he was named to both an All-NBA Team and an All-Defensive Team for each season. Call 1-800-522-4700. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. 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.. : Gender and Styles of Play in Modern Basketball, Review of Tall Tales and Short Shorts | Sport in American History, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. In 1977, the Denver Nuggets signed their star guard, David Skywalker Thompson to a record-setting, five-year, $4-million deal, because they knew he would receive similar offers from other teams (*cough* the Knicks *cough*), should he enter free agency. Another player who made his debut after the decade was already underway, Bob Lanier hit the ground running. 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. 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. Malone entered 1981-82 ready to exact vengeance. Indeedy. How 1970s NBA pioneers paved the way for today's game The hair, the nickname, the style of carefree, irresponsible play he exhibited: if Dr. J presented what basketball would become, Pistol Pete showed us what basketball could be at its most fun. Part of the merger agreement was the settlement of the Oscar Robertson lawsuit, which ended the dreaded reserve clause. 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 is a retired professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association who played small forward (NBA). The three-pointer debuted in the NBA in late 1979, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson dominated the early years of the 1980s, Michael Jordan arrived a few years later and the rest is history. Overall, the NBA in the 60's was good, but I find it hard to say it was the best decade of NBA basketball. Spalding created some of the first padded shorts worn by basketball players during this era. 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%). As a sophomore, he led the "Flying Clouds" to . The history of basketball uniforms shows more coordination among players between 1920 and 1940 as they began wearing mid-length shorts and jerseys made of wool. Most obsessively competitive to the detriment of ever having normal human relations with anybody? But they seem inconsequential when compared to the off-court changes that took place in the seventies. debates. Gambling Problem? The Women's Professional Basketball League was the first attempt to launch a nationwide professional basketball league for women. 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. Whatever.) FLANNERY DISSENTS: No offense to your old man, but Jerry West should be here now and forever. 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 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. 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. Lets pick a winner in every mens college basketball conference tournament. Boasting five players who averaged. (LogOut/ John Havlicek 6. Or write about sports? 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. Overall, he averaged 28.6 points per contest from 1969-70 through 1979-80. Kevin McHale was part of one of the most historic big threes of all time, which included him, Robert Parish and Larry Bird. Who are the best basketball players of the '70s of all time? He racked up three championship rings and 12 All-Star appearances in his injury-shortened 13-year career. When Lew Alcindor graduated from UCLA in 1969, both sides negotiated for his services. 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. On defense, he was one of the most feared rim protectors of his time, swatting away every attempt that was thrown up. He didn't play for really excellent teams until joining the Showtime Lakers in '80s, however, which hampers his legacy. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. Overall, he averaged 26.6 points per game for the seventies, the third-most of any player. Jones, George T. Johnson, Andre Drummond and Kawhi Leonard. He is one of only five players to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals, all in one season. . 1. Walton was so damn good that it's impossible to imagine a world where he stayed healthy and reached his potential. Dave Cowens 9. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. ABC News Live. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. The Doctor averaged 26+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 4+ assists per game in the 1970s and was an 8x All-Star and 7x All-ABA/NBA selection. In 1970, three expansion teams enteredthe Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers. Not once. 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. All-Decade 1970s All-Stars on NBA 2K23. 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. Arguably the greatest college basketball player of all time, Christian Laettner's success didn't translate well to the NBA. Below is All-Decade 1970s All-Stars' 2K full team roster. It's hard to understand why this is a debate, as great as West was. All rights reserved. The 1970s NBA. 2. 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. 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. My argument was that it was a time of testing new limits, of parity and of transition. 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. Plus his 30.1 points per game is the NBAs highest career scoring average. This years playoffs confirmed that the NBA is in good hands. In addition to his unprecedented prowess at putting up points, Chamberlain was also the only person to grab more rebounds per game than Bill Russell (22.9), all while averaging more minutes played per game than any player in league history (45.8). 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. Oh, the humanity. I have a confession to make: even though Im a lifelong devotee to all Seattle sports team, I had a fan-fling with the San Antonio Spurs teams of the late 90s and early 2000s. 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 List of all the NBA and ABA Players Born in 1970 1969 1971 Select Year: 84 Players Active players are bold; * Indicates Hall of Famer Artis was great and underappreciated, but Cowens was better. 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 Card Manufacturer: Topps. 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. Mostly, players shot three-pointers out of desperation, not as a strategic element. 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. But, well, he played alongside another top-25 talent in Scottie Pippen and was coached by the strategic genius Phil Jackson during his most productive years. This brought an even greater influx of stars to the NBA, making for a great new era of basketball. 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. Read Kareem Abdul-Jabbars Britannica essay on the New York Rens. He won six MVPs during his career, tied for the most all-time, and was also a six-time NBA champion. 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. He won a league title in all but two of his 13 seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics. Cowens was known for his intensity that could get him in trouble with some fights. 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. Football. For better or worse, basketball fans love to compare different eras of their favorite sport. At their best the Knicks were a hybrid of downtown artistry mixed with old-school values. 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.. Get the best deals on 1970s Athletic Shoes for Men when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. 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. [This list was originally published in April 2014. PSA . The most notable of his scoring feats came on March 2, 1962, when he put up an astounding 100 points in a game, an NBA record that will likely never be broken. He led all players in the seventies in scoring and blocks, and he was second in both minutes and rebounds.. The consensus 1970 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. 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. 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. Let's take a look at some of the doper sneakers released in the 1970's. Founded in Boston in 1946 by Walter Brown, the Celtics were charter members of the Basketball Association of America, a . A brutal sucker punch in the OVC tournament stopped the game in its tracks. Original/Reprint: Original. Its uniform reflects the ever-changing trends and times. http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/bpm.html, Steph CurryThe Male Machine Gun Molly? On May 12, 1970, CoSIDA announced the 1970 Academic All-America team. Check this out: http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/bpm.html, Pingback: Review of Tall Tales and Short Shorts | Sport in American History. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? Though Barry had many of his best seasons in the ABA, he also found success on a team scale in the NBA. Rick Robey was drafted #3 overall. After helping . See our ethics statement. Richardson was a four-time All-Star in the NBA. In the first season with a three-point line, Maravich's last season, Pete went 10 for 15 from three-point range. The only NBA Hall of Famer for whom a Gossip Girl character was named. How to Win While Sports Betting? Hayes was an All-Star every year, 6x All-NBA, 2x All-Defensive, 2x rebounding champion, and NBA champion with the Washington Bullets in 1977-1978. The competition between the two leagues became fierce. Pistol Pete was one of the best scorers of the 70's. He led the NBA in scoring in the 1976-'77 season. 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! 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 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Julius Erving What are boosted odds in sports betting strategies? Other Links > Basketball > Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . 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. David Thompson and Dr. J. Cowens was only 69 at the center position, but he was one of the most prolific rebounders of the era. Either Bird's Celtics or Magic's Lakers played in every single NBA Finals in the decade and won eight of the 10 titles . 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. In 1970, the average player earned a $35,000 salary (equivalent to around $224,000 today). UCLAs Lew Alcindor. Tall Tales and Short Shorts: Dr. J, Pistol Pete, and the Birth of the Modern NBA. 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. His ability to rebound as just a 64 guard was tremendous, averaging six boards per game for his 13-year run in the league. At the opposite end of the attractive play spectrum from Duncan is Shaquille ONeal. He was also a double-double machine, averaging over 12 rebounds per game for the decade. McAdoo won an MVP and five All-Star berths in the '70s as a brilliant scorer and rebounder; in that 1975 MVP season he averaged 34 and 15. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? So whether or not you believe the Rolls-Royce Backcourt could defuse the Splash Brothers or that Dr. J could take LeBron to school, theres no denying the league as we know it todayfull of three-pointers, highlight-reel dunks, and multi-millionaire free agentswas born in the 1970s. Abdul-Jabbar was a six-time MVP and six-time NBA champion, cementing his legacy as not just the greatest of the decade but one of the greatest in league history. I know I risk getting run out of my beloved Chicago on a rail for daring to suggest His Airness isnt the best player ever but, well, I just dont think he is. 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. 9 Noteworthy Bog Bodies (And What They Tell Us), 12 Novels Considered the Greatest Book Ever Written, Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution, https://www.britannica.com/list/the-10-greatest-basketball-players-of-all-time. RUSTON - The Southland Conference, as part of its year-long 50th Anniversary commemoration, has announced its 1970s and 1980s All-Decade Men's Basketball teams which includes 10 former Louisiana Tech greats. He pulled down 14 rebounds per game from 1970-1980, and any game that he finished without a double-double was a rarity.. 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. Oh my, yes. 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. 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. And, frankly, its sort of fun tweaking all the Chicagoans who are surprisingly defensive about their sporting accomplishments. He won two championships alongside Havlicek in 1974 and 1976, and was also extremely successful as an individual player. -- Flannery. Oh jeez, this guy. Earvin Magic Johnson, Jr. 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. How Many Championships Does Steph Curry Have? 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. Russell Westbrook is being left wide open on offense, and hes still hurting the Clippers. Basketball. (All this said, it's pretty clear that Kobe eclipsed him as the second best Laker guard ever right around 2009 or 2010. What? 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. The Knicks legend was All-NBA six times, All-Defence six times, a seven-time All-Star and helped New York win its only two NBA titles in 1970 and 1973. Alas, it was soon overtaken by the NFL, which lapped the field and has maintained its hold on the public ever since. Their mantra was simple: Find the open man. 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. The Marquette men's basketball team has already clinched at least a share of the Big East Conference title. 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. He's one of the most interesting elite athletes ever, he was fully dominant for a long spell and he kept the Lakers afloat in bridging the West and Magic eras. Overall, they have won 17 NBA titles. (Russell Westbrook's head perks up.) Just kidding. How to keep your Expected Value bets Positive? Basketball has not escaped the fashion roller-coaster of the past century. Until others called the 80s and 90s the same. 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. Check the Blazers in 77-78 when they were 44-9 the year after they won the title, for an example. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. The best basketball player of the 1970s was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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. Erving was the most outstanding player in ABA history and won the 1976 ABA Dunk contest against David Thompson. Lou Boudreau, Thornton, 1935. 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. Pretty much all you can ask for from the best ever, no? The other big on-court change during the decade was that NBA players began embracing the slam dunk as a form of artistic expression. While the 1970's do not have as many classic silhouettes as the 80's or 90's, there are many sneakers that came out during this time thatwe still wear today. In 1975-76, Brewer had his best season as a Cavalier, averaging a. He was like living, breathing quicksilver on the court, a physical specimen in ways different from his contemporaries. Also, his career totals were inflated by the fact that he played roughly 10,000 years in the NBA. And, of course, hes since won two titles (and counting?) From there, its just a short jump to comparing players from the past with present stars. Im going to pressure you with three-quarters, half-court defense. The potential matchups are endless (and, to be honest, probably pointless). 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. Havlicek is also one of three NBA players with an unsurpassed 80 record in NBA Finals series outcomes. He worked at both ends. It didnt. The competition between the two leagues became fierce. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link: Top 10 Athletes past the age of 40: Where does Tom Brady rank? 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 and fought Bruce Lee in Game of Death, so his cool quotient is easily the highest of anyone on this list. Unfortunately, Maravich was a consummate showman who was stuck on bad teams throughout the 1970s. Bidding wars almost bankrupted both leagues and soon even marginally talented players made six-figure salaries. As magnificent as earlier players were, they never had to deal with the 24/7 stresses of 21st century media, which James has with aplomb. Rick Barry, a two-time NBA All-Star, made $45,000 in the NBA and jumped leagues for a $75,000 payday. He was fifth in total minutes played for the decade and was also fifth in points scored.Lanier was also unusually-adept at shooting free throws for a big man, averaging 77 percent for his career. 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. His patented skyhook was unguardable, and he used it to score over 22,000 points during the decade. There were also great centers like Bob McAdoo, Artis Gilmore and Bill Walton. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Before 1976, NBA players were bound to their teams through a reserve clause similar to that which existed in Major League Baseball. The Lakers got one championship, while Kareem got two on his own including one with Milwaukee. 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. Facebook Watch. J Julius Erving against LeBron James? The struggles and hard-won glory of pioneers such as Alice Coachman, Althea Gibson, Wilma Rudolph and Lynette Woodard helped pave the way for later generations of sports greats like Jackie. Though he was a great offensive player, Cowens made his biggest impact on defense, being named to three All-Defensive teams in his career. From a mall parking lot altercation to a fight with a teenager during a pickup game, these are the allegations Ja Morant is facing. Like Magic, Jordan and LeBron later on, he melded exciting play and quality in a way that reeled fans in and never let them go. What hasn't been said about Gervin? The pictures are all taken from the time to give you a better idea of how the sneakers were worn. Bob Lanier 8. The leading scorer in National Basketball Association (NBA) history is just the 10th-best player ever? Sure, we still saw centers like Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaq, Tim Duncan and Yao Ming rise and dominate down the road.