Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Highlights in his Prime / 1969 1975, Top 13 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 8 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History. There were also great centers like Bob McAdoo, Artis Gilmore and Bill Walton. In his prime, Duncan, nicknamed The Big Fundamental by no less a nickname authority than Shaquille ONeal, was one of the most sound players of all time. 1970 Topps #75 Lew Alcindor. His patented skyhook was unguardable, and he used it to score over 22,000 points during the decade. Gilmore wasn't the most fluid looking player, but he dominated the paint on both ends in both leagues. 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. For whatever reason, he kept it in his pocket and Alcindor signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for a $250,000 annual salary. But in his rookie year, Russell completely changed the franchises course and established the Celtics as the winningest team in the NBA. 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. Parish was drafted in 1976 by the Golden State Warriors and didnt retire until 1997, capping off a 21-year career. 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. Players hit 40 or more home runs 20 times in the 1970s with Willie Stargell, Johnny Bench, and George Foster reaching the total twice. Kareem 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. He finished his career eighth all-time in both points and steals as a player who truly had a complete game.His ability to dominate as a wing was something the NBA had not seen much of before, and his mark on the game will always be remembered. Who are the best basketball players of the '70s of all time? Moreover, he not only faced the incredible pressure of being anointed The Chosen One by Sports Illustrated as a teenager, but hes actually exceeded the lofty expectations set for him. 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. Clockwise from upper left: Issel, Lanier, Mount and Maravich (not pictured: Murphy). Rick Barry Honorable Mentions FAQ Who are the best basketball players of the '70s of all time? He was like living, breathing quicksilver on the court, a physical specimen in ways different from his contemporaries. Hes bigger than a good portion of the players in the NFL and yet he still moves as gracefully as the most nimble guards in basketball. 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 This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. 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 I included ABA contributions as warranted. You still see them at the Garden and no sport has ever had a more dedicated celebrity fan than Jack Nicholson. This was the period of time that reallyhelped build the foundation to sneakers as we know it today. 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. 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. One of two players, along with Stephon Marbury, who couldn't find a way to co-exist with a young Kevin Garnett in Minnesota. 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. Original/Reprint: Original. -- Flannery. Something not often mentioned about West is his excellent defense. You had Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier in the Big Apple, drawing attention and respect to the Mecca of basketball. NBA Grizzlies vs Nuggets: Odds, Tips and predictions 03/03/23, Top 11 Big Ten Basketball Teams, since 1960, Top 12 Guards in Big Ten Basketball history, NBA Pacers vs Spurs: Odds, Tips and predictions 03/02/23, NCAA Basketball Purdue vs Wisconsin: Odds, Tips and Predictions 03/02/23, NCAA Basketball Xavier vs Providence: Odds, Tips and Predictions 03/01/23, Top 20 Big Ten Basketball players of all time, The Hypocrisy of Major League Baseball, Gambling, Steroids, and Why it's Time to Put Pete Rose in the Hall. It's famously noted that in this era the NBA Finals were on tape delay. 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. Al Lankford, Lee Averaged a double-double through much of his career with the Generals, scoring more than 20 points per game as a senior.. He won six MVPs during his career, tied for the most all-time, and was also a six-time NBA champion. 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. UCLAs Lew Alcindor. ABC News Live. His height is 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), and his weight is 205 lb (93 kg). The Rockets' forward led the league in minutes, rebounds and win shares . 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 And, of course, hes since won two titles (and counting?) Our apologies, George Mikan, K.C. All rights reserved. There was no need to, Robertson later explained, because a layup counted the same as a dunk. Its uniform reflects the ever-changing trends and times. 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. UK welcomed its first African-American basketball player in Tom Payne, an All-American high-schooler from Louisville . Wagers only accepted in CO. For full terms and conditions, click here. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Julius Erving 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. . He pulled down 14 rebounds per game from 1970-1980, and any game that he finished without a double-double was a rarity.. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Which NBA player from the 1980's & 1990's helped popularized basketball and turn it into a global game? What are boosted odds in sports betting strategies? 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. Julius Erving 3. Jones, George T. Johnson, Andre Drummond and Kawhi Leonard. 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. Rick Barry, a two-time NBA All-Star, made $45,000 in the NBA and jumped leagues for a $75,000 payday. Call 1-800-522-4700. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. 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. The 6-foot . 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. He was a 7x All-Star and 6x All-NBA/All-Defensive selection during the 1970s. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Havlicek is also one of three NBA players with an unsurpassed 80 record in NBA Finals series outcomes. Before 1976, NBA players were bound to their teams through a reserve clause similar to that which existed in Major League Baseball. 1. That's worth a lot in my book. Artis was great and underappreciated, but Cowens was better. Whatever.) He was amazing, but he had a lot of help, at least more than the last guy on this list. 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. Check out his website at https://www.adamcriblez.com/. 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. 44,845 Sets. Though Barry had many of his best seasons in the ABA, he also found success on a team scale in the NBA. 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. The only player to lead the NBA in points and assists in the same season. 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. Or write about sports? 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. He led all players in the seventies in scoring and blocks, and he was second in both minutes and rebounds.. These coaches do not understand the game of basketball, as far as Im concerned. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He didn't play for really excellent teams until joining the Showtime Lakers in '80s, however, which hampers his legacy. eBay item number: 404182195911. 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. There have been some great shooters in the past. The 1970'swas a time when you had a lot of emerging sneaker companies and no one company completely dominating thesneaker market. [1] To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. You can't just change your wiring on stuff like that. 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. Who Is Better: Lebron James Or Wilt Chamberlain? There has never been a more enthralling backcourt than Clyde and the Pearl, and their ingenious styles were balanced by bedrock pros like Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere and the Captain, Willis Reed. He won two championships alongside Havlicek in 1974 and 1976, and was also extremely successful as an individual player. What hasn't been said about Gervin? . He is a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, and an inductee in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1979, few players specialized as three-point marksmen. 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! By decades end, that had jumped to $180,000 ($641,000 today). 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. Do you have a sports website? Like it or not, the three-point field goal and the slam dunk have greatly changed the on-court product in the NBA. 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. The last remaining player from the 1970s in the NBA was Robert Parish. Bob Lanier 8. 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. 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. The big guy out of Duke looked like the demonic love child of John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell just after Ferrell . The 1970s are not the most fondly remembered decade of pro basketball. His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. Understanding the marketability of high-flying, slam-dunking showmen, the NBA copied the dunk contest concept in 1977 (won by Indiana Pacer Dr. 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. Overall, they have won 17 NBA titles. He wasn't just a pure shooter and scorer. Bidding wars almost bankrupted both leagues and soon even marginally talented players made six-figure salaries. . [This list was originally published in April 2014. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. He racked up three championship rings and 12 All-Star appearances in his injury-shortened 13-year career. has been obsessively watching sports for nearly three decades and arguing about them with friends for nearly as long. The other big on-court change during the decade was that NBA players began embracing the slam dunk as a form of artistic expression. But now they dont do that. The Top Ranked Basketball Players of the 1970's or Best Offer . Let's take a look at some of the doper sneakers released in the 1970's. 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. http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/bpm.html, Steph CurryThe Male Machine Gun Molly? Missouri Valley Tournament 2023: Bracket, schedule, scores, teams, and more. He is a retired professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association who played small forward (NBA). One on One (1977) PG | 98 min | Drama, Sport 6.5 Rate They didnt. Famously, he played center in place of the injured Abdul-Jabbar in the title-clinching game six of the 1980 NBA finals as a 20-year-old rookie. 1970s and the Chicago Bulls. More famously, when the New Orleans Jazz signed aging guard Gail Goodrich away from Los Angeles in 1976, the league awarded the Lakers three first-round draft picks (one of which became Earvin Magic Johnson). 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. I have defended the '70s before, notably in Free Darko Presents: The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History. Courtesy of Flickr. The consensus 1970 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. Jo Jo White: It's a bit criminal that Jo Jo is just now being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. 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. 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. Gambling Problem? During the 196162 season, The Big O averaged a triple-double with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game. 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. Erving was the most outstanding player in ABA history and won the 1976 ABA Dunk contest against David Thompson. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. [1] Curious as to what these terms mean? The best basketball player of the 1970s was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Absolutely. He made eight All-Star games in the seventies, only missing out in his rookie year and in 1978-79 when he was injured. It was a time when the great civil rights . How Many Championships Does Kobe Bryant Have? Check the Blazers in 77-78 when they were 44-9 the year after they won the title, for an example. 1970s NBA Average Height: 6'6 Average male height: 5'8 Notable stars of the decade: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Elvin Hayes, John Havlicek 1980s NBA Average Height: 6'6 Average male height: 5'8 At the opposite end of the attractive play spectrum from Duncan is Shaquille ONeal. Spalding created some of the first padded shorts worn by basketball players during this era. He led the league in scoring three straight times from 1974-1976, pouring in over 30 points per game in each season. Basketball has not escaped the fashion roller-coaster of the past century. It didnt. While his famously vanilla playing style and quiet demeanor kept him from having a cultural impact similar to the other greats, his four championships, 14 All-Star Games, and two NBA MVP awards are indisputable evidence of his fantastic ability. Dave Cowens 9. The competition between the two leagues became fierce. $179.99. The Knicks also won two championships and it's this team that stands out as the enduring essence of '70s basketball. 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. Calvin Murphy San Diego/Houston Rockets 1970-79 Calvin Murphy was a scoring machine at Niagara and San Diego rolled the dice on the 5-foot-9 guard in the second round of the 1970 NBA Draft.. Hondo's back as the star of the post-Russell Celtics. Easily the greatest ABA player ever, Julius Erving had no trouble making the transition to the NBA in 1976. Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $5,000. Founded in Boston in 1946 by Walter Brown, the Celtics were charter members of the Basketball Association of America, a . : Gender and Styles of Play in Modern Basketball, Review of Tall Tales and Short Shorts | Sport in American History, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Randy Denton easily has the most unique afro in the history of basketball. Another player who made his debut after the decade was already underway, Bob Lanier hit the ground running. Plus his 30.1 points per game is the NBAs highest career scoring average. But a decade before kids wanted to Be like Mike, they wanted to operate above the rim like Dr. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. 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. Dave Cowens Career Highlights THE RAVE! Goose Givens won National Player of the Year. And how might retired NBA legends fare in todays game? See the rankings as for this Basketball Player Sets set on 3/2/2023 3:23:10 PM. The 2021 NBA Draft is less than three weeks away. Ranking Explanations . 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. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Frazier held most Knicks records until . 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. See below where Professor Flannery waxes on Clyde and the Knicks. Alas, it was soon overtaken by the NFL, which lapped the field and has maintained its hold on the public ever since. Russell was the ultimate winner in the history of the NBA. He's also the best player to ever win a championship while wearing a toupe. 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. Bet with your head, not over it. 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. 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. Find out more. 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. 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. Yeah. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. $2000 Risk Free $1000 + $100 in site credits, Must be 21+. Play Video. Star Power: Now we are on the to 70's. 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. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. From a mall parking lot altercation to a fight with a teenager during a pickup game, these are the allegations Ja Morant is facing. How to Win While Sports Betting? He won a league title in all but two of his 13 seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics. 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. Top 30 Greatest NBA Players Of The 1970s 1. Spalding issued women's basketball rules, edited by Senda Berenson, establishing 3 zones with 5-10 players per team; some teams used men's rules, some used Baer's rules, and some used Spalding's/Berenson's rules. 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. Known as Clyde Frazier, Walt brought the razzle dazzle to Madison Square Garden in the seventies. Frazier was one of the most significant point guards in NBA history. Black and white basketball hustlers join forces to double their chances of winning money on the street courts and in a basketball tournament. Russell Westbrook is being left wide open on offense, and hes still hurting the Clippers. The 70s was, as novelist Tom Wolfe once famously wrote, the me decade. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 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!. Player/Athlete:. PSA Set Registry. My argument was that it was a time of testing new limits, of parity and of transition. 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. Sucker punch in OVC tournament leads to 3 ejections. He averaged 20+ points, 6+ rebounds, and 6+ assists per game during the decade while guiding the New York Knicks to a pair of championships. The dataset includes stats on over 3000 Players NBA Players from 1947-2018. Erving then reeled off 11 straight All-Star bids in the NBA after the merger. From there, its just a short jump to comparing players from the past with present stars. Mel Daniels, drafted by both leagues out of New Mexico, signed with the ABAs Minnesota Muskies (great name, by the way) for $36,000triple what he was offered to play in the NBA. Hondo was the original sixth man, but by the 1970s, he was a dominant fixture in the NBA. 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 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. 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. Abdul-Jabbar was dominant in all aspects of the game, but he was particularly unstoppable on offense. But Maravich was so unbelievably '70s. 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. Walt Frazier 7. The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. The potential matchups are endless (and, to be honest, probably pointless). 6. 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 . Change). Until others called the 80s and 90s the same. Free shipping for many products! Sneaker Name: Nike Cortez Year: 1972 The Nike Cortez was created by Nike Co-Founder and Oregon Head Track and Field Coach Bill Bowerman. His pro career essentially spanned the entire decade, and he racked up five All-Star bids, two first team All-NBA nods and a scoring title. Most obsessively competitive to the detriment of ever having normal human relations with anybody? 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. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. David Thompson: Thompson was an incredible scorer whose exploits rivaled those of Gervin and Maravich, and is considered one of MJ's chief inspirations. Malone entered 1981-82 ready to exact vengeance. 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. The leading scorer in National Basketball Association (NBA) history is just the 10th-best player ever? Unless you agree with me, in which case this was the most meaningful thing Ive ever written. To learn more about the top ten players of the decade, keep reading below. The Women's Professional Basketball League was the first attempt to launch a nationwide professional basketball league for women. In 1971, the San Francisco Warriors changed cities and names, leaving the Cow Palace. 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. Previous Decade > Next Decade . Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. The uber-confident Bird had arguably the quickest release of anyone to ever play basketball and hed often let his defender know that the shot was going in soon after it left his hands. One of the most brilliant scorers ever, David Thompson's wing rival in the late '70s and the first great Spur. Here's another argument: the '70s represented a battle for the soul of basketball. 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). 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. After the 1976 ABA-NBA merger, team owners hoped salaries would normalize.
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