Overall, the NBA in the 60's was good, but I find it hard to say it was the best decade of NBA basketball. Then the American Basketball Association (ABA) came along and celebrated the showmanship of their top stars. Sure, we still saw centers like Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaq, Tim Duncan and Yao Ming rise and dominate down the road. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? 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 Also, his career totals were inflated by the fact that he played roughly 10,000 years in the NBA. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2. The Celtics won a pair of titles and were often very good, but they were a distinct entity from the Russell/Red teams of the '60s. Basketball. And, frankly, its sort of fun tweaking all the Chicagoans who are surprisingly defensive about their sporting accomplishments. And how might retired NBA legends fare in todays game? Baseball's Forgotten Era: The '80s - Society For American Baseball T&Cs apply. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 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). 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One big on-court change was the three-pointer, arguably the most exciting part of the modern NBA. 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. (LogOut/ 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%). Two answers: the ABA and free agency. Hockey. His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. Until others called the 80s and 90s the same. 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. Jabbar then went on to finish up the decade with the Lakers. Most obsessively competitive to the detriment of ever having normal human relations with anybody? Dave Cowens 9. Scored the fifth-most points of the decade, Two-time All-ABA selection and seven-time All-NBA selection, Four-time All-ABA selection and six-time All-NBA selection. Body Size of NBA Basketball Players Body Size in Basketball Fitness testing for basketball Height records, including the tallest and shortest in sports. Basketball has not escaped the fashion roller-coaster of the past century. The Marquette men's basketball team has already clinched at least a share of the Big East Conference title. If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. . Why did salaries increase so much during the decade? They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. UK Basketball All-Decade Team: 1970s Edition These debates boil down to a very simple premise: basketball was different in the past. Oh jeez, this guy. The last remaining player from the 1970s in the NBA was Robert Parish. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 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. 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 1970s are not the most fondly remembered decade of pro basketball. 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. 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 Which NBA player from the 1980's & 1990's helped popularized basketball and turn it into a global game? Dugan has called him the best player he's ever coached. Top 10 NBA Players of the 1970s - The Grueling Truth Ranking the top 10 players of the 1970s TGT Tips! 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. Play Video. Quite possibly. or Best Offer . And he never dunked in an NBA game. Rick Barry, a two-time NBA All-Star, made $45,000 in the NBA and jumped leagues for a $75,000 payday. NBA Top Moments: 1970s | NBA.com - National Basketball Association 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. The one time in his 14-year career that he was not an All-Star was in 1970, a season in which an injured Chamberlain was limited to just 12 regular-season games and yet he still managed to will his team to the NBA finals upon his return. 2. 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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. Greatest Afros in NBA History - Bleacher Report He finished his NBA career in '76 having averaged 20-10. For example, Oscar Robertson was one of the most athletic players of his erajust Google Oscar Robertson splits (Ill wait). LeBron James just does things that shouldnt be humanly possible. He was a key component to the success of the Celtics in the 1970s, helping them win two NBA titles. Goose Givens won National Player of the Year. 50 Greatest NBA Players Of The 1970s - Page 8 - Hoops Habit Notice the striped tubed socks and short shorts in almost every picture. Get the best deals on 1970s Athletic Shoes for Men when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. 6. Impressive, right? He really did help continue the legacy of Bob Cousy in some ways, and with Frazier helped set the table for the next generation of bombastic point guards. But he was so much more than a dazzling smile. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. He is one of only five players to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals, all in one season. Hondo's back as the star of the post-Russell Celtics. Before 1976, NBA players were bound to their teams through a reserve clause similar to that which existed in Major League Baseball. Missouri Valley Tournament 2023: Bracket, schedule, scores, teams, and more. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? . Read Kareem Abdul-Jabbars Britannica essay on the New York Rens. UNC Basketball: The best 1970s and 80s teams that never existed 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. Erving then reeled off 11 straight All-Star bids in the NBA after the merger. Sooners' 1970s all-decade team By Joey Helmer Apr 18, 2020 12 NORMAN, Okla. Welcome to the glory years known as the Barry Switzer Era. John Havlicek 6. Free shipping for many products! The Warriors, Blazers, Bullets and Sonics all had their moments in the sun. Through the publication of this list, James has averaged a Robertson-esque 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.9 steals per game andunlike the Big Ohe was doing so against teams stocked with elite athletes and not players who smoked cigarettes at halftime. VINTAGE HARD PLASTIC BASKETBALL PLAYER CAKE TOPPER / DECORATION 1970s 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 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Artis Gilmore: The best stiff ever. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He was voted as an all-star five times in the 1970s. [This list was originally published in April 2014. 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. 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. What about Dr. Alas, it was soon overtaken by the NFL, which lapped the field and has maintained its hold on the public ever since. 30 Pro NBA Players Of The 1970s - Hood MWR Another, less easily explained difference, is that NBA players coming of age in the seventies grew up playing a game in which *every* shot counted for two points. 1970s and the Chicago Bulls | NBA.com - National Basketball Association During the 196162 season, The Big O averaged a triple-double with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game. While Im too young to have ever seen him play, his statistics are so mind-blowing that I wish I had a time machine for the express purpose of going back and seeing him in action. Overall, he averaged 26.6 points per game for the seventies, the third-most of any player. But here again, when I played years ago, if you shot a shot outside and hit it, the next time Im going to be up on top of you. Something not often mentioned about West is his excellent defense. By decades end, that had jumped to $180,000 ($641,000 today). Basketball Movies - IMDb Who are the best basketball players of the '70s of all time? 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. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. How to keep your Expected Value bets Positive? 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. 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 is a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, and an inductee in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. At their best the Knicks were a hybrid of downtown artistry mixed with old-school values. They appreciated the game on its merits, and embraced the athletes as individuals and fellow entertainers. 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. From there, its just a short jump to comparing players from the past with present stars. Data Provided By Below is All-Decade 1970s All-Stars' 2K full team roster. Most importantly, he led a very weak team in the New Orleans Jazz. Ranking the Top 25 Players in Cleveland Cavaliers History The 69 Johnson (making him the NBAs tallest point guard) not only posted the best assists-per-game mark in league history (11.2) but had a tremendous all-around game, as well. I put Pistol Pete on the first team over Jerry West primarily because my father raised me to believe Pistol Pete was the most exciting player ever. 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. J Julius Erving against LeBron James? When Lew Alcindor graduated from UCLA in 1969, both sides negotiated for his services. Remembering 1972 U.S. Olympic squad, 40 years later - ESPN 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. The Best Basketball Player Alive Every Year, 1980s Overall, they have won 17 NBA titles. But Maravich was so unbelievably '70s. But in his rookie year, Russell completely changed the franchises course and established the Celtics as the winningest team in the NBA. His only title as a player came in 1972; he darn near led the Lakers to one in 1970, as well. He won six MVPs during his career, tied for the most all-time, and was also a six-time NBA champion. And while his free throw routine may have looked silly to some, it worked like a charm; Barrys 91.3 percent free throw percentage was the best of anyone in the decade by over seven percentage points. And, of course, hes since won two titles (and counting?) The NBA All-1970s Team - odysseyonline Ja Morants allegations of aggression off the court, explained. Battle for the soul of basketball: Meet the All-1970s NBA (and ABA)team, The Clippers Russell Westbrook experiment is off to a terrible start. 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. You had D.C.'s best era with Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes. 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. Find out more. Bob McAdoo 5. Star Power: Now we are on the to 70's. 1970 Topps #75 Lew Alcindor. Ten Former LA Tech Greats Named to 1970s, 1980s All-Decade Teams For whatever reason, he kept it in his pocket and Alcindor signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for a $250,000 annual salary. The Women's Professional Basketball League was the first attempt to launch a nationwide professional basketball league for women. The Greatest Brazilian Players of All Time - 70s & 80s - Sportslens 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. Could the Rolls-Royce Backcourt of Walt Clyde Frazier and Earl The Pearl Monroe handle the modern-day Golden State Warriors Splash Brothers? This brought an even greater influx of stars to the NBA, making for a great new era of basketball. 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. Marquette reaches its highest ranking since the 1970s in AP college 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. Though John Havlicek debuted in 1962, he was still very much in his prime when the seventies came around. Bet with your head, not over it. So, yeah, Magic Johnsonneat guy. George Gervin 10. Boasting five players who averaged. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Vtg Chuck Taylor All Star Blue Label OG Converse High Top 6.5 USA Player Name. One of the most successful franchises in sports history, the Celtics won 11 of 13 National Basketball Association (NBA) championships from 1957 to 1969. 10 African American Athletes Who Broke Barriers - Biography 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. [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. How Many Championships Does Steph Curry Have? He can be reached at acriblez@semo.edu and followed on Twitter at@AdamCriblez. In 1973, just his third season in the league, he won the MVP award after averaging 20 points and 16 rebounds per game. 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 '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. It was this transition, from earth-bound giants to brilliant athleticism, that paved the way for the glorious rebirth that was to come. A brutal sucker punch in the OVC tournament stopped the game in its tracks. Michael Ray Richardson 8. A member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach, Abdul-Jabbar twice was voted NBA Finals MVP. 38 Famous NBA Basketball Players in the 80s - Hood MWR 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. David Thompson: Thompson was an incredible scorer whose exploits rivaled those of Gervin and Maravich, and is considered one of MJ's chief inspirations. Its time for BritannicaOK, one editor at Britannicato jump into the perpetually unresolved greatest ever in [insert sport here] fray. The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time | Britannica