The last remaining player from the 1970s in the NBA was Robert Parish. 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. See our ethics statement. 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). 3 min read. 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. 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. Most important player ever? In fact, Hubie Browns Atlanta Hawks attempted just 75 three-pointers all season (making just 13). 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. UK welcomed its first African-American basketball player in Tom Payne, an All-American high-schooler from Louisville . Here's another argument: the '70s represented a battle for the soul of basketball. And how might retired NBA legends fare in todays game? 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. 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 (Russell Westbrook's head perks up.) It was this transition, from earth-bound giants to brilliant athleticism, that paved the way for the glorious rebirth that was to come. He was a key component to the success of the Celtics in the 1970s, helping them win two NBA titles. The decade has some incredible players and good teams, but with how different the game would become in terms of the rules and the way it's played, it is not an easy measurement. 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. In 1970, the average player earned a $35,000 salary (equivalent to around $224,000 today). TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Tennessee Texas Virginia He was an All-Star every year of his career, racking up 16 selections while dominating both leagues. Fearing bankruptcy and finally willing to concede to player movement, the summer of 1976 witnessed the first crop of NBA free agents. For example, Oscar Robertson was one of the most athletic players of his erajust Google Oscar Robertson splits (Ill wait). He didn't play for really excellent teams until joining the Showtime Lakers in '80s, however, which hampers his legacy. But they seem inconsequential when compared to the off-court changes that took place in the seventies. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Though John Havlicek debuted in 1962, he was still very much in his prime when the seventies came around. 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. 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. From there, its just a short jump to comparing players from the past with present stars. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. Known as Clyde Frazier, Walt brought the razzle dazzle to Madison Square Garden in the seventies. 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. What sneakers do you like from the 70's? He led the league in minutes played for the decade, and also grabbed more rebounds than anyone else.He was no slouch when it came to scoring either, recording the second-most points of the decade behind only Abdul-Jabbar.Hayes was a 12-time All-Star, being selected in each of his first twelve years, and was also a six-time All-NBA selection. Then the American Basketball Association (ABA) came along and celebrated the showmanship of their top stars. His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. 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. Elvin Hayes Career Highlights THE BIG E! While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Top 30 Greatest NBA Players Of The 1970s 1. 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 Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Malone entered 1981-82 ready to exact vengeance. Overall, he averaged 28.6 points per contest from 1969-70 through 1979-80. eBay item number: 404182195911. 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. So whether or not you believe the Rolls-Royce Backcourt could defuse the Splash Brothers or that Dr. J could take LeBron to school, theres no denying the league as we know it todayfull of three-pointers, highlight-reel dunks, and multi-millionaire free agentswas born in the 1970s. 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. He won a league title in all but two of his 13 seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born April 16, 1947) is an American retired professional basketball player with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VINTAGE HARD PLASTIC BASKETBALL PLAYER CAKE TOPPER / DECORATION 1970s at the best online prices at eBay! 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. These debates boil down to a very simple premise: basketball was different in the past. 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. They appreciated the game on its merits, and embraced the athletes as individuals and fellow entertainers. He was integral in helping to popularize the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a global cultural icon in the process. (LogOut/ 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. Athlete Body Size Changes Over Time Sports Nutrition for Basketball Find out more. . Nicknamed Big Red for his ginger hair, Dave Cowens was the anchor for many great Boston Celtics teams during the seventies. (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. Sam Teets 2021 NBA mock draft 1.0: Cunningham goes first, Top 50 NBA players under 25 years old in 2021: Doncic bests Young, Ranking the top 70 free agents in the 2021 NBA offseason, Grading every NFL teams picks from the 2021 NFL Draft, Sam Teets two-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 with Kyle the Commish, UFC 285: Jon Jones returns, facing Ciryl Gane for heavyweight title, Top 13 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 8 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History. 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. Check out his website at https://www.adamcriblez.com/. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. By decades end, that had jumped to $180,000 ($641,000 today). Get the best deals on 1970s Athletic Shoes for Men when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. He racked up three championship rings and 12 All-Star appearances in his injury-shortened 13-year career. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. $2000 Risk Free $1000 + $100 in site credits, Must be 21+. hydroxyclorquin quineprox kratom chloroquine who produces hydroxychloroquine win, side effects tadalafil tadalafil brands tadalafil tablets 60mg, is tadalafil and cialis the same thing what is tadalafil tadalafil research powder, tadalafil citrate cialis online tadalafil cost walmart. You had dominating centers, of course, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a perennial MVP candidate and a fully dependable superstar in the middle for both Milwaukee and Los Angeles. Yeah. He was like living, breathing quicksilver on the court, a physical specimen in ways different from his contemporaries. 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. . : 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. There have been some great shooters in the past. 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. Johnsons otherworldly passing set the stage for the Showtime L.A. Lakers teams that captured five championships during his 13 years with the franchise. 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. You had Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier in the Big Apple, drawing attention and respect to the Mecca of basketball. Why did NBA players not shoot more three-pointers in the late seventies and early eighties? I have a confession to make: even though Im a lifelong devotee to all Seattle sports team, I had a fan-fling with the San Antonio Spurs teams of the late 90s and early 2000s. Director: Ron Shelton | Stars: Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Rosie Perez, Tyra Ferrell Votes: 89,504 | Gross: $76.25M 66 (4) Blu-ray 8. PSA Set Registry. I included ABA contributions as warranted. John Havlicek 6. 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His height is 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), and his weight is 205 lb (93 kg). Olympic Games Anthropometry for other sports in 2012. In 1979, few players specialized as three-point marksmen. In the 1970s Barry claimed six NBA All-Star bids, three ABA All-Star bids and three All-NBA first team nods. In 1996, he was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. 1901. has been obsessively watching sports for nearly three decades and arguing about them with friends for nearly as long. Lou Boudreau, Thornton, 1935. You still see them at the Garden and no sport has ever had a more dedicated celebrity fan than Jack Nicholson. One big on-court change was the three-pointer, arguably the most exciting part of the modern NBA. He made eight All-Star games in the seventies, only missing out in his rookie year and in 1978-79 when he was injured. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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. Read Kareem Abdul-Jabbars Britannica essay on the New York Rens. (LogOut/ What hasn't been said about Gervin? 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. Sure, we still saw centers like Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaq, Tim Duncan and Yao Ming rise and dominate down the road. Erving then reeled off 11 straight All-Star bids in the NBA after the merger. 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. 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. Julius 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. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. A brutal sucker punch in the OVC tournament stopped the game in its tracks. Though he was a great offensive player, Cowens made his biggest impact on defense, being named to three All-Defensive teams in his career. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Understanding the marketability of high-flying, slam-dunking showmen, the NBA copied the dunk contest concept in 1977 (won by Indiana Pacer Dr. 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. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Do folks give Jerry credit for building future champions as a GM?). This decade served as the start of the second Sooner. Who Is Better: Lebron James Or Wilt Chamberlain? Free shipping for many products! 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. Hockey. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Owners hoped this would disincentivize large contracts. 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. Oscar Robertson versus Russell Westbrook? 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. He was amazing, but he had a lot of help, at least more than the last guy on this list. It was a time when the great civil rights . 1. 44,845 Sets. Also, his career totals were inflated by the fact that he played roughly 10,000 years in the NBA. 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. He won two championships alongside Havlicek in 1974 and 1976, and was also extremely successful as an individual player. Initially, free agency was restricted. and fought Bruce Lee in Game of Death, so his cool quotient is easily the highest of anyone on this list. 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 averaged 21+ points, 6+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game in the 1970s, in the process earning nine All-Star selections, making seven All-NBA and All-Defensive teams, and winning two titles. The easy answer would be to point to a lack of analytics (seriously, how did they survive without WAR, BPM, or VORP?)[1]. Do you have a sports website? Or write about sports? Original/Reprint: Original. [7] The following is the 196970 Academic All-America Men's Basketball Team as selected by CoSIDA: Members of the 1970 Consensus All-America first team. [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. 15,159 Sets. The anticipated plateau of salaries never arrived, and continues today. He was more than just a dunker, though, and when he moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers, his play was dominant. 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 Hayes was perhaps Kareem's only true rival, even though they didn't run into each other much in the NBA. Related: did you know that the 2013 Seattle Seahawks had the best defense in NFL history? Release Year: 1971 Kareem Abdul Jabbar was the best basketball player in the world during the early 1970's. He helped make the Adidas Jabbar High and Low famous. He also led the U.S. national basketball team to . 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. I know I risk getting run out of my beloved Chicago on a rail for daring to suggest His Airness isnt the best player ever but, well, I just dont think he is. Last edited on 18 February 2023, at 16:44, National Association of Basketball Coaches, 196970 NCAA University Division men's basketball season, 2005 NCAA Basketball's Finest - All-Americans, "Awtrey leads All-American Academic unit", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1970_NCAA_Men%27s_Basketball_All-Americans&oldid=1140133496, No second, third or fourth teams (10-man first team), This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 16:44. 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. Star Power: Now we are on the to 70's. reserve clause similar to that which existed in Major League Baseball. In 1971, the San Francisco Warriors changed cities and names, leaving the Cow Palace. 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. Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1970-74), New Orleans/Utah Jazz (1974-80), Boston Celtics (1980 . On defense, he was one of the most feared rim protectors of his time, swatting away every attempt that was thrown up. 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 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. Abdul-Jabbar was dominant in all aspects of the game, but he was particularly unstoppable on offense. LeBron James just does things that shouldnt be humanly possible. You had championships in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, signaling the weakening of the East's stranglehold on basketball dominance, as well as providing evidence that L.A. could be rivaled on the Pacific Coast. Hayes and Wes Unseld led the Bullets to three Finals berths and one title, and Hayes was an All-Star every year of the decade. In 1975, he led the San Francisco Warriors to an NBA championship, and he was named Finals MVP that year as well. In addition, the decade saw the merging of the ABA and the NBA, the two top leagues of the time. As a sophomore, he led the "Flying Clouds" to . Maravich averaged 25+ points, 4+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game in the 1970s for five All-Star selections, four All-NBA teams, and the 1976-1977 scoring title. Tall Tales and Short Shorts: Dr. J, Pistol Pete, and the Birth of the Modern NBA. 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. 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 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. One of the most brilliant scorers ever, David Thompson's wing rival in the late '70s and the first great Spur. The hair, the nickname, the style of carefree, irresponsible play he exhibited: if Dr. J presented what basketball would become, Pistol Pete showed us what basketball could be at its most fun. 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. Unfortunately, Maravich was a consummate showman who was stuck on bad teams throughout the 1970s. In 1975-76, Brewer had his best season as a Cavalier, averaging a. After the 1976 ABA-NBA merger, team owners hoped salaries would normalize. When Dr. James Naismith nailed a peach basket to a spot ten feet above the gym floor, he didnt account for dribbling, let alone slam dunks, hyper-athletic seven-footers, or J.R. Smith. Lew Alcindor's historic run to the NBA Rookie of the Year award was the talk of the 1969-70 season, but it was his sophomore campaign in 1970-71 where the Milwaukee Bucks big man took a transcendent leap towards the Hall of Fame.. With the acquisition of All-Star point guard and future Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson, the Bucks . Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Bob McAdoo 5. Frazier held most Knicks records until . How to Win While Sports Betting? Were not technically a sports website, but this editor (hi!) Which NBA player from the 1980's & 1990's helped popularized basketball and turn it into a global game? The Warriors, Blazers, Bullets and Sonics all had their moments in the sun. . $179.99. Check the Blazers in 77-78 when they were 44-9 the year after they won the title, for an example. Yes, the NBA consisted of just 8 to 14 teams during this period, so capturing championships was a statistically easier feat for a single franchise, but even that fact doesnt minimize Russells historic accomplishments. Bob McAdoo was a poster child for seventies basketball. Indeedy. The 2021 NBA Draft is less than three weeks away. He can be reached at acriblez@semo.edu and followed on Twitter at@AdamCriblez. It's hard to understand why this is a debate, as great as West was. Notice the striped tubed socks and short shorts in almost every picture. 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 Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? 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. 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. He was also a double-double machine, averaging over 12 rebounds per game for the decade. Jones, George T. Johnson, Andre Drummond and Kawhi Leonard. 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 mans desire to be the best is legendary and propelled him to six championships, five MVP awards, All-Star appearances in every full season he played, and the status as possibly the best defender ever. Sure Barry was an asshole, but he was also a prolific scorer who averaged 24+ points, 6+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game during the 1970s across the NBA and ABA; during the decade, he was also a 9x All-Star and 7x All-ABA/NBA selection who took home Finals MVP in 1974-1975 while guiding the Golden State Warriors to the championship. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. Cowens was known for his intensity that could get him in trouble with some fights. Two answers: the ABA and free agency. Most famous player ever? Next time you put a pair of Nike Cortez or Vans Sk8 High on know the history behind them. Data Provided By He might belong ahead of Hayes on the first team All-1970s. David Thompson: Thompson was an incredible scorer whose exploits rivaled those of Gervin and Maravich, and is considered one of MJ's chief inspirations. Steve Nash Eight-time NBA All-Star Steve Nash first gained the notice of the basketball world in 1993. The '70s were marked by an absence of dynasties. The 1970s saw another national title, a coaching change of epic proportions, and several stars comes through the door. Top 21 ACC Basketball Players of All Time: Where does Michael Jordan Rank? Hayes was responsible for stopping UCLA's amazing college streak when it was Lew Alcindor manning the middle; they went on to play on different coasts most of the time in the pros. For whatever reason, he kept it in his pocket and Alcindor signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for a $250,000 annual salary. 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. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 9 Noteworthy Bog Bodies (And What They Tell Us), 12 Novels Considered the Greatest Book Ever Written, Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution, https://www.britannica.com/list/the-10-greatest-basketball-players-of-all-time. What are boosted odds in sports betting strategies? Product: Set. So, yeah, Magic Johnsonneat guy. The only NBA Hall of Famer for whom a Gossip Girl character was named. In 1977, the Denver Nuggets signed their star guard, David Skywalker Thompson to a record-setting, five-year, $4-million deal, because they knew he would receive similar offers from other teams (*cough* the Knicks *cough*), should he enter free agency. 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. as a member of the Miami Heat.