NBA VAULT: 1971 Milwaukee Bucks

The 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks season was the third season for the Bucks. Milwaukee posted a 66-16 record in only its third year of existence, and its second since getting Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[1] Key part of the championship season was the acquisition of Oscar Robertson. Other role players on the Bucks included players such as Bob Dandridge (18.4 ppg) and Jon McGlocklin (15.8 ppg), power forward Greg Smith and key reserves Lucius Allen, Bob Boozer and Dick Cunningham completing the nucleus. The season included a 20-game winning streak, the NBA's longest at the time, and still ranked fifth all-time. And the Bucks became the first team from the Midwest Division to win the NBA title; it would be 23 years before the Houston Rockets would do the same.

[@alessiodelcastillo1613]

50 years later and the trophy is back in Milwaukee

[@lloydkline1518]

Kareem Abdul jabber didn't want to stay in Milwaukee; Wisconsin either

[@withalittlehelpfrom3]

And now, Giannis has scored more points in a Bucks uniform than Kareem, or anybody else! He only needs 1 more MVP to match Kareem's 3 with the Bucks.

[@paulsilas9070]

Kareem goes through Wilt & Unseld, the only two players to be MVP of the league as rookies.

[@rohanspencer2601]

I realize Im kind of off topic but does anybody know a good website to watch new tv shows online ?

[@vansmack4972]

This team should of more than just one championship. Greg Smith should not of been traded.

[@finalfrontier2376]

@Kareem you are my pick for GOAT ! Your game is complete !

[@KSmall109CAB]

The 1970-71 season was the pinnacle for the Bucks for sure. Ironically the team that gave them fits in the regular season was one shot away from facing them in the NBA finals. That team was the Knicks. The Bucks and Knicks met five times in 1970-71. The Knicks won four of the five games. Willis Reed played well against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Indiana native Dick Barnett often guarded his fellow native Oscar Robertson. Many speculate how well the Knicks would have done against the Bucks in the finals had Bill Bradley not had his last-second shot deflected by Wes Unseld. We'll never know.

[@mrboo3049]

What if THE KNICKS get KAREEM in 1975-1976 season. Teaming up with CLYDE FRAZIER and EARL MONROE.

[@dreman1970]

The bullets upsetting the Knicks definitely made the bucks winning the championship a LOT easier....between 69-73 the knicks just had the bucks number....the knicks were always a matchup nightmare for the bucks....willis always pulled alcindor from the basket cuz he was a good outside shooter....unseld wasnt an offensive threat...

[@KSmall109CAB]

@@dreman1970 True. It didn't help that Unseld was only 6-6 and Gus Johnson was not 100% during the series. On defense, besides defending Kareem the Bullets had to defend Oscar Robertson and John McGlocklin. Earl Monroe, Fred Carter, and Kevin Loughery were arguable overmatched. Jack Marin matched up well against Bobby Dandridge, while the Bullets were at a disadvantage at the power forward position with Gus Johnson hurt and John Tresvant not playing to the level that he did during series against the Knicks.

[@KSmall109CAB]

@@dreman1970 During the 1970-71 Finals, Unseld had some very workmanlike stats. He averaged 14.8 points, 19.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. Kareem''s stat line was 27.0 points, 18.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. The Bucks could rest their starters and the Bullets were drained after a very emotional series against the Knicks.

[@tommurphy2746]

@@KSmall109CAB You're close but Wes Unseld has always been listed at 6'7". Either way, it's amazing how he seemed so much taller because of the way he played...he was short for a center, but he was as thick as an Oak Tree. And he always knew how to position himself. Great player.

[@zenshirou3201]

Defending champions Milwaukee Bucks

[@furnitureconsortium]

damn.....last time I saw Peter Vescey, he had shaggy hair and a beard.....time moves on for all of us!

[@deejay8403]

What a joy to see Eddie Doucette. I remember his wonderful colloquialisms during his play by play broadcast, "Jonny Mac, 25ft rainbow jumper...BANGO!" "Kareem in the toaster for the rebound." "Kareem over Chamberlain, sky hook...GOOOOD." He was just as exciting as that great Bucks team of 1970-1971

[@chris040hh]

I’m from Hamburg in Germany but my dads from Milwaukee and grew up in cutahay (hope I spelled that right) and I spent 4 years over in Milwaukee in my childhood and my dad to this das talks about seeing Kareem play in the 71 playoffs. According to my old man “words and video footage doesn’t do Kareem enough justice”. Always makes me smile to see him reminisce about his childhood basketball memories :)

[@morrismiller7589]

Ow, I love that Eddie Ducette. Few knew that Eddie moved to Arizona for his daughter's health. When I heard Eddie on WTMJ out of Milwaukee I knew what I wanted to be. I was clearly not be destined to ever make a living in the "land of giant" I wanted to announce NBA basketball announcer--bango!!! I would rather announce a "Jack Knifer" by Wally Jones than make that jumber. Though I did practice sky hooks in my drive way where the hoop was probably nine foot six. I did not do finger rolls I left that to Wilt the Stilt fans.

[@vansmack4972]

L & M Productions Miller I believe Eddie moved to the San Diego Area. Not Arizona. His son was suffering from childhood cancer.

[@jerrystewart6232]

Oscar Robertson was the ultimate final piece for the Milwaukee Bucks in order for them to win their first world championship

[@macdabluepanther]

easily one of the greatest teams ever! top tier PG and C, great shooter in McGlockin, Bob D. one of the best Sfs ever, and Greg Smith was a really nice PF during the 70s.

[@staunchx]

Probably the most underrated team of all time.

[@robertbish8592]

An unsung of the finals- Fred Carter!!

[@alienmcqueen]

why

[@stever1791]

Fred Carter sucked - A gunner and a Back stabber to his Head coaches that he assissted with

[@niggasdontdiewex4995]

The true goat

[@stever1791]

Gail Goodrich is so great in this show. And he was an All Time Great Player

[@radar0412]

When I was only 12 years old in 1970 and saw that Alcindor was 7'2", I thought Alcindor had to better than Wilt because he was only 7'1". After all 7'2" is more than 7'1". Made sense to me back then. 😂

[@veerchasm1]

Possibly the greatest finals team ever. Just look at the stats

[@yomomsahoe5797]

71 bucks vs 95 bulls

[@deejay8403]

@@yomomsahoe5797 But with which respective rules? Seemed like the NBA was a completely different animal in '71 as far as what players were allowed to do. Jordan wouldn't be getting away with half the crap that the referees turned a blind eye to in the 90s if they played under the 70s rules.

[@senseichess8688]

@@deejay8403 your right

[@kincamell]

Gratitude

[@senseichess8688]

I remember the coin flip...the bucks got kareem the Knicks got Neal walk

[@dreman1970]

It wasnt the knicks....it was phoenix in the coin flip

[@senseichess8688]

@@dreman1970 your right it was the suns lol I do remember it ....walk played for the Knicks in his later NBA years....he was a good shooter a solid journymsn

[@senseichess8688]

@@dreman1970 i think I still have a couple Neal walk basketball cards in storage somewhere...a 1970 Neal walk card and some later ones

[@youtuber3328]

the finals mvp in both june of 1980 and 1982 SHOULD'VE been awarded to kareem abdul-jabbar because his scoring outweighed magic johnson's passing and the 1980's lakers third best individual statistic was the rebounding from kareem abdul-jabbar

[@jabia...8171]

We did it again...

[@youtuber3328]

okay the 1997 heat were INACCURATELY called the road warriors since they went 32-9 in the season but only 1-7 in the playoffs

[@jacksmith5692]

This title never happens if the Knicks had a healthy Willis Reed in the 1971 playoffs. He injured his shoulder in game 1 of the Hawks series and wasn't able to shoot and the Knicks lost game 7 to the Bullets 93 to 91 and later Wes Unseld admitted we knew Willis was hurt and couldn't shoot and was a decoy and used for picks and to rebound and play defense. It was the only time in 6 series from 1969 to 1974 that the Bullets defeated the Knicks and that propelled them to the finals! In 1970/71 the Knicks beat the 66 win Bucks 4 out of 5 games and they had defeated them in 5 in the 1970 playoffs. For his career, Willis Reed won 15 and Kareem won 6 despite the Bucks winning 304 to the Knicks 266 games from 1969 to 74. Willis Reed only played in 99 games his last 3 seasons and yet the last two times that Reed played Jabbar in November of 1973, Willis with his bad left knee held Jabbar to 18 for 40 shooting and only 44 points in 86 minutes! Kareem does not win an NBA title without Magic Johnson if Willis Reed was healthy!

[@John-iy4do]

To bad Kareem didn't want to play in Milwaukee, just think how many championships there might have been.

[@jacksmith5692]

This title never happens if the Knicks had a healthy Willis Reed in the 1971 playoffs. He injured his shoulder in game 1 of the Hawks series and wasn't able to shoot and the Knicks lost game 7 to the Bullets 93 to 91 and later Wes Unseld admitted we knew Willis was hurt and couldn't shoot and was a decoy and used for picks and to rebound and play defense. It was the only time in 6 series from 1969 to 1974 that the Bullets defeated the Knicks and that propelled them to the finals! In 1970/71 the Knicks beat the 66 win Bucks 4 out of 5 games and they had defeated them in 5 in the 1970 playoffs. For his career, Willis Reed won 15 and Kareem won 6 despite the Bucks winning 304 to the Knicks 266 games from 1969 to 74. Willis Reed only played in 99 games his last 3 seasons and yet the last two times that Reed played Jabbar in November of 1973, Willis with his bad left knee held Jabbar to 18 for 40 shooting and only 44 points in 86 minutes! Kareem does not win an NBA title without Magic Johnson if Willis Reed was healthy!

[@brucecychosz9744]

The imagineer ladder. Eddieisms

[@brugglesby]

Did Wes Unseld actually say Oscar Robinson?

[@stever1791]

yes he did . It might have been thinking of Flynn Robinson ( Bucks team from a year before) - before he recover to spit of The wrong Robertson name

[@kingsleyjackson8287]

His name is Kareem

[@bignbafan20]

Lew

[@bignbafan20]

Alcindor old school dawg

[@loydkline]

Lou alcindor

[@michaelzeigler3733]

71 bucks 72 lakers back to back two of the best teams to ever do it bucks won 66 and won it all Oscar lew Alcindor aka Kareem Abdul Jabar Then 69 wins for the lakers the next season with jerry west Elgin Baylor and wilt chamberlain people that say that era was weak are misinformed I just named 5 hall of famers that would have dominated any era

[@youtuber3328]

okay the 1991 bulls went 7-1 on the road and 15-2 led by michael jordan and voth the 1971 bucks and 1980 lakers went 12-2 led by kareem abdul-jabbar

[@drbonesshow1]

Oscar Robinson? 3:04

[@elvynmariano5454]

And the Bucks won the second chip

[@jabbers081769]

WHO DID THE SUNS DRAFT SINCE THEY DIDNT GET ALCINDER?

[@stever1791]

Neal Walk - A 7 footer out of Florida U.

[@jabbers081769]

@@stever1791 ty check out my KZbin page championships and more in all sports from 1960 to present

[@gravenewworld6521]

Fascinating conversation but that host was corny af

[@FrancisKiki]

Gianis ain't better then prime Kareem.

[@drbonesshow1]

Jabbar was at times a dirty player. Just ask Kent Benson. So much for inner peace.

[@footballbabybaby]

The presenter is awful