Spalding created some of the first padded shorts worn by basketball players during this era. The 1970 Draft is also known as the first draft where international players who had never played U.S. high school and college basketball were selected. 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. Then the American Basketball Association (ABA) came along and celebrated the showmanship of their top stars. But Maravich was so unbelievably '70s. College basketball conference tournament predictions: Picks for every mens league. 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. Find out more. He was voted as an all-star five times in the 1970s. Either Bird's Celtics or Magic's Lakers played in every single NBA Finals in the decade and won eight of the 10 titles . 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. He is a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, and an inductee in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Bob Lanier 8. Unfortunately, Maravich was a consummate showman who was stuck on bad teams throughout the 1970s. He was a 7x All-Star and 6x All-NBA/All-Defensive selection during the 1970s. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. $2000 Risk Free $1000 + $100 in site credits, Must be 21+. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. After the Converse "Chuck Taylor All Stars" and before Michael "Air" Jordan was the 1970's. 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. 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. 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 led the league in scoring three straight times from 1974-1976, pouring in over 30 points per game in each season. 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. 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. Another player who made his debut after the decade was already underway, Bob Lanier hit the ground running. LeBron James just does things that shouldnt be humanly possible. Yeah. In addition to scoring, Gervin was also a proficient rebounder and excellent defender. Free shipping for many products! 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.". The Warriors, Blazers, Bullets and Sonics all had their moments in the sun. The competition between the two leagues became fierce. (The latest, and for my money the best, entry in the canon is "When the Garden was Eden" by New York Times columnist Harvey Araton who writes with the benefit of history and perspective on his side.). This was the period of time that reallyhelped build the foundation to sneakers as we know it today. All-Decade 1970s All-Stars on NBA 2K23. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. These debates boil down to a very simple premise: basketball was different in the past. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Gilmore wasn't the most fluid looking player, but he dominated the paint on both ends in both leagues. 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. Oh my, yes. He was amazing, but he had a lot of help, at least more than the last guy on this list. In fact, Hubie Browns Atlanta Hawks attempted just 75 three-pointers all season (making just 13). We present them here for purely educational purposes. Malone was the league's best player in 1981-82 by nearly every metric. Most importantly, he led a very weak team in the New Orleans Jazz. 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 Russell Westbrook is being left wide open on offense, and hes still hurting the Clippers. He won a league title in all but two of his 13 seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics. The Lakers got one championship, while Kareem got two on his own including one with Milwaukee. 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. Note: We wanted guys who brought it for an extended period of time, so the bar was set at 20,000 minutes, the equivalent of 25 minutes per game, 80 games per season for 10 seasons. Rick Robey was drafted #3 overall. He is a retired professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association who played small forward (NBA). Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1970-71 Topps Basketball Complete Set - Premier 7.5 - NM+ at the best online prices at eBay! Director: Ron Shelton | Stars: Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Rosie Perez, Tyra Ferrell Votes: 89,504 | Gross: $76.25M 66 (4) Blu-ray 8. Abdul-Jabbar was dominant in all aspects of the game, but he was particularly unstoppable on offense. 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. The Rockets' forward led the league in minutes, rebounds and win shares . or Best Offer . UK welcomed its first African-American basketball player in Tom Payne, an All-American high-schooler from Louisville . How Many Championships Does Michael Jordan Have? 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. 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. Adam Augustyn is Managing Editor, Reference Content at Encyclopdia Britannica. 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. Clockwise from upper left: Issel, Lanier, Mount and Maravich (not pictured: Murphy). http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/bpm.html, Steph CurryThe Male Machine Gun Molly? Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. 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. 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. 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. John Havlicek 6. After the 1976 ABA-NBA merger, team owners hoped salaries would normalize. 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. They were no strong national rivalries, no dynasties, no epic G.O.A.T. Like it or not, the three-point field goal and the slam dunk have greatly changed the on-court product in the NBA. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. What hasn't been said about Gervin? He was easily the best point guard of the era, and he led his New York Knicks to NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Though Barry had many of his best seasons in the ABA, he also found success on a team scale in the NBA. Most important player ever? Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The competition between the two leagues became fierce. 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. Hondo's back as the star of the post-Russell Celtics. How to keep your Expected Value bets Positive? Our apologies, George Mikan, K.C. Kareem won five of the 10 MVPs awarded in the '70s, made the All-Star team every year but '78 and only missed All-NBA first team three times in the decade. 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). 26,045 Sets. He's also the best player to ever win a championship while wearing a toupe. 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. Pretty much all you can ask for from the best ever, no? Sneaker Name: Nike Cortez Year: 1972 The Nike Cortez was created by Nike Co-Founder and Oregon Head Track and Field Coach Bill Bowerman. Why did NBA players not shoot more three-pointers in the late seventies and early eighties? The 1970s were a golden age for basketball. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. J.. Players hit 40 or more home runs 20 times in the 1970s with Willie Stargell, Johnny Bench, and George Foster reaching the total twice. Erving was one of the defining figures of the game during the decade, combining exceptional athleticism and finesse in a style that has remained popular all these years later. How Many Championships Does Steph Curry Have? Jo Jo White: It's a bit criminal that Jo Jo is just now being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. 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. 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. A member of the NBAs 75th Anniversary Team, Elvin Hayes was one of the most recognizable faces of the NBA in the 1970s. And, frankly, its sort of fun tweaking all the Chicagoans who are surprisingly defensive about their sporting accomplishments. 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 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. Artis was great and underappreciated, but Cowens was better. The Celtics had played for 10 seasons before Russell joined the team, never once reaching a championship series in that time. 6 of 13. 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Olympic Games Anthropometry for other sports in 2012. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. The Women's Professional Basketball League was the first attempt to launch a nationwide professional basketball league for women. The anticipated plateau of salaries never arrived, and continues today. Tall Tales and Short Shorts: Dr. J, Pistol Pete, and the Birth of the Modern NBA. 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 . 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. 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. Sucker punch in OVC tournament leads to 3 ejections. He racked up three championship rings and 12 All-Star appearances in his injury-shortened 13-year career. The 1970'swas a time when you had a lot of emerging sneaker companies and no one company completely dominating thesneaker market. 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. On defense, he was one of the most feared rim protectors of his time, swatting away every attempt that was thrown up. Please play responsibly. FLANNERY DISSENTS: No offense to your old man, but Jerry West should be here now and forever. Russell was the ultimate winner in the history of the NBA. Gervin was famous for his finger roll and seemed to score at will against any opponent the Spurs played against. Michael Ray Richardson 8. Investors founded the ABA in 1967 as a rival to the more established NBA (then just an eight-team league). Data Provided By Which NBA player from the 1980's & 1990's helped popularized basketball and turn it into a global game? Here's another argument: the '70s represented a battle for the soul of basketball. 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. Sam Teets 2021 NBA mock draft 1.0: Cunningham goes first, Top 50 NBA players under 25 years old in 2021: Doncic bests Young, Ranking the top 70 free agents in the 2021 NBA offseason, Grading every NFL teams picks from the 2021 NFL Draft, Sam Teets two-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 with Kyle the Commish, UFC 285: Jon Jones returns, facing Ciryl Gane for heavyweight title, Top 13 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 8 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Gambling problem? Easily the greatest ABA player ever, Julius Erving had no trouble making the transition to the NBA in 1976. Bet with your head, not over it. 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 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. The easy answer would be to point to a lack of analytics (seriously, how did they survive without WAR, BPM, or VORP?)[1]. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? 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. Cowens was only 69 at the center position, but he was one of the most prolific rebounders of the era. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. 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. He didn't play for really excellent teams until joining the Showtime Lakers in '80s, however, which hampers his legacy. One of the most successful franchises in sports history, the Celtics won 11 of 13 National Basketball Association (NBA) championships from 1957 to 1969. Founded in Boston in 1946 by Walter Brown, the Celtics were charter members of the Basketball Association of America, a . Im going to pressure you with three-quarters, half-court defense. Earvin Magic Johnson, Jr. With one of the coldest nicknames in NBA history, Iceman George Gervin was one of the best scorers in the NBA during the seventies and early eighties. He was also a double-double machine, averaging over 12 rebounds per game for the decade. How Many Championships Does Kobe Bryant Have? For better or worse, basketball fans love to compare different eras of their favorite sport. 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. 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. 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. has been obsessively watching sports for nearly three decades and arguing about them with friends for nearly as long. The pace of play increased, players were given more freedom, and the talent in the league was at an all-time high. Atlanta General Manager Stan. 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. (All this said, it's pretty clear that Kobe eclipsed him as the second best Laker guard ever right around 2009 or 2010. The 70s was, as novelist Tom Wolfe once famously wrote, the me decade. Billy Cunningham: The Kangaroo Kid didn't win a title in the '70s (he was a Wilt sidekick on that great '67 team) but he cranked out some great seasons with the Sixers and the Carolina Cougars of the ABA. Gervin made 12 All-Star teams between the ABA and NBA, and was an All-League player nine times. His height is 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), and his weight is 205 lb (93 kg). Understanding the marketability of high-flying, slam-dunking showmen, the NBA copied the dunk contest concept in 1977 (won by Indiana Pacer Dr. Rick Barry, a two-time NBA All-Star, made $45,000 in the NBA and jumped leagues for a $75,000 payday. The leading scorer in National Basketball Association (NBA) history is just the 10th-best player ever? Jordan played college basketball for three seasons under coach Dean Smith with the North Carolina Tar Heels. All rights reserved. But in his rookie year, Russell completely changed the franchises course and established the Celtics as the winningest team in the NBA. 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. $179.99. 1970s and the Chicago Bulls. Who are the best basketball players of the '70s of all time? Goose Givens won National Player of the Year. Drake and Bradley are the favorites in the MVC mens basketball conference tournament. In 1975-76, Brewer had his best season as a Cavalier, averaging a. As a sophomore, he led the "Flying Clouds" to . Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2. He was an All-Star every year of his career, racking up 16 selections while dominating both leagues. Notable stars of the decade: Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Bill Russell. In 1975, he led the San Francisco Warriors to an NBA championship, and he was named Finals MVP that year as well. Vtg Chuck Taylor All Star Blue Label OG Converse High Top 6.5 USA Player Name. Could the Rolls-Royce Backcourt of Walt Clyde Frazier and Earl The Pearl Monroe handle the modern-day Golden State Warriors Splash Brothers? The five players represented by LA Tech during the 1980s all played a huge part in the success of these Bulldog teams. Product: Set. PSA . Lou Boudreau, Thornton, 1935. Check out his website at https://www.adamcriblez.com/. You had Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier in the Big Apple, drawing attention and respect to the Mecca of basketball. 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. Julius Erving 3. At the opposite end of the attractive play spectrum from Duncan is Shaquille ONeal. 1970 Topps #75 Lew Alcindor. Richardson was a four-time All-Star in the NBA. Cowens was known for his intensity that could get him in trouble with some fights. Related: did you know that the 2013 Seattle Seahawks had the best defense in NFL history? 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. 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. Until others called the 80s and 90s the same. Basketball has not escaped the fashion roller-coaster of the past century. Top 10 NBA Players of the 1970s - The Grueling Truth Ranking the top 10 players of the 1970s TGT Tips! 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.. And he never dunked in an NBA game. Oh, the humanity. Frazier had a flair for style that had been sparsely seen in the league before his debut, but once he arrived, all eyes were glued on him. Rick Barry Honorable Mentions FAQ Who are the best basketball players of the '70s of all time? Frazier was one of the most significant point guards in NBA history. The 6'9" Johnson (making him the NBA's 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. What is the Best Decade of Basketball in NBA History? 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 Owners hoped this would disincentivize large contracts. Wagers only accepted in CO. For full terms and conditions, click here. 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 was a perennial All-Star, won the scoring title in 1970 and had four All-NBA first team nods in the decade. I have defended the '70s before, notably in Free Darko Presents: The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History. He led all players in the seventies in scoring and blocks, and he was second in both minutes and rebounds.. 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. Dr. Adam Criblez is an Assistant Professor of History at Southeast Missouri State University and the author of the new book Tall Tales and Short Shorts: Dr. J, Pistol Pete, and the Birth of the Modern NBA. Background. He worked at both ends. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. The last remaining player from the 1970s in the NBA was Robert Parish. 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. The 2021 NBA Draft is less than three weeks away. See our ethics statement. In the 1970s Barry claimed six NBA All-Star bids, three ABA All-Star bids and three All-NBA first team nods. Havlicek is also one of three NBA players with an unsurpassed 80 record in NBA Finals series outcomes. 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.. 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. There have been some great shooters in the past. 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. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Julius Erving Other Links > Basketball > Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . Though John Havlicek debuted in 1962, he was still very much in his prime when the seventies came around. 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. 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. The other big on-court change during the decade was that NBA players began embracing the slam dunk as a form of artistic expression. (Or 20. 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. 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.