Overview
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Baltimore Bullets, four games to none, in a best-of-seven series to end the 1970-71 season. The Bucks made their first-ever Finals appearance, and won their first championship, despite having only been in the NBA for three years.
The league's 25th season was marked by expansion. At the end of the '69-70 season, the NBA was a 14-team league with seven teams in Eastern and Western Divisions. In the offseason, the Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trailblazers joined the league for the entry fee of $3.7 million apiece. That made the NBA a 17-team league, and necessitated the creation of four divisions -- Atlantic, Central, Midwest and Pacific -- to make up Eastern and Western Conferences. Despite the changes, the playoff format didn't change too much. Eight teams still made the field with two rounds of Conference play entering the championship round.
The Milwaukee Bucks featured two superstars at opposite ends of the career spectrum. Although he was in his first season as a Buck, Oscar Robertson had 10 years of NBA experience under his belt as a member of the Cincinnati Royals. Robertson, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, had been traded to Milwaukee in the offseason for guard Flynn Robinson after becoming unhappy with a lack of success in Cincinnati. At the time of his trade, Robertson held the spot for the third-most career points in NBA history.
Despite all his experience, 1971 marked the 32-year-old Robertson's first career Finals appearance. Robertson had been acquired to lessen the pressure on the Bullets' other superstar, second-year center Lew Alcindor. Entering the '70-71 season, Alcindor was coming off of a stellar rookie year. He earned Rookie of the Year honors, and averaged 28.8 points per game, second-best in the league. Alcindor's arrival took the Bucks from last place to second place in their division.
Once Milwaukee acquired Robertson in 1970, Alcindor became even more effective. He increased his scoring average to 31.7 points per game, leading the league, and pulled down 16 boards per game. Alcindor was named the league's Most Valuable Player by the largest margin since the award was established. He received 532 more points than second-place finisher Jerry West.
Entering the Finals, Alcindor had just vanquished the NBA's other top center, the Los Angeles Lakers' Wilt Chamberlain, in a Western Conference Finals matchup. With Alcindor near-unstoppable, the Bucks won 66 games during the regular season. That mark was two wins shy of what was then the NBA record. They were also the first team in NBA history to shoot better than 50 percent from the field over the course of a season. At one point, Milwaukee recorded 20 wins in a row on their way to the NBA's best record and home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Bullets were making their first Finals appearance in 23 years having won the 1948 title over the Philadelphia Warriors when the league was known as the Basketball Association of America. The Bullets were led by guard Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, who averaged 21.4 points per game. Baltimore also boasted the NBA's second-leading rebounder in Wes Unseld.
Unseld suffered a severely sprained ankle late in the regular season, but unexpectedly managed to return for the playoffs. With the team coming off a hard-fought, seven-game victory over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, Unseld wasn't the only Bullet that was hurting.
Monroe suffered from bad knees and pulled muscles. Veteran big man Gus Johnson had torn cartilage in both of his knees, and was available sparingly during the Finals. Baltimore took a battered roster into the Finals to face a squad that was coming off one of the most dominating regular seasons in league history.
The league's 25th season was marked by expansion. At the end of the '69-70 season, the NBA was a 14-team league with seven teams in Eastern and Western Divisions. In the offseason, the Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trailblazers joined the league for the entry fee of $3.7 million apiece. That made the NBA a 17-team league, and necessitated the creation of four divisions -- Atlantic, Central, Midwest and Pacific -- to make up Eastern and Western Conferences. Despite the changes, the playoff format didn't change too much. Eight teams still made the field with two rounds of Conference play entering the championship round.
The Milwaukee Bucks featured two superstars at opposite ends of the career spectrum. Although he was in his first season as a Buck, Oscar Robertson had 10 years of NBA experience under his belt as a member of the Cincinnati Royals. Robertson, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, had been traded to Milwaukee in the offseason for guard Flynn Robinson after becoming unhappy with a lack of success in Cincinnati. At the time of his trade, Robertson held the spot for the third-most career points in NBA history.
Despite all his experience, 1971 marked the 32-year-old Robertson's first career Finals appearance. Robertson had been acquired to lessen the pressure on the Bullets' other superstar, second-year center Lew Alcindor. Entering the '70-71 season, Alcindor was coming off of a stellar rookie year. He earned Rookie of the Year honors, and averaged 28.8 points per game, second-best in the league. Alcindor's arrival took the Bucks from last place to second place in their division.
Once Milwaukee acquired Robertson in 1970, Alcindor became even more effective. He increased his scoring average to 31.7 points per game, leading the league, and pulled down 16 boards per game. Alcindor was named the league's Most Valuable Player by the largest margin since the award was established. He received 532 more points than second-place finisher Jerry West.
Entering the Finals, Alcindor had just vanquished the NBA's other top center, the Los Angeles Lakers' Wilt Chamberlain, in a Western Conference Finals matchup. With Alcindor near-unstoppable, the Bucks won 66 games during the regular season. That mark was two wins shy of what was then the NBA record. They were also the first team in NBA history to shoot better than 50 percent from the field over the course of a season. At one point, Milwaukee recorded 20 wins in a row on their way to the NBA's best record and home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Bullets were making their first Finals appearance in 23 years having won the 1948 title over the Philadelphia Warriors when the league was known as the Basketball Association of America. The Bullets were led by guard Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, who averaged 21.4 points per game. Baltimore also boasted the NBA's second-leading rebounder in Wes Unseld.
Unseld suffered a severely sprained ankle late in the regular season, but unexpectedly managed to return for the playoffs. With the team coming off a hard-fought, seven-game victory over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, Unseld wasn't the only Bullet that was hurting.
Monroe suffered from bad knees and pulled muscles. Veteran big man Gus Johnson had torn cartilage in both of his knees, and was available sparingly during the Finals. Baltimore took a battered roster into the Finals to face a squad that was coming off one of the most dominating regular seasons in league history.
Road to the Finals
| Bullets | Bucks | |
| Regular Season | 42-40, 1st in Central Division | 66-16, 1st in Midwest Division |
| Conf. Semifinals | Def. Philadelphia 76ers, 4-3 | Def. San Francisco Warriors, 4-1 |
| Conf. Finals | Def. New York Knicks, 4-3 | Def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1 |
Game 1 -- Bucks 98, Bullets 88
The Bullets went into Game 1 at Milwaukee Arena with a tall order in front of them. Baltimore's 6-foot-7 Wes Unseld was called on to guard 7-foot-2 Bucks' star Lew Alcindor. Baltimore also learned it would be without big man Gus Johnson, who was still recovering from a recurring left knee injury.
The 10,746 fans in attendance saw the game start as expected. Unseld picked up two quick fouls attempting to contain Alcindor, the Bullets turned the ball over five times in four minutes and the Bucks jumped out to a 14-6 lead. However, the game got interesting when Alcindor managed to pick up three fouls in the span of two minutes, two of them on offense.
Alcindor had to go to the bench, leaving Milwaukee without its most dominant player. Baltimore took advantage pulling within two points late in the first half. Unfortunately for the Bullets, Alcindor returned to action after halftime, and scored 18 points in the third quarter. The Bucks' lead swelled to 11 points entering the fourth quarter.
Baltimore made another run when Oscar Robertson sat for a brief period in the final frame. As soon as Robertson came back into the game, Milwaukee held the Bullets to a three-minute scoreless drought, and built up a 13-point lead with just over three minutes remaining.
Alcindor finished the game with 31 points and 17 rebounds, and Robertson scored 22. While Earl Monroe had 26 points and Unseld added 16, they were no match for Milwaukee's one-two punch, and the Bucks took an easy 1-0 lead.
The 10,746 fans in attendance saw the game start as expected. Unseld picked up two quick fouls attempting to contain Alcindor, the Bullets turned the ball over five times in four minutes and the Bucks jumped out to a 14-6 lead. However, the game got interesting when Alcindor managed to pick up three fouls in the span of two minutes, two of them on offense.
Alcindor had to go to the bench, leaving Milwaukee without its most dominant player. Baltimore took advantage pulling within two points late in the first half. Unfortunately for the Bullets, Alcindor returned to action after halftime, and scored 18 points in the third quarter. The Bucks' lead swelled to 11 points entering the fourth quarter.
Baltimore made another run when Oscar Robertson sat for a brief period in the final frame. As soon as Robertson came back into the game, Milwaukee held the Bullets to a three-minute scoreless drought, and built up a 13-point lead with just over three minutes remaining.
Alcindor finished the game with 31 points and 17 rebounds, and Robertson scored 22. While Earl Monroe had 26 points and Unseld added 16, they were no match for Milwaukee's one-two punch, and the Bucks took an easy 1-0 lead.
Game 2 -- Bucks 102, Bullets 83
The good news for the Bullets was the series was shifting to Baltimore, and forward Gus Johnson was back to assist Wes Unseld in defending Lew Alcindor. The bad news was it didn't matter very much.
A game that was close throughout the first half was blown wide open when the Bucks outscored Baltimore 30-16 in the third quarter, including a 19-2 run. The Bullets faded in the second half as Unseld only managed two points and three rebounds after halftime. He posted 11 points and 17 rebounds in the first half.
Johnson recorded 10 points and eight rebounds, and attempted to assist Unseld with defense in the post. Nevertheless, Alcindor finished with 27 points and 24 rebounds. Oscar Robertson, who was on the mend from a strained groin muscle, contributed 22 points. The Bucks took Game 2 easily, and went up 2-0 in the series.
A game that was close throughout the first half was blown wide open when the Bucks outscored Baltimore 30-16 in the third quarter, including a 19-2 run. The Bullets faded in the second half as Unseld only managed two points and three rebounds after halftime. He posted 11 points and 17 rebounds in the first half.
Johnson recorded 10 points and eight rebounds, and attempted to assist Unseld with defense in the post. Nevertheless, Alcindor finished with 27 points and 24 rebounds. Oscar Robertson, who was on the mend from a strained groin muscle, contributed 22 points. The Bucks took Game 2 easily, and went up 2-0 in the series.
Game 3 -- Bucks 107, Bullets 99
A capacity crowd of 10,746 crammed Milwaukee Arena to see the Bucks post their third straight Finals win.
This time around, it was Baltimore who posted a big third quarter. Oscar Robertson was whistled for his fourth foul early in the period, and the Bullets took advantage of his absence. Baltimore reeled off a 16-2 run with Robertson out, but when he returned to the game, it was business as usual.
Buoyed by Robertson's return, the Bucks went on a 17-5 run over the next few minutes to put the game out of reach. With Alcindor lurking under the basket, Baltimore often settled for outside shots, but they were off the mark all night shooting 39 percent from the floor as a team.
While Alcindor and Robertson were effective with 23 and 20 points respectively, Bucks forward Bob Dandridge was the star of Game 3 with 29 points. Dandridge thrived in the low post, and was helped by the absence of Bullets forward Gus Johnson, who again had to sit out the game due to knee pain.
This time around, it was Baltimore who posted a big third quarter. Oscar Robertson was whistled for his fourth foul early in the period, and the Bullets took advantage of his absence. Baltimore reeled off a 16-2 run with Robertson out, but when he returned to the game, it was business as usual.
Buoyed by Robertson's return, the Bucks went on a 17-5 run over the next few minutes to put the game out of reach. With Alcindor lurking under the basket, Baltimore often settled for outside shots, but they were off the mark all night shooting 39 percent from the floor as a team.
While Alcindor and Robertson were effective with 23 and 20 points respectively, Bucks forward Bob Dandridge was the star of Game 3 with 29 points. Dandridge thrived in the low post, and was helped by the absence of Bullets forward Gus Johnson, who again had to sit out the game due to knee pain.
Game 4 -- Bucks 118, Bullets 106
Fittingly, after his long wait for a title, it was Oscar Robertson who led Milwaukee to its series-clinching victory over the Bullets.
The game was contentious early, marked by two scuffles in the first quarter. The Bucks got out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 19 in the first half. Alcindor had his usual big night putting in 27 points and 12 boards. Bob Dandridge also had a strong effort with 21 points and 12 rebounds, but it was Robertson who turned in the performance of the night posting 30 points off 9 of 11 shooting, and dishing out 9 assists.
The Bullets were led by Fred Carter with 28 points. Baltimore's Wes Unseld recorded a triple-double posting 11 points, 23 rebounds and 10 assists, but it was for naught. The Bucks ended one of the most dominant seasons ever recorded by pulling off the second four-game sweep in NBA Finals history, the first since the 1959 Boston Celtics dispatched the Minneapolis Lakers.
At the time, the three-year span between the franchise's creation and first title was the shortest wait for a championship for any expansion franchise in professional sports history. The Bucks received a newly-increased $212,000 bonus for winning the title, which came out to approximately $15,000 per player. Ironically, the Bullets' runner-up share of $11,000 per player was more than any previous Finals winner had taken home.
Lew Alcindor was named the series' most outstanding player, and was awarded a 1971 Dodge Charger at a luncheon after the series. He'd averaged 26.6 points and 18.5 rebounds per game over the course of the Finals.
Alcindor also excelled in the offseason. He married Los Angeles schoolteacher Janice Brown the day before the 1971 All-Star game. In fact, Alcindor postponed his honeymoon to make his All-Star appearance. Later that summer, Alcindor and Robertson embarked on a six-nation tour of Africa running basketball clinics and playing exhibitions.
The game was contentious early, marked by two scuffles in the first quarter. The Bucks got out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 19 in the first half. Alcindor had his usual big night putting in 27 points and 12 boards. Bob Dandridge also had a strong effort with 21 points and 12 rebounds, but it was Robertson who turned in the performance of the night posting 30 points off 9 of 11 shooting, and dishing out 9 assists.
The Bullets were led by Fred Carter with 28 points. Baltimore's Wes Unseld recorded a triple-double posting 11 points, 23 rebounds and 10 assists, but it was for naught. The Bucks ended one of the most dominant seasons ever recorded by pulling off the second four-game sweep in NBA Finals history, the first since the 1959 Boston Celtics dispatched the Minneapolis Lakers.
At the time, the three-year span between the franchise's creation and first title was the shortest wait for a championship for any expansion franchise in professional sports history. The Bucks received a newly-increased $212,000 bonus for winning the title, which came out to approximately $15,000 per player. Ironically, the Bullets' runner-up share of $11,000 per player was more than any previous Finals winner had taken home.
Lew Alcindor was named the series' most outstanding player, and was awarded a 1971 Dodge Charger at a luncheon after the series. He'd averaged 26.6 points and 18.5 rebounds per game over the course of the Finals.
Alcindor also excelled in the offseason. He married Los Angeles schoolteacher Janice Brown the day before the 1971 All-Star game. In fact, Alcindor postponed his honeymoon to make his All-Star appearance. Later that summer, Alcindor and Robertson embarked on a six-nation tour of Africa running basketball clinics and playing exhibitions.