Bob McAdoo (50pts) vs. Bullets (1975 Playoffs)

Bob McAdoo puts up one of the best playoffs scoring performances ever. He scores 50 points, despite the fact that the Bullets have a four defender rotation on Big Mac. McAdoo also crashed the boards as he had 10 in the 3rd quarter, I don't know how much he could have had for the whole game. A well-deserved standing ovation from the noisy Buffalo crowd, an out-of-his-mind Oscar Robertson screaming while announcing the game and the series tied at 2-2 after McAdoo's career game. April 18, 1975.

[@rodneytate5259]

The early healthy McAdoo was a scoring machine!

[@Amick44]

And he had it all, mid range, scored off passes and cuts, drives. And his passing improved st

[@joemartin1253]

Rodney Tate This guy was an animal in the lane!

[@lloydkline6946]

@Ben DC4L unstoppable, love 1970s nba basketball especially on cbs sports

[@scottodonnell7121]

@@lloydkline6946 except Oscar doing the commentary. Worst ever, and it's not even close.

[@wanlitan7406]

50 points, 21 rebounds, at least 1 block, on 20/32 shooting! WHAT A PERFORMANCE from the most underrated player ever!

[@rodbray6447]

I was a teenager,I wish I could've seen more of his prime.

[@williammorrison6311]

Bernard King is the most underrated player ever.

[@riffraff3658]

@@williammorrison6311 he and McAdoo both complete ball hogs. It’s why they never led a TEAM to a championship

[@trollkenobi6727]

@@riffraff3658 more like Bernard’s injuries

[@ralphgreenwood2469]

U know absolutely nothing about basketball.Why are u posting silly comments?

[@vaughnvdg]

The father of the STRETCH....never gets the credit for the revolutionary player he was.

[@emmanuelenyinwa1443]

Actually, the true father of the stretch 4 was Tommy Heibsohn.

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

@@emmanuelenyinwa1443 Heinsohn? I'd say Bob Pettit

[@knowledgesomemore3564]

McAdoo was the best outside shooter in the history of the game. That's what CAP (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) said. Doo use to score 40 on Cap before he joined the Lakers!!!!

[@davanmani556]

Emmanuel Enyinwa Rick Barry.

[@TheIcemanthomas]

Davan Mani Barry was a 3. stretch is a big man term

[@victorwashington4433]

What a great nostalgic game. The NBA should return to Buffalo. Buffalo is a great sports city.

[@ymousanon4615]

I agree. And Im not far from Buffalo. hate football and hockey, i'd love to see buffalo back in the nba. i'm about the same distance from buffalo, pittsburgh and cleveland, and i like the city of buffalo best. yes it is a rust belt town but there in nowhere like Allentown neighborhood in Buffalo for hanging out, bars, nice greek restaurant(well use to be there)use to give homeless food, Nietsche's bar and rock, blues and pop, etc. its a real live city on Ellsworth Ave with small local shops and a lot of pedestrians on the sidewalks. cleve and pitts suck after 5 pm.

[@tbr2109]

Ymous Anon If you think Pittsburgh sucks after 5 pm you've never been outside of downtown.

[@michaelbarrow574]

tbr2109 BUFFALO IS AN EXTREMELY RASICT ASS CITY!!!

[@moeanthony9308]

@@ymousanon4615 Buffalo? Not happening. We the North has taken over.

[@moeanthony9308]

@@michaelbarrow574 dirty as hell too

[@anthonygilmore5969]

One of the most underrated player's in the NBA's history.

[@breakmylegs7294]

B.S. he was a super star in the 70s Bobby Jones was the most underrated player in NBA

[@anthonygilmore5969]

do you know what underrated mean? I don't believe you do. Just think about what I said, then look at your response.

[@200mphz06]

McAdoo led the league in scoring 3 consecutive years and was a one time NBA MVP. At one point in the 80's the Lakers had 3 MVPs on the same team, Kareem, Magic, and McAdoo.

[@user-dv3do1od2r]

I think the Lakers also had 4 #1 in the draft picks as well at one point. Jabbar, Magic, Mychal Thompson & Worthy. Talk about loaded teams!

[@mariowheeler4562]

Terrific player in any era!

[@jesterd14]

I was at that game we sat in the seats right on the floor across from the Braves bench. I remember everyone at school that day was charged up about the game that night.

[@percyjackson7913]

+jesterd14 your old

[@fica1137]

​@@percyjackson7913bro played basketball with peach baskets

[@MarquisdeSuave]

McAdoo was essentially the Kevin Durant of his time. Was unstoppable from 15 feet and in where he had the best jumper in the NBA but also knew how to put the ball on the wood to drive to the paint. Also had a very underrated post game and was a very, very good rebounder for a guy whose game was outside the paint.

[@Giopowered]

If there was a three point line

[@dannyboyd9462]

No Diggity.

[@mikefields2243]

I’m a Laker fan and I never knew about McAdoo till he became a Laker. He quickly became on of my favorite players. Here’s one for you. Bob McAdoo was the last player in the NBA to average 30 pts and 15 rebounds per game.

[@mrguystarr]

Excellent post for those who didn't witness him during his prime. I only saw him during his Laker days.

[@Amick44]

mrguystarr Good with Lakers, great in Buffalo and NY.

[@manny4552]

Yeah when he was in buffalo he was a scoring machine

[@EFreezy716]

My hometown Buffalo Braves!! Broke my heart as a kid when they left for San Diego and became the Clippers in 1978....

[@manny4552]

Yeah it was horrible,buffalo is a great great sports town.

[@terriblechristiangamer9128]

McAdoo was the best mid-range shooter of his era. Who understood how to get his spots. He was able to use his height to shoot over people. During his time, McAdoo was similar to KD in his skills and abilities.

[@175epi]

Nothing against today's players or today's game at all, but this is the era I grew up watching as a small-town kid, and these are the players who made me love the game. Not much mention is made of McAdoo these days -- but there should be -- so I thank you for making this available. Best wishes to you and your family.

[@steamroller72]

This hurts my soul... i was 2 years old growing up in WNY when this took place. The Aud looks great, the Braves look great, and McAdoo was a freaking scoring animal. I would still have season tickets if the Braves were here. I feel ripped off!

[@knowledgesomemore3564]

Yeah you miss seeing as Kareem said the best shooter in the history of the game.I was a teenager when McAdoo was the rookie of the year.That year he also won the scoring title, three All together. Three MVP awards it should have been four The NBA 1on1 championship,in the championship game against the great Connie Hawkins Doo didn't miss a shot and Connie Hawkins didn't miss but one if I remember correctly. Can't leave out 2 rings. With all that MacAdoo was left of the 50th.greatest player's list.Whats really funny is MacAdoo is was better than anyone on the list.He definitely was a better shooter than anyone on the list!!!!!

[@cflo1386]

I love the crowd chanting goodbye Bullets, wish the Braves were still around.

[@fwb41]

cflo1386 When they traded McAdoo to the Knicks in 1976...they pretty much traded away their team...except for Randy Smith, and maybe Adrian Dantley, they really didn't have anybody after they traded McAdoo, and two seasons after they traded him, they moved to San Diego and became the Clippers.

[@manny4552]

Yeah and they traded away moses malone too?Macadoo and hayes were great players but both teams usually had problems with cowens and havlicek n beantown,especially at playoff time.

[@TjSamson]

JL That chant was badass.

[@moeanthony9308]

@@fwb41 Hey don't forget Ernie D.

[@fwb41]

I don't think he lasted very long, 2-3 seasons.

[@kenwilliams5513]

Loved those old NBA broadcasts on CBS.

[@lloydkline1518]

❤Brentusburger on cbs & nba basketball

[@scottcarter8864]

Justice is served!! Congratulations on Mcadoo making the 75th anniversary team.

[@2KILLAVILLE]

Right! Should've been in the Greatest 50

[@trollkenobi6727]

Some clown’s going to say Dwight’s better

[@memeexclusive]

Durant is an absolute clone of McAdoo and I can't imagine any better compliment for either one of them.

[@ckh937610]

McAdoo and Randy Smith of the Buffalo Braves were the Durant and Westbrook of the 1970's. Extremely similar, as Smith was an athletic 6"3' point guard. Sounds familiar?

[@Amick44]

ckh937610 No kidding. Too bad they didn't keep them together. They were and could have been one of the great duos of all time. Same with Rick Barry and Nate Thurmond.

[@Amick44]

+ckh937610 Superb analogy.

[@memeexclusive]

Mick A Thank you!

[@rtosborne3]

Good comparison, but McAdoo was a way better post player (when he wanted to go inside) and far superior rebounder.

[@clydereid2976]

Thanks for posting. A lot of folks don't know how good "DOO" was in his prime. One of my favorites all time players.

[@Betterthangoldandsilver]

Mac was a great player in his prime, which you're watching right here. What a great clip of the old Aud!

[@TheCancerkilla]

Imagine Mac in today's NBA...

[@joemartin1253]

Warren Spearman He would laugh at it and then dominate it!

[@marcomustang876]

He'd avg 40 a game

[@Peppy869]

He would get absolutely destroyed lol. We done with the 80ss

[@yanncarduner4516]

True legend !Too young to see him on TV but this vintage video is great,Bob was a beast in Italy too

[@John42ification]

Thank you for posting this! Perfect thing to watch while remembering Dr. Jack Ramsay!

[@mrjcbuc]

watching him shoot a basketball was a sublime experience.

[@gregorywilliams3620]

His midrange game was unstoppable

[@davidhammond1521]

There no question McAdoo could outscore any one at the time and he was a big guy and impossible to guard because of the incredible jumper he had along with his post play scoring he posed a real threat even to this great duo of Unseld and Hayes they may have been a little better on the boards but bob could flat out score so he was a problem for everybody I remember him playing for the great Lakers teams when they were loaded with Kareem magic worthy etc. When bob went in it was instant offense fast and steady he can score with the likes of Carmelo and Lebron

[@Amick44]

True, Davidr. Hayes was reasonably versatile, but not in Mac's class. Unseld, in no way, shape or form. Mac was an early combo of PF, SF, C who could put the ball on the floor, run and still hit the boards. Who else did that? Cowens, to a degree, but he was not the killer scorer Mac was.

[@Amick44]

Yeah, but McAdoo could dribble and pass some. Unseld could pass, Hayes neither.

[@knowledgesomemore3564]

Carmelo and LeBron put together couldn't out shoot or out play McAdoo!!

[@knowledgesomemore3564]

With all due respect to My Man Mello and LeBron but they aren't even close when it comes to Doo.

[@Airestotle09]

Dude was a killer The 70s was stacked with talent Kareem, Unseld, Walton, McAdoo, Gervin, Julius, Bing, Earl the Pearl, Frasier, Moses, Rick Barry, David Thompson, Dandridge, Pistol Pete, The Big E, Gilmore among many others!

[@adrianjohnson8103]

The NBA had more fundamentally sound players in the 1970s than is the case today.

[@TheMrMcElroy]

No. Today's players are better shooters, better ballhandlers and better defenders.

[@CarnagexSena]

@@TheMrMcElroyYou’re right. McAdoo did look like a modern NBA player to me here. He’s got that midrange

[@thekodiak1382]

The Mac was one of my early favorites in basketball; i remember when he dropped 52 or 54 on Cowens on Super Bowl sunday when my steelers beat the Vikes. A marvelous marvelous shooter

[@halowafflebrains]

been wanting to see this game. thanks!

[@zarella1]

Thanks for posting!

[@TjSamson]

I really love that "Goodbye, *insert team name*" chant. I wish that chant was still around.

[@MyOwnHorn]

LamarMatic:First,thanks for posting and sharing this particular video. Let's be completely clear. This perticular game(as a whole)had so much to offer. For so many reasons. Exciting game with many other great players and both coaches. Part of the rich NBA history. After watching this,I have a unique question. Why hasn't Richie Powers (one of the 2 on-court referees) been inducted in the Basketball Hall Of Fame by now? He had a long career of officiating NBA games(1956-1979.) His book "Overtime" (during the 1973-74 season) is very insightful as well. What keeps him from being honored in this way? Just wondering,that's all. This is horrible and makes no sense. Hopefully,one day this will change. Once again,thanks for posting and sharing this truly vintage video.

[@SeptemberVirgo78]

“Did you see that move then!! Heyyyy, woooooow” Oscar was hilarious

[@akikoozeki3114]

That Buffalo team was the OKC of the 70s, a recently new expansion with a tall high scoring Forward of Mcadoo leading, this team became successful quickly. Mcadoo is forgotten he was a scoring champion and regular season MVP.

[@MIKESOWELL]

Thank you so much for posting this!!!!

[@DeeNice681]

McAdoo was smooth!

[@mylions95]

Thanks so much for posting this. The story of the Buffalo Braves is really a sad and forgotten tale. This team could have become a great franchise, had owner Paul Snyder not wanted to sell so desperately. For a couple of weeks this team had Bob McAdoo, Adrian Dantley, Moses Malone and Randy Smith. Buffalo would have had two great teams during this era with the inclusion of the French Connection on the Sabres.

[@Amick44]

Great as they were, Mac and Dantley would not have worked. Not at all. Randy was versatile, sure, but Mac and A.D had to have the ball.

[@senseichess8688]

Yeah they had Nate Archibald Ernie d Billy knight jack Marin bob Weiss Jim macmillian gar heard john shumate too. Then Snyder ripped the team apart

[@eddwyer6933]

Imagine...at the same time Buffalo sports fans had the following superstars to watch on their three hometown teams... Bills - OJ Simpson, Sabres - Gilbert Perrault, and Braves - Bob McAdoo

[@cc92103]

Add Rick Martin, Sabres.

[@manny4552]

I was there

[@Newworld12660]

I was a teen in the '70's in Buffalo and the Braves were a pretty cool team. Randy Smith was a great long shooter. Too bad they moved. TWO FOR MCADOOOO!

[@edwarddrangel6957]

Before Dirk, "Big Mac" McAdoo would prepare for his shot so high above his head, that the ball sometimes needed oxygen at the next time out! Un-block-able, unstoppable. Fearsome rebounder too. McAdoo averaged 30 points and 15 rebounds per game during the 1973-74 season! No player in the NBA has done that since. Wow.

[@TomEproductions]

Durant is a mix of Gervin and McAfoo and Dirk. LamarMatic you sure do know you're history and I very much appreciate all of your videos. I'm sort of a youngster who loves basketball. I want to learn as much history as I can possibly learn. Your videos help me, thanks again!

[@brando7266]

Those bullets uniforms were so good, they should bring them back( even with wizards

[@williamwalker146]

People don't realize how much of a scoring machine McAdoo was. The Braves had some fine players like Randy Smith and Ernie DiGregorio, but McAdoo was far and away the reason they had any success in the 70s against teams like the Celtics and Lakers; McAdoo was essentially a one-man team. That patented jump shot of McAdoo's, coming from a 6 foot 11 guy with his kind of vertical--I would gesture to say it was as unguardable as the Kareem skyhook.

[@ShangoDC]

Just for you young guys that think KD was the first 6'11" player to shoot and put the ball on the floor. The NBA didn't start in 90's or even 2000's. The league had serious pioneers and talent as good if not better that today's players. I remember this game on TV I was 12 and a big Bullets (Wizards) fan.

[@stevereber]

Awesome I missed this !

[@Sutidamuskun]

He's so damn lanky lmao wtf, exactly like Durant

[@knowledgesomemore3564]

It's the other way around.🏀🚬

[@stephcurrytheg.o.a.t]

He said Kevin Durant reminds him of himself

[@cubswin3838]

Just a great performance. Amazing touch!

[@tolopo99]

That crowd seems awesome! Deserves another NBA team!!

[@Maddenman7034]

Oscar was a fan with a mic haha

[@Amick44]

I always enjoyed listening to Oscar on the broadcasts. Even though he caught some flak.

[@evifnoskcaj]

Yes! This is freaking vitage and I love it. ❤❤❤❤

[@tjfreak]

Mcadoo lived in the apartments on Palmdale north of Harrogate Square,not quite Danny Brook Apts, (closer to the cut through to Bells) during the season,I remember going to his door & he had to duck, to come out.He was kind to us pesky kids..

[@Spider-Nalgas]

Man why tf doesn’t the league give us access to their library of games they must have. I’d really like to watch more games of Unseld and Hayes, but with Oscar Robertson on commentary, that’s even better

[@tomitstube]

buffalo really got screwed by the owners. they were a fast rising team only to be sold, dismantled, and moved by owners who couldn't give a rats ass about the communities the teams represented.

[@EFreezy716]

tomitstube Was 8 years old when my dad told me the team had been sold....broke my heart. Got to meet Randy Smith., Bob McAdoo and Bobby Dandridge when I was 6--I was in awe that these dudes were in my living room!

[@manny4552]

Randy smith was a great guy i met him in a gym once played against him in a pickup game.

[@zenbeatlezen2084]

Would have been a top 10 player all time without the knee injury and proper management decisions. Unstoppable.

[@billmelnychuk3488]

When they talk about how old-time players would do in the modern NBA, Bob McAdoo would be unstoppable. I don't know if he was the first big man that could shoot from outside but he would be great in any era.

[@imtheboss1826]

Don't know why I googled this, except as someone who is from Buffalo it just popped into my mind. My cousin was a cheerleader for the team. Shout out to my cousin Candy. Her husband took me to a game when I was playing BB in high school shout out to you too Bob.

[@josaldinho18872]

ONE OF MY IDOLS AND HEROES

[@omenahillo-mw6ul]

one of my idols

[@kincamell2]

Much Gratitude.

[@andresheatfl]

To see how high macadoo has to to jump and how high he has realse the ball is And how almost every shot has to be a tuff contested fadeaway is crazy. The offense and defense quickness was equally matched in these era and nobody talks about how skilled players were in this era

[@ibbetn1]

Starting lineups at 1:04 have Bullet guards on Braves and Braves guards on Bullets lol. Great post. Thank you.

[@blakecombs1219]

McAdoo to Dirk to Durant.

[@Paniro123]

YEAAAHHHH THAT MAKES 49 POINTS FOR MCADOO

[@vancepointer2163]

One of the first Great players I first knew of 👊🏾

[@Eagle8]

Easily one of the top fifty NBA players over the last 50 years.

[@garyhendricks4830]

He was tha man back in the day i have that jersey and the first one too what player rock on

[@wilt1007]

So good

[@ambigfeat41]

McAdoo has Kawhi mannerisms, with a game like Durant! Spectacular player!🏀💪🏾

[@knowledgesomemore3564]

It's the other way around they have McAdoo mannerisms,🤫🏀🚬

[@ivellbullock784]

I was 13 years old watching this playoff game on the NBA on CBS sports.

[@danielp5317]

Love that intro theme music it use to pump me up for the nba on cbs.. Loved the nba when it was on cbs in those days

[@mylions95]

Yes. I actually had him listed in my post right after Dantley. He only played in two games for Buffalo.

[@ddenuci]

Whoever is blowing the horn at 5:55 should get credit for the Bullet missing the free throw. The problem for the Bullets is that neither Hayes or Unseld match up well against McAdoo. Unseld, although a great undersized defensive center, is not mobile enough to keep up with McAdoo. Bob scored 35, 36, 34, 50, 34, 37, and 36. Not bad. The Braves actually had the third best record in the NBA this year; better than any team in the Western Conf.

[@johnward6699]

These games brings back so many great memories as a kid....when they actually played defense

[@Dano99118]

To think we had McAdoo, Simpson and Perreault all in their prime in mid ‘70’s.

[@creoleDJ]

Doesn’t get the shine he deserves.

[@d820m]

I cracked up over that shot of Ernie D on the bench

[@manny4552]

Macadoo could not play with his back to the basket or put the ball on the floor but he was a deadly shooter if he had a second or two to set up while facing the basket.He had great range too for a big man like the guy in dallas dirk nowitzke.

[@pmsfar-outgrooviness8025]

+manny4552 2:24, 7:08

[@manny4552]

+PM's Far-Out Grooviness Well i saw nearl every game he played while he was in buffalo and some while he was in new york and l a.and i know him like a book.I know his strengths and weaknesses from watching his whole career not from watching two plays in a video.

[@knowledgesomemore3564]

That's an insult to McAdoo mentioning him and Dirk in the same breath.

[@alonreid]

McAdoo looks like KD. Idk why people think the old school players couldn’t ball in this era.

[@kenneth7826]

Because they were not born....they do not know..peace

[@vdLeo-je6os]

Great player. His style is so smooth and cool. So ahead of the 70's NBA basketball. The most underrated player in my opinion (The other player is Dominique Wilkins).

[@williammorrison6311]

Bernard King is the most underrated IMO.

[@3243_]

Yes he was!

[@kenarthur6253]

Great, cool player!

[@jeremycrandall2899]

Damn, Oscar Robertson was fuckin’ hilarious!😆😆😆. Not too many brilliant insights, which is probably why he didn’t last very long as an announcer (that, and the fact that he was yelling all the time), but hey…at least he was enthusiastic. Lol

[@dannyboyd9462]

Back Then The Networks Weren't Ready 4 His Unrestraint enthusiasm Longterm.

[@libertatus]

McAdoo gets the MVP trophy, a fifty point game, a series tying win and a thunderous standing ovation from a sold-out home crowd as he leaves the game a hero. His money was no good anywhere in Buffalo!

[@54321yrrag]

Big Mac was on fire!!

[@ShangoDC]

I remember this game, lol.

[@solemagus4761]

#quarantine got me finding some NBA gems

[@marcomustang876]

These 5 guys here from the 1970's would eat up the Bulls , Celtics , Lakers of any era : Bob Mcadoo , Bernard King , David Thompson , George Gervin and Moses Malone at Center ...w/6th man Artis Gilmore coming off the bench !

[@master-kq3nw]

Mcadoo fantastic shooter

[@morthedgebuckle227]

Has to have the sweetest jump shot I ever

[@PadreJud]

At 1:03 in the starting lineups they have Porter and Chenier on the Braves, and Smith and Charles on the Bullets.

[@jtrc_16]

McaDoo was a real show

[@TheBdavis231]

He was like KG

[@knowledgesomemore3564]

It's not even the other way around.KD couldn't carry Doo's gym bag!!!!🏀🚬

[@gdola1]

all day

[@barryserpa5174]

I remember this game was on youtube in its entirety . Wonder who removed it ?

[@Chris_like_it_not]

Happy to the Robert Allen McAdoo.9-25-51.NC.

[@extrapolater]

That's hilarious. Musberger and Big O are sharing a mic during the game.

[@VoxGav-bd9rc]

Hell yeah

[@Amick44]

Possibly most versatile frontcourt swingman of his day. Hayes maybe a bit tougher on the boards. But Mac had better range, could pass and handle the ball and drive as well.