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. Owners hoped this would disincentivize large contracts. Background. PSA Set Registry. 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. 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. Successful Sports Betting Tips. 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. (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. There have been some great shooters in the past. And, of course, hes since won two titles (and counting?) 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. Lew Alcindor's historic run to the NBA Rookie of the Year award was the talk of the 1969-70 season, but it was his sophomore campaign in 1970-71 where the Milwaukee Bucks big man took a transcendent leap towards the Hall of Fame.. With the acquisition of All-Star point guard and future Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson, the Bucks . As a sophomore, he led the "Flying Clouds" to . Alas, it was soon overtaken by the NFL, which lapped the field and has maintained its hold on the public ever since. Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati: 2,973 points (1957-58 to 1959-60) "The Big O" averaged 35.1, 32.6 and 33.7 points in his three seasons. PSA . The best basketball player of the 1970s was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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. In the first season with a three-point line, Maravich's last season, Pete went 10 for 15 from three-point range. Either Bird's Celtics or Magic's Lakers played in every single NBA Finals in the decade and won eight of the 10 titles . 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. Then the American Basketball Association (ABA) came along and celebrated the showmanship of their top stars. 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. $44.99. 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. How the NBA Changed in the 1970s | Sport in American History The last remaining player from the 1970s in the NBA was Robert Parish. Check the Blazers in 77-78 when they were 44-9 the year after they won the title, for an example. The competition between the two leagues became fierce. Jabbar then went on to finish up the decade with the Lakers. 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? In addition, the decade saw the merging of the ABA and the NBA, the two top leagues of the time. [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. 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. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. But a decade before kids wanted to Be like Mike, they wanted to operate above the rim like Dr. UCLAs Lew Alcindor. The player who scored the most points in the 1970s was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was a 7x All-Star and 6x All-NBA/All-Defensive selection during the 1970s. Hondo was the original sixth man, but by the 1970s, he was a dominant fixture in the NBA. Yeah. One big on-court change was the three-pointer, arguably the most exciting part of the modern NBA. Top 5 Ranked Mens Basketball Players Of All Time, Top 6 Best NBA Power Forwards of All Time, Top 6 Best NBA Shooting Guards of All Time, Top 6 Best NBA Small Forwards of All Time, Top 6 Best Womens Basketball Players Of All Time. CIAC Boys Basketball All Century Team | CIAC 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. He racked up three championship rings and 12 All-Star appearances in his injury-shortened 13-year career. (Russell Westbrook's head perks up.) Curious about the story behind the basketball card, intern Curtis Harris interviewed Jim Barnett, whose pro basketball career began in 1966 with the Boston Celtics.Aside from the outlandish hair and flamboyant jerseys of the players, basketball cards of the 1970s provide a fascinating window into an exciting and chaotic era in the sport's history. Bob Lanier 8. Jones, George T. Johnson, Andre Drummond and Kawhi Leonard. 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. Artis Gilmore: The best stiff ever. Two answers: the ABA and free agency. They didnt. College basketball career scoring leaders. Most Overrated NBA Players of All Time | Stadium Talk It was this transition, from earth-bound giants to brilliant athleticism, that paved the way for the glorious rebirth that was to come. In 1973, just his third season in the league, he won the MVP award after averaging 20 points and 16 rebounds per game. A brutal sucker punch in the OVC tournament stopped the game in its tracks. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Card Manufacturer: Topps. Body Size of NBA Basketball Players Body Size in Basketball Fitness testing for basketball Height records, including the tallest and shortest in sports. On defense, he was one of the most feared rim protectors of his time, swatting away every attempt that was thrown up. J Erving. Dr. 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. The 1970'swas a time when you had a lot of emerging sneaker companies and no one company completely dominating thesneaker market. So, yeah, Magic Johnsonneat guy. 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. What is the Best Decade of Basketball in NBA History? After coming over from the ABA in 1976, Gervin led the NBA in scoring three times during the decade, doing so in consecutive years from 1978-1980. Our apologies, George Mikan, K.C. 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. Founded in Boston in 1946 by Walter Brown, the Celtics were charter members of the Basketball Association of America, a . 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 1970s Basketball Players Basketball 1970s vs. now. Julius Dr. He was voted as an all-star five times in the 1970s. Sluggers reached 40 home runs a stunning 77 times in the 1990s and 91 times in the 2000s as steroids and smaller ballparks came to dominate the game. Russell Westbrook is being left wide open on offense, and hes still hurting the Clippers. We forget how damn good Boston was in the '70s because their success then paled to that experienced in the '60s and '80s. The four highest all-time NBA single-season scoring averages all belong to Chamberlainin his first four professional seasons. He was like living, breathing quicksilver on the court, a physical specimen in ways different from his contemporaries. Years with Cavaliers: 1973-1979 Playing a key role for the Cavs for much of the 70's, Brewer was a strong defender and rebounder. University of California at Berkeley was given an outdoor basketball court for women by philanthropist Phoebe Hearst. The Lakers got one championship, while Kareem got two on his own including one with Milwaukee. Most famous player ever? 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 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. Tall Tales and Short Shorts: Dr. J, Pistol Pete, and the Birth of the Modern NBA. 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 Copyright 2017-2023 Rookie Road Inc. All rights reserved. Gambling problem? Join our linker program. 15,159 Sets. 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. 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. The leading scorer in National Basketball Association (NBA) history is just the 10th-best player ever? For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. Men's college basketball career scoring leaders | NCAA.com List of all the NBA and ABA Players Born in 1970 | Basketball-Reference.com We've added Women's stats dating back to 2009-10 on College Basketball Reference!. 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. Randy Denton easily has the most unique afro in the history of basketball. 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. Most importantly, free agency also gave players newfound leverage in negotiations. It's famously noted that in this era the NBA Finals were on tape delay. Money was hard to come by for basketball players in the early days of the league as well. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born April 16, 1947) is an American retired professional basketball player with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. You had D.C.'s best era with Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes. Next time you put a pair of Nike Cortez or Vans Sk8 High on know the history behind them. But they somehow managed to turn the simple act of making the extra pass into an exercise of communal cool. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. 12. Sooners' 1970s all-decade team - OUInsider Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Why take a 30-foot jump shot if making it counted for the same as a two-footer? Was . 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. Top 10 NBA Players of the 1970s - The Grueling Truth Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach suggestedperhaps tongue-in-cheekthat if points were added to reward especially deep shots, uncontested layups should only receive a single point. Not once. And, frankly, its sort of fun tweaking all the Chicagoans who are surprisingly defensive about their sporting accomplishments. Parish was able to stick around for so long because of his great talent as a basketball player, making nine All-Star teams during his career as well as winning four NBA championships. Mostly, players shot three-pointers out of desperation, not as a strategic element. 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. Average NBA Height Of Players By Decade - I-80 Sports Blog Dugan has called him the best player he's ever coached. In fact, there has been no college basketball player in history as dominant as Pistol Pete. Unfortunately, Maravich was a consummate showman who was stuck on bad teams throughout the 1970s. 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. Were not technically a sports website, but this editor (hi!) . Do you have a sports website? 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. Kareem was the best pro basketball player of the '70s -- that's more or less beyond debate -- but hoops came out the other side fully enthralled with shooters and high-flyers. Best 1970s Basketball Players | Top 70s NBA Player List The Best Players in the NBA in 2022 Greatest Players with No Rings The Best Ever Team Owners Tall Players Over 7'2 Best Players from Foreign Countries Short Players Under 5'9 The Best White Guys in the NBA Hall of Fame Candidates Worst Team Owners of All Time Players with Their Numbers Retired Spalding created some of the first padded shorts worn by basketball players during this era. What is the Best Decade of Basketball in NBA History? With no further adieu, here are your All-1970s teams. . Abdul-Jabbar was dominant in all aspects of the game, but he was particularly unstoppable on offense. All-Decade Basketball Teams: 1970s - al.com Best 1970s Basketball Players | Top 70s NBA Player List - Ranker 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. A member of the NBAs 75th Anniversary Team, Elvin Hayes was one of the most recognizable faces of the NBA in the 1970s. 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. It's hard to understand why this is a debate, as great as West was. 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. 10 African American Athletes Who Broke Barriers - Biography Vtg Chuck Taylor All Star Blue Label OG Converse High Top 6.5 USA Player Name. Please play responsibly. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $5,000. 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). Its uniform reflects the ever-changing trends and times. Call 1-800-522-4700. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. Oh jeez, this guy. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Olympic Games Anthropometry for other sports in 2012. 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. 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. debates. 1970s basketball: More than dunks and dazzling dribbles In 1975-76, Brewer had his best season as a Cavalier, averaging a. He didn't play for really excellent teams until joining the Showtime Lakers in '80s, however, which hampers his legacy. 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. He led all players in the seventies in scoring and blocks, and he was second in both minutes and rebounds.. . In 1996, he was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Who are the best basketball players of the 70s of all time? This was the period of time that reallyhelped build the foundation to sneakers as we know it today. 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. Richardson was a four-time All-Star in the NBA. Erving was the most outstanding player in ABA history and won the 1976 ABA Dunk contest against David Thompson. The 1970s NBA. 1970-71 Kansas Jayhawks Men's Roster and Stats - College Basketball at But they seem inconsequential when compared to the off-court changes that took place in the seventies. 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. Now players could subsist without off-season work and, for the first time in league history, make life-changing money playing pro basketball. In addition to scoring, Gervin was also a proficient rebounder and excellent defender. 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. When the Boston Athletic Association, the pre-cursor to the NBA, awarded prize money to the winning team . You had championships in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, signaling the weakening of the East's stranglehold on basketball dominance, as well as providing evidence that L.A. could be rivaled on the Pacific Coast. Player/Athlete:. The NBA All-1970s Team - odysseyonline Steve Nash Eight-time NBA All-Star Steve Nash first gained the notice of the basketball world in 1993. In 1971, the San Francisco Warriors changed cities and names, leaving the Cow Palace. (LogOut/ He won a league title in all but two of his 13 seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics. 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. The '70s were marked by an absence of dynasties. Let's take a look at some of the doper sneakers released in the 1970's. 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. He made eight All-Star games in the seventies, only missing out in his rookie year and in 1978-79 when he was injured. 1970: 'Mr. Clutch' sinks a must-see 60-footer Jerry West showed he deserved his nickname when he buried a 60-foot, game-tying bomb at the buzzer in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Knicks.. Overall, he averaged 26.6 points per game for the seventies, the third-most of any player. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Boasting five players who averaged. New technology was being used to make better sneakers for running, basketball, and skateboarding. Which basketball team epitomized the decadence of the 1980s? 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. 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. Drake and Bradley are the favorites in the MVC mens basketball conference tournament. He is a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, and an inductee in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Pretty much all you can ask for from the best ever, no? 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. But let's face it: the old-school center has been going out of style for a long, long time, all thanks to the chaos and rebirth in the '70s. 50 Greatest NBA Players Of The 1970s - Page 8 - Hoops Habit The 6-foot . They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. [This list was originally published in April 2014. Yes, the man many fans (ignorantly) consider the most overrated choke artist in the league is actually the best player to ever set foot on a court. Basketball Movies - IMDb Erving then reeled off 11 straight All-Star bids in the NBA after the merger. Plus his 30.1 points per game is the NBAs highest career scoring average. Other Links > Basketball > Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . Product: Set. The Doctor was the original Dunk king. Initially, free agency was restricted. [25] Sneakers History: Popular Sneakers In The 1970's 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. Previous Decade > Next Decade . 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. During the 196162 season, The Big O averaged a triple-double with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game. John Havlicek 6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Julius Erving The 70s was, as novelist Tom Wolfe once famously wrote, the me decade. Indiana Basketball All-Decade Team: 1970s - Peegs What survived was the hoops cognoscenti, made up notably of writers, musicians and actors who were active followers on both coasts. When Lew Alcindor graduated from UCLA in 1969, both sides negotiated for his services. Walton was so damn good that it's impossible to imagine a world where he stayed healthy and reached his potential. 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. Gilmore wasn't the most fluid looking player, but he dominated the paint on both ends in both leagues. Notable stars of the decade: Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Bill Russell. The big guy out of Duke looked like the demonic love child of John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell just after Ferrell . 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. Players hit 40 or more home runs 20 times in the 1970s with Willie Stargell, Johnny Bench, and George Foster reaching the total twice. 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. Who Wears Short Shorts? Not Enough Men These Days | KQED Top 10 NBA Players of the 1970s - The Grueling Truth Ranking the top 10 players of the 1970s TGT Tips! Best NBA Defensive Players of All Time | Stadium Talk The Golden Eagles (23-6, 15-3 Big East) wrap . 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. Also, his career totals were inflated by the fact that he played roughly 10,000 years in the NBA. And he never dunked in an NBA game. Change). 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. National Basketball Association, book | 296 views, 8 likes, 1 loves, 0 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from ABC News Live: "The NBA is the most woke league because the players pushed it to. If Team A signed a player from Team B, A owed B some combination of players, draft choices, or money in compensation. J Julius Erving against LeBron James? 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.