Bob Lanier 8. Their mantra was simple: Find the open man. Find out more. At their best the Knicks were a hybrid of downtown artistry mixed with old-school values. 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. This was the period of time that reallyhelped build the foundation to sneakers as we know it today. This years playoffs confirmed that the NBA is in good hands. 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. T&Cs apply. In the 1970s Barry claimed six NBA All-Star bids, three ABA All-Star bids and three All-NBA first team nods. His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. Here's another argument: the '70s represented a battle for the soul of basketball. 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. Just kidding. Indeedy. 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. Dugan has called him the best player he's ever coached. Then the American Basketball Association (ABA) came along and celebrated the showmanship of their top stars. He is a retired professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association who played small forward (NBA). 12. What sneakers do you like from the 70's? They were no strong national rivalries, no dynasties, no epic G.O.A.T. He was never the best player in either league -- Dr. J and Kareem ensured that -- but he was always in that second tier as a really great scorer. Hayes was an All-Star every year, 6x All-NBA, 2x All-Defensive, 2x rebounding champion, and NBA champion with the Washington Bullets in 1977-1978. Two answers: the ABA and free agency. Copyright 2017-2023 Rookie Road Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Sure, we still saw centers like Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaq, Tim Duncan and Yao Ming rise and dominate down the road. The 6-foot . Rick Robey was drafted #3 overall. ABC News Live. His height is 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), and his weight is 205 lb (93 kg). With the Knicks leading the way, this early to mid-70s period was the moment when the NBA was supposed to take hold as the nation's trendiest sport, just as baseball went through one of its periodic downturns. 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. Gambling problem? Regardless of the cigar-chomping coachs recommendation, the league introduced the three-point shot in 1979 and never looked back. Black and white basketball hustlers join forces to double their chances of winning money on the street courts and in a basketball tournament. One of the most successful franchises in sports history, the Celtics won 11 of 13 National Basketball Association (NBA) championships from 1957 to 1969. 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. 6 of 13. A member of the NBAs 75th Anniversary Team, Elvin Hayes was one of the most recognizable faces of the NBA in the 1970s. Below is All-Decade 1970s All-Stars' 2K full team roster. You also had the burgeoning troupe of high-flyers with style: guys like Julius Erving, David Thompson and George Gervin. The Logo retired in 1974, but he did enough in those first five seasons of the decade to warrant inclusion. 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 Why take a 30-foot jump shot if making it counted for the same as a two-footer? 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? Change). 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? 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. If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. 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. 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 . From a mall parking lot altercation to a fight with a teenager during a pickup game, these are the allegations Ja Morant is facing. In 1979, few players specialized as three-point marksmen. The glory the NBA would enjoy in the '80s and '90s wouldn't be possible without players like Dr. J and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar laying the groundwork for the league in the '70s. 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. . Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1970-74), New Orleans/Utah Jazz (1974-80), Boston Celtics (1980 . He's one of the most interesting elite athletes ever, he was fully dominant for a long spell and he kept the Lakers afloat in bridging the West and Magic eras. Let's take a look at some of the doper sneakers released in the 1970's. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? 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). Until researching my upcoming book, Tall Tales and Short Shorts: Dr. J, Pistol Pete, and the Birth of the Modern NBA, I didnt realize how many of these changes actually occurred during the 1970s, when the NBA arguably entered a modern age. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. Could the Rolls-Royce Backcourt of Walt Clyde Frazier and Earl The Pearl Monroe handle the modern-day Golden State Warriors Splash Brothers? This decade served as the start of the second Sooner. But he was so much more than a dazzling smile. One of the most brilliant scorers ever, David Thompson's wing rival in the late '70s and the first great Spur. Check this out: http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/bpm.html, Pingback: Review of Tall Tales and Short Shorts | Sport in American History. He was more than just a dunker, though, and when he moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers, his play was dominant. Lets pick a winner in every mens college basketball conference tournament. After the 1976 ABA-NBA merger, team owners hoped salaries would normalize. . Oh my, yes. 1. 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. So might Barry, who bounced between the ABA and NBA before leading the Warriors to the '75 title. 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) But they seem inconsequential when compared to the off-court changes that took place in the seventies. Why did NBA players not shoot more three-pointers in the late seventies and early eighties? 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. He racked up three championship rings and 12 All-Star appearances in his injury-shortened 13-year career. Hondo's back as the star of the post-Russell Celtics. What survived was the hoops cognoscenti, made up notably of writers, musicians and actors who were active followers on both coasts. With no further adieu, here are your All-1970s teams. 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. Basketball. Top 21 ACC Basketball Players of All Time: Where does Michael Jordan Rank? Star Power: Now we are on the to 70's. Drake and Bradley are the favorites in the MVC mens basketball conference tournament. 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. 44,845 Sets. Steve Nash Eight-time NBA All-Star Steve Nash first gained the notice of the basketball world in 1993. Artis was great and underappreciated, but Cowens was better. Abdul-Jabbar was dominant in all aspects of the game, but he was particularly unstoppable on offense. The competition between the two leagues became fierce. He made eight All-Star games in the seventies, only missing out in his rookie year and in 1978-79 when he was injured. 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. Quite possibly. Michael Ray Richardson 8. 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. Product: Set. Clockwise from upper left: Issel, Lanier, Mount and Maravich (not pictured: Murphy). Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Wagers only accepted in CO. For full terms and conditions, click here. 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. 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. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. eBay item number: 404182195911. (LogOut/ . Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. 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. The Golden Eagles (23-6, 15-3 Big East) wrap . While the 1970's do not have as many classic silhouettes as the 80's or 90's, there are many sneakers that came out during this time thatwe still wear today. Money was hard to come by for basketball players in the early days of the league as well. Nicknamed Big Red for his ginger hair, Dave Cowens was the anchor for many great Boston Celtics teams during the seventies. He is a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, and an inductee in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The only player to lead the NBA in points and assists in the same season. Adam Augustyn is Managing Editor, Reference Content at Encyclopdia Britannica. Understanding the marketability of high-flying, slam-dunking showmen, the NBA copied the dunk contest concept in 1977 (won by Indiana Pacer Dr. In the first season with a three-point line, Maravich's last season, Pete went 10 for 15 from three-point range. 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. You still see them at the Garden and no sport has ever had a more dedicated celebrity fan than Jack Nicholson. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The pictures are all taken from the time to give you a better idea of how the sneakers were worn. The big guy out of Duke looked like the demonic love child of John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell just after Ferrell . 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. UK welcomed its first African-American basketball player in Tom Payne, an All-American high-schooler from Louisville . David Thompson: Thompson was an incredible scorer whose exploits rivaled those of Gervin and Maravich, and is considered one of MJ's chief inspirations. or Best Offer . 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). $11.45 shipping. 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 As a sophomore, he led the "Flying Clouds" to . Play Video. Bob McAdoo 5. Its uniform reflects the ever-changing trends and times. On May 12, 1970, CoSIDA announced the 1970 Academic All-America team. Previous Decade > Next Decade . He was a perennial All-Star, won the scoring title in 1970 and had four All-NBA first team nods in the decade. 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. All-Decade 1970s All-Stars on NBA 2K23. After the Converse "Chuck Taylor All Stars" and before Michael "Air" Jordan was the 1970's. 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. Malone was the league's best player in 1981-82 by nearly every metric. Malone entered 1981-82 ready to exact vengeance. Oscar Robertson versus Russell Westbrook? 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Dave Cowens Career Highlights THE RAVE! Something not often mentioned about West is his excellent defense. Known as Clyde Frazier, Walt brought the razzle dazzle to Madison Square Garden in the seventies. 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 won two championships alongside Havlicek in 1974 and 1976, and was also extremely successful as an individual player. Artis Gilmore: The best stiff ever. The 1970'swas a time when you had a lot of emerging sneaker companies and no one company completely dominating thesneaker market. 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. Birthdate: May 4, 1970 Sun Sign: Taurus Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States 9 Becky Hammon (Basketball player) 20 4 Birthdate: March 11, 1977 Sun Sign: Pisces Birthplace: Rapid City, South Dakota, United States 10 Cheryl Miller (Basketball coach) 21 4 Birthdate: January 3, 1964 Sun Sign: Capricorn Birthplace: Riverside, California Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. And, of course, hes since won two titles (and counting?) Julius Dr. And, frankly, its sort of fun tweaking all the Chicagoans who are surprisingly defensive about their sporting accomplishments. 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. 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. You had Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier in the Big Apple, drawing attention and respect to the Mecca of basketball. Odds & lines subject to change. Read Kareem Abdul-Jabbars Britannica essay on the New York Rens. Ja Morants allegations of aggression off the court, explained. Other Links > Basketball > Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . There were also great centers like Bob McAdoo, Artis Gilmore and Bill Walton. He made the All-NBA Second Team in 1974 and was promoted to the First Team the following year.Although he began to struggle with injuries towards the end of the decade, theres still no doubt that McAdoo was one of the most impressive players of his time. To woo top-tier college talent and lure elite players to jump leagues, ABA owners offered much higher salaries than their NBA counterparts. 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 Who are the best basketball players of the '70s of all time? the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 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. He was amazing, but he had a lot of help, at least more than the last guy on this list. Were not technically a sports website, but this editor (hi!) Free shipping for many products! Do you have a blog? The consensus 1970 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. Randy Denton easily has the most unique afro in the history of basketball. Vtg 70's AAU USA Basketball Shoes Upside Down Swoosh Logo Travis Size 3.5 Scott. This brought an even greater influx of stars to the NBA, making for a great new era of basketball. Overall, he averaged 26.6 points per game for the seventies, the third-most of any player. Where Timmy would work his way around an opponent in the post with his superb footwork, Shaq would often use his extraordinary bulk (71 and 315 pounds) to bully his way to the basket. Was . Frazier held most Knicks records until . $44.99. 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. 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 15,159 Sets. See below where Professor Flannery waxes on Clyde and the Knicks. Body Size of NBA Basketball Players Body Size in Basketball Fitness testing for basketball Height records, including the tallest and shortest in sports. Olympic Games Anthropometry for other sports in 2012. Oh, the humanity. Players hit 40 or more home runs 20 times in the 1970s with Willie Stargell, Johnny Bench, and George Foster reaching the total twice. He is one of only five players to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals, all in one season. Richardson was a four-time All-Star in the NBA. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. There have been some great shooters in the past. 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. 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!. 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. The 1970s are not the most fondly remembered decade of pro basketball. Boasting five players who averaged. 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 For example, Oscar Robertson was one of the most athletic players of his erajust Google Oscar Robertson splits (Ill wait). 6. FLANNERY DISSENTS: No offense to your old man, but Jerry West should be here now and forever. 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, The Top 10 Seattle Mariners of all Time, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans, If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into The Grueling Truth sports shows, Where the legends speak. His ability to rebound as just a 64 guard was tremendous, averaging six boards per game for his 13-year run in the league. In 1973, just his third season in the league, he won the MVP award after averaging 20 points and 16 rebounds per game. 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. Walton was so damn good that it's impossible to imagine a world where he stayed healthy and reached his potential. Havlicek is also one of three NBA players with an unsurpassed 80 record in NBA Finals series outcomes. What are boosted odds in sports betting strategies? To learn more about the top ten players of the decade, keep reading below. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Who are the best basketball players of the 70s of all time? I have defended the '70s before, notably in Free Darko Presents: The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History. Impressive, right? Player/Athlete:. J.. 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. One of two players, along with Stephon Marbury, who couldn't find a way to co-exist with a young Kevin Garnett in Minnesota. But now they dont do that. 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. 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. See the rankings as for this Basketball Player Sets set on 3/2/2023 3:23:10 PM. 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. 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. Julius Erving 3. Sneaker Name: Nike Cortez Year: 1972 The Nike Cortez was created by Nike Co-Founder and Oregon Head Track and Field Coach Bill Bowerman. Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. 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. 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. Investors founded the ABA in 1967 as a rival to the more established NBA (then just an eight-team league). Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. It's hard to understand why this is a debate, as great as West was. By decades end, that had jumped to $180,000 ($641,000 today). Most famous player ever? Most importantly, free agency also gave players newfound leverage in negotiations. In addition to scoring, Gervin was also a proficient rebounder and excellent defender. Pistol Pete was one of the best scorers of the 70's. He led the NBA in scoring in the 1976-'77 season. 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. He was easily the best point guard of the era, and he led his New York Knicks to NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. New technology was being used to make better sneakers for running, basketball, and skateboarding. Gilmore wasn't the most fluid looking player, but he dominated the paint on both ends in both leagues. Until others called the 80s and 90s the same. College basketball career scoring leaders. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Julius Erving He is a member of the All-time ABA Team as well as the NBAs 75th Anniversary Team, and his talent as a pure scorer will be remembered forever. has been obsessively watching sports for nearly three decades and arguing about them with friends for nearly as long. Boston Celtics, American professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Free shipping on . 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. The competition between the two leagues became fierce. 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. 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. It was this transition, from earth-bound giants to brilliant athleticism, that paved the way for the glorious rebirth that was to come. Jones, George T. Johnson, Andre Drummond and Kawhi Leonard. For whatever reason, he kept it in his pocket and Alcindor signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for a $250,000 annual salary. In 1970, the average player earned a $35,000 salary (equivalent to around $224,000 today). 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.". Unless you agree with me, in which case this was the most meaningful thing Ive ever written. . Learn more and register, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. $179.99. But ONeal wasnt just pure physicalityhe was surprisingly graceful for such a massive man and he had a deft touch with his close-range jump shots. [This list was originally published in April 2014. (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. [25] At the opposite end of the attractive play spectrum from Duncan is Shaquille ONeal. Overall, the NBA in the 60's was good, but I find it hard to say it was the best decade of NBA basketball. 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. J Julius Erving and Skywalker David Thompson headlined the leagues first slam dunk contest in 1976, but their in-game dunks might have been even more impressive. 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. The Warriors, Blazers, Bullets and Sonics all had their moments in the sun. 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. Like it or not, the three-point field goal and the slam dunk have greatly changed the on-court product in the NBA.
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