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.. 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. Known as Clyde Frazier, Walt brought the razzle dazzle to Madison Square Garden in the seventies. He worked at both ends. He was never the best player in either league -- Dr. J and Kareem ensured that --. The other big on-court change during the decade was that NBA players began embracing the slam dunk as a form of artistic expression. Though John Havlicek debuted in 1962, he was still very much in his prime when the seventies came around. It's hard to understand why this is a debate, as great as West was. The 1970s are not the most fondly remembered decade of pro basketball. Sucker punch in OVC tournament leads to 3 ejections. Were not technically a sports website, but this editor (hi!) UK welcomed its first African-American basketball player in Tom Payne, an All-American high-schooler from Louisville . You had D.C.'s best era with Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes. He won two championships alongside Havlicek in 1974 and 1976, and was also extremely successful as an individual player. College basketball conference tournament predictions: Picks for every mens league. 12. He might belong ahead of Hayes on the first team All-1970s. Please play responsibly. 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. He was an All-Star every year of his career, racking up 16 selections while dominating both leagues. 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. 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. See our ethics statement. Havlicek is also one of three NBA players with an unsurpassed 80 record in NBA Finals series outcomes. 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. 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. Shipping + Taxes Included In Price. 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 . debates. Learn more about this major update here. And he never dunked in an NBA game. 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. On May 12, 1970, CoSIDA announced the 1970 Academic All-America team. PSA Set Registry. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Background. Body Size of NBA Basketball Players Body Size in Basketball Fitness testing for basketball Height records, including the tallest and shortest in sports. Players hit 40 or more home runs 20 times in the 1970s with Willie Stargell, Johnny Bench, and George Foster reaching the total twice. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2. The 70s was, as novelist Tom Wolfe once famously wrote, the me decade. Missouri Valley Tournament 2023: Bracket, schedule, scores, teams, and more. 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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. Rick Barry Career Highlights UNDERRATED! Mac remains one of the greatest athletes in Buffalo history, though, which is something. (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. 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. I included ABA contributions as warranted. Dont be fooled by his humble small-college provenance and the Hick from French Lick nicknameLarry Bird was one of the fiercest competitors and greatest smack-talkers in NBA history. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org. It's famously noted that in this era the NBA Finals were on tape delay. 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. By decades end, that had jumped to $180,000 ($641,000 today). Those two players, more than any others, defined the 1980s in the NBA. Basketball. Facebook Watch. Steve Nash Eight-time NBA All-Star Steve Nash first gained the notice of the basketball world in 1993. Hayes was responsible for stopping UCLA's amazing college streak when it was Lew Alcindor manning the middle; they went on to play on different coasts most of the time in the pros. During the decade, Gervin was a 6x All-Star and 5x All-NBA/ABA selection which put up 24+ points, 6+ rebounds, and 2+ assists per game, including two straight scoring titles to close out the decade. hydroxyclorquin quineprox kratom chloroquine who produces hydroxychloroquine win, side effects tadalafil tadalafil brands tadalafil tablets 60mg, is tadalafil and cialis the same thing what is tadalafil tadalafil research powder, tadalafil citrate cialis online tadalafil cost walmart. In 1970, the average player earned a $35,000 salary (equivalent to around $224,000 today). Pistol Pete was one of the best scorers of the 70's. He led the NBA in scoring in the 1976-'77 season. 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. Athlete Body Size Changes Over Time Sports Nutrition for Basketball The shirts were fastened like a current-day body suit to keep them from becoming untucked. Dave Cowens 9. The Marquette men's basketball team has already clinched at least a share of the Big East Conference title. A member of the NBAs 75th Anniversary Team, Elvin Hayes was one of the most recognizable faces of the NBA in the 1970s. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Bob Lanier 8. 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. Owners hoped this would disincentivize large contracts. 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%). 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. LeBron James just does things that shouldnt be humanly possible. 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. His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. Get the best deals on 1970s Athletic Shoes for Men when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. T&Cs apply. Before 1976, NBA players were bound to their teams through a reserve clause similar to that which existed in Major League Baseball. 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. Football. Julius Erving 3. Tall Tales and Short Shorts: Dr. J, Pistol Pete, and the Birth of the Modern NBA. 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. Top 21 ACC Basketball Players of All Time: Where does Michael Jordan Rank? There has never been a more enthralling backcourt than Clyde and the Pearl, and their ingenious styles were balanced by bedrock pros like Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere and the Captain, Willis Reed. 1970s Basketball Players Basketball 1970s vs. now. What about Dr. Though Barry had many of his best seasons in the ABA, he also found success on a team scale in the NBA. Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1970-74), New Orleans/Utah Jazz (1974-80), Boston Celtics (1980 . Whatever.) $11.45 shipping. On NBA 2K23, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is All-Decade 1970s All-Stars' highest rated player, followed by Julius Erving in second place, and Walt Frazier in third. Hayes averaged 23+ points and 14+ rebounds per game during the 1970s, he gets lost in the conversation when people talk about the greatest players in NBA history, but the Big E should always be in that conversation. Jo Jo White: It's a bit criminal that Jo Jo is just now being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. John Havlicek 6. Gilmore wasn't the most fluid looking player, but he dominated the paint on both ends in both leagues. Fearing bankruptcy and finally willing to concede to player movement, the summer of 1976 witnessed the first crop of NBA free agents. But now they dont do that. 1970-71 Kansas Jayhawks Men 's Roster and Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com via Sports Logos.net About logos 1970-71 Kansas Jayhawks Men's Roster and Stats Previous Season Next Season Record: 27-3 (17-0, 1st in Big 8 MBB ) Rank: 4th in the Final AP Poll Coach: Ted Owens More School Info Big 8 Reg Season Champ The Lakers got one championship, while Kareem got two on his own including one with Milwaukee. He made eight All-Star games in the seventies, only missing out in his rookie year and in 1978-79 when he was injured. 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. This years playoffs confirmed that the NBA is in good hands. Then the American Basketball Association (ABA) came along and celebrated the showmanship of their top stars. Earvin Magic Johnson, Jr. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. What are boosted odds in sports betting strategies? Olympic Games Anthropometry for other sports in 2012. 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. Russell was the ultimate winner in the history of the NBA. The big guy out of Duke looked like the demonic love child of John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell just after Ferrell . 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? 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.. Successful Sports Betting Tips. (LogOut/ Why did NBA players not shoot more three-pointers in the late seventies and early eighties? He was like living, breathing quicksilver on the court, a physical specimen in ways different from his contemporaries. Who are the best basketball players of the 70s of all time? 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. On defense, he was one of the most feared rim protectors of his time, swatting away every attempt that was thrown up. I have defended the '70s before, notably in Free Darko Presents: The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History. 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. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. He led all players in the seventies in scoring and blocks, and he was second in both minutes and rebounds.. Also, his career totals were inflated by the fact that he played roughly 10,000 years in the NBA. Hockey. How 1970s NBA pioneers paved the way for today's game Walton was so damn good that it's impossible to imagine a world where he stayed healthy and reached his potential. The Logo retired in 1974, but he did enough in those first five seasons of the decade to warrant inclusion. 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. Check the Blazers in 77-78 when they were 44-9 the year after they won the title, for an example. 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. 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. 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. 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) 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. 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. Two answers: the ABA and free agency. These coaches do not understand the game of basketball, as far as Im concerned. 6. Nicknamed Big Red for his ginger hair, Dave Cowens was the anchor for many great Boston Celtics teams during the seventies. There were also great centers like Bob McAdoo, Artis Gilmore and Bill Walton. UCLAs Lew Alcindor. 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. (Editors Note: For a brief excerpt of the book, click here; for author reflections, click here.) See the rankings as for this Basketball Player Sets set on 3/2/2023 3:23:10 PM. When the Boston Athletic Association, the pre-cursor to the NBA, awarded prize money to the winning team . 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. Notice the striped tubed socks and short shorts in almost every picture. Part of the merger agreement was the settlement of the Oscar Robertson lawsuit, which ended the dreaded reserve clause. reserve clause similar to that which existed in Major League Baseball. 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. 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). Artis Gilmore: The best stiff ever. You had Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier in the Big Apple, drawing attention and respect to the Mecca of basketball. 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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. What hasn't been said about Gervin? Dr. 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. He was a 7x All-Star and 6x All-NBA/All-Defensive selection during the 1970s. How to keep your Expected Value bets Positive? Russell Westbrook is being left wide open on offense, and hes still hurting the Clippers. 3 min read. 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. Here's another argument: the '70s represented a battle for the soul of basketball. 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. J Julius Erving against LeBron James? You also had the burgeoning troupe of high-flyers with style: guys like Julius Erving, David Thompson and George Gervin. They appreciated the game on its merits, and embraced the athletes as individuals and fellow entertainers. 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. Who Is Better: Lebron James Or Wilt Chamberlain? 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 Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. He was also a double-double machine, averaging over 12 rebounds per game for the decade. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. But they seem inconsequential when compared to the off-court changes that took place in the seventies. You can't just change your wiring on stuff like that. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. These debates boil down to a very simple premise: basketball was different in the past. 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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. How Many Championships Does Steph Curry Have? Clockwise from upper left: Issel, Lanier, Mount and Maravich (not pictured: Murphy). 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. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $5,000. Jabbar was from the very beginning of his career being named the 1969-1970 rookie year,Abdul-Jabbar was a 5x MVP, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, and 8x All-Defensive selection in the 1970s with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers; moreover, he averaged 28+ points, 14+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game and led the Bucks to their first NBA title, winning Finals MVP in the process. By comparison, Steph Curry attempted 789 three-pointers *himself* this season (connecting on 41.1%) and the Golden State Warriors hoisted over 2,500 (making 38.3%) as a team. David Thompson: Thompson was an incredible scorer whose exploits rivaled those of Gervin and Maravich, and is considered one of MJ's chief inspirations. Most importantly, free agency also gave players newfound leverage in negotiations. Mostly, players shot three-pointers out of desperation, not as a strategic element. He was also a three-time MVP in the ABA during the seventies, capturing a three-peat in the award from 1974-1976. Investors founded the ABA in 1967 as a rival to the more established NBA (then just an eight-team league). Frazier held most Knicks records until . Release Year: 1971 Kareem Abdul Jabbar was the best basketball player in the world during the early 1970's. He helped make the Adidas Jabbar High and Low famous. Top 10 NBA Players of the 1970s - The Grueling Truth Ranking the top 10 players of the 1970s TGT Tips! There was no need to, Robertson later explained, because a layup counted the same as a dunk. In 1970, three expansion teams enteredthe Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers. Find out more. 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. 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. Call 1-800-522-4700. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. eBay item number: 404182195911. Adam Augustyn is Managing Editor, Reference Content at Encyclopdia Britannica. 1970-71 Houston Cougars Men's Roster and Stats Previous Season Next Season Record: 22-7 ( Independent ) Rank: 14th in the Final AP Poll Coach: Guy Lewis More School Info Houston (Men's) School History Roster & Stats Polls, Schedule & Results On this page: Roster Per Game Team and Opponent Stats Per Game Totals Per 40 Minutes Yeah. . They were drilled at an early age to work the ball into position for a shot close to the basket. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. 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. Join our linker program. The Celtics had played for 10 seasons before Russell joined the team, never once reaching a championship series in that time. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. He was voted as an all-star five times in the 1970s. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. With no further adieu, here are your All-1970s teams. 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. 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. Initially, free agency was restricted. More famously, when the New Orleans Jazz signed aging guard Gail Goodrich away from Los Angeles in 1976, the league awarded the Lakers three first-round draft picks (one of which became Earvin Magic Johnson). Free shipping for many products! 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. Packs. 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. Do folks give Jerry credit for building future champions as a GM?). He was amazing, but he had a lot of help, at least more than the last guy on this list. George Gervin 10. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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 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. The only player to lead the NBA in points and assists in the same season. Lets pick a winner in every mens college basketball conference tournament. A friend mentioned he'd heard there was a player on the verge of surpassing Pete Maravich's NCAA record 3,667 career points, a mark that's stood since 1970. . What? There have been some great shooters in the past. 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. See below where Professor Flannery waxes on Clyde and the Knicks. He was more than just a dunker, though, and when he moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers, his play was dominant. 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