As the world progressed, the NBA started to evolve in a direction that most fans call simply weird. The greatest basketball players, who started their careers in the 1950s or 1960s were coming of age and there was a time for some new blood. The tradition was juxtaposed with innovation, at first making for great television, but in the long run not giving the desirable outcome. Nationally, the end of the 1970s was corrupted by cocaine usage, which was prominent mainly in the African-American communities. Players’ lavish lifestyles were frowned upon and are said to be one of the reasons for poor quality performances.
Boston Celtics
The 1969-1970 season was the end of the Boston Celtics dynasty. The new era brought something that wasn’t seen before in league history. Every team had an actual fighting chance at the NBA titles. NBA finals had uncommon teams fighting for the championship. Some of the NBA fans say it was good to see such diversity but most of the public was craving some superstar energy and waiting for another team like the 1960s Celtics to arrive.
NBA Finals
To further prove the point, here is a list of championship games and their winners. To predict who will get an NBA title was a shot in the dark for most of the decade.
1970 – Los Angeles Lakers lost in the finals to the New York Knicks.
1971 – Baltimore Bullets were beaten by the Milwaukee Bucks.
1972 – The Lakers destroyed the New York Knicks.
1973 – Los Angeles were swept by the New York Knicks.
1974 – Milwaukee Bucks came second to the Celtics.
1975 – Golden State Warriors finally won a championship against the Washington Bullets.
1976 – Celtics won the rings against the Phoenix Suns.
1977 – Portland Trail Blazers won with the Philadelphia 76ers
1978 – Seattle SuperSonics lost the championship game with the Washington Bullets.
1979 – Seattle SuperSonics won the finals against the Washington Bullets.
NBA Players
At the beginning of the decade, the greatest NBA players of the 60s were still a prominent force on a basketball court. Wilt Chamberlain joined the Lakers and guided them to a 33 consecutive winning streak, Oscar Robertson was continuing with his splitting abilities, John Havlicek stood as a firm foundation of the Boston Celtics. But after Bill Russell retired, the NBA was in need of something new and soon after, the modern-era Hall of Fame was created.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
During the 70s there wasn’t a star that shined brighter than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, Kareem transferred to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975. Abdul-Jabbar brought style and grace to the center position, qualities he made visible with brawn and power. While scoring was the goal, the ultimate aim was always to win games. During his long career, Abdul-Jabbar won at every level. To this day he is said to be the greatest player of all time, with his well deserved 6 Championship Rings and 6 MVP Awards.
Pete Maravich
One of the most colourful figures of the NBA in the 1970s was Pete Maravich nicknamed Pistol Pete. He was a great player and an excellent scorer but he couldn’t spread his wings with the bad teams he played along. He is mostly remembered for his interesting clothing choices and long brown hair, becoming one of the first fashion icons that come from basketball.
Walt Frazier
Rolls Royce backcourt Walt Frazier stands out with his style both on the court and on the streets. He helped to create NBA swag culture with his fur coats and choice of head covering. As a player, he led the New York Knicks to two championship wins as a scoring leader and defensive power. His offensive arsenal was a combination of smooth drives to the basket and mid-range jumpers that burned opponents, as he remained New York’s primary focus.
Elvin Hayes
Elvin Hayes, Big E, led the NBA in scoring in his rookie year and was named the All-Rookie Team. He teamed with Hall of Famer Wes Unseld to form a dominant frontcourt combination that took the Bullets to three championship games as a Washington Bullets.
American Basketball Association
ABA was never respected as much as NBA but with their looser regulations and innovative implements like three-point line, their popularity was growing. It was the biggest competition for the NBA and from the beginning of the 1970s, there were attempts at the merger of two leagues. A famous antitrust lawsuit filed by Oscar Robertson stopped the merger for six years but gave the players the opportunity to have more freedom when transferring from team to team.`
Finally, in 1976, four teams transferred to the NBA from ABA: Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers.
ABA implemented new traditions in the NBA. For example, they were first to organize a Slam Dunk contest; but most importantly, ABA already had implemented a three-point field goal. Before, all of the points scored were worth the same amount. It was a very significant change for the NBA.
David Thompson
The ABA merger was not only a big change when it comes to the administrative side of things but also was a shot of talent for the NBA. One of such players was David Thompson who is a poster boy for the declining morals in the NBA. He was an extremely talented player for the Denver Nuggets, called “Skywalker” due to his vertical leaping ability. Unfortunately, his career was short-lived due to the drug addiction he battled.
Julius Erving
Julius Erving, nicknamed Dr J, was another player merged into the NBA who provided exciting play thanks to his captivating slam dunks. Dr J had an in-your-face hoop game that appealed to everyone and made the game enjoyable to play and watch. Julius Erving was capable of leaping, running, shooting, scoring, dunking, playing defense, rebounding, and filling arena seats wherever he flew through the court. During his 16 spectacular seasons, Dr J was voted MVP in both the ABA and NBA.
George Gervin
George Gervin, or The Iceman, was one of the most exciting basketball players to watch. His hunger, passion, and desire to succeed combined with his God-given athletic ability made Gervin a nightmare to defend. On April 9, 1978, Gervin beat David Thompson in the most ferocious scoring race in NBA history and established himself as the greatest of the great shooters.
Rick Barry
Rick Barry was never one to pull back when it came to getting his shot. Rick Barry was a bull in a china shop who used any means necessary to score and ultimately win. Barry was a showman who loved to flaunt his sweet shooting stroke and lightning-quick speed, which earned him trips to the free throw line or two points on occasion.
NBA History
The 1970s made NBA history and will be remembered as a diverse and bizarre era. The ending was not at all like the beginning. We had some beautiful moments, like Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain going with the Lakers on 33 games winning streak; Larry Bird being drafted by the Boston Celtics; every performance Kareem Abdul Jabbar had given.
We also saw how the addiction destroyed the lives of very talented players, witnessed lawsuits and battles around money. All of the stumblings had to happen and the NBA had to fall to get back better and stronger, like the pro basketball league we all know and love now.
We also saw how the addiction destroyed the lives of very talented players, witnessed lawsuits and battles around money. All of the stumblings had to happen and the NBA had to fall to get back better and stronger, like the pro basketball league we all know and love now.
Who was the best NBA player in the 70s?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the best basketball players to ever play the game. He won a total of six MVP awards and six NBA championships throughout his career. Not only that, but he led the NBA in points scored and blocks for an entire decade during the seventies. On top of all that, he recorded the second-most rebounds out of any player at that time.
How was the NBA in the 70s?
The money-hungry attitude evident during the early 1970’s player contract negotiations had a lasting effect. The league devolved into an era of cocaine use, poor PR and games that weren’t televised. Even the NBA Finals in 1978 and 1979 were aired on tape delay.
Who dominated the NBA in the 70s?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the most accomplished basketball players in history, winning six MVPs and six NBA championships. He was a dominant force in the 1970s, leading the league in points scored and blocks while recording the second-most rebounds.
