Top 10 NBA Players of the 1970s

10) Rick Barry

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.

Rick Barry Career Highlights – UNDERRATED!

9) Pete Maravich

Unfortunately, Maravich was a consummate showman who was stuck on bad teams throughout the 1970s. 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.

The Best of Pistol Pete Maravich

8) Dave Cowens

Injuries hampered and eventually shortened his career, but Cowbns was a great player winning Rookie of the Year in 1970-1971 and MVP in 1972-1973; he was a 7x All-Star, 2x NBA champion, 3x All-NBA, and 3x All-Defensive during the decade while averaging 18+ points and 14+ rebounds per game.

Dave Cowens Career Highlights – THE RAVE!

7) George Gervin

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. Gervin was famous for his finger roll and seemed to score at will against any opponent the Spurs played against.

Vintage George Gervin Highlights

6) John Havlicek

Hondo was the original sixth man, but by the 1970s, he was a dominant fixture in the NBA. 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.

John Havlicek Career Highlights – HONDO!

5) Bob McAdoo

McAdoo was the 1972-1973 NBA Rookie of the Year; he also won three straight scoring titles mid-decade and averaged 27+ points and 12+ rebounds per game in the 1970s en route to five All-Star Games, two All-NBA selections, and the 1974-1975 MVP.

Bob McAdoo: Career Mixtape

4) Walt Frazier

Frazier was one of the most significant point guards in NBA history. He was a 7x All-Star and 6x All-NBA/All-Defensive selection during the 1970s. 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.

Walt Frazier Career Highlights – CLYDE!

3) Elvin Hayes

Hayes was an All-Star every year, 6x All-NBA, 2x All-Defensive, 2x rebounding champion, and NBA champion with the Washington Bullets in 1977-1978. 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.

Elvin Hayes Career Highlights – THE BIG E!

2) Julius Erving

The Doctor was the original Dunk king. Erving was the most outstanding player in ABA history and won the 1976 ABA Dunk contest against David Thompson. He was more than just a dunker, though, and when he moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers, his play was dominant. The Doctor averaged 26+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 4+ assists per game in the 1970s and was an 8x All-Star and 7x All-ABA/NBA selection.

Julius Erving Career Highlights – Dr. J!

Julius Erving Career Highlights – Dr. J!

1) Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Jabbar was from the very beginning of his career being named the 1969-1970 rookie year, Abdul-Jabbar was a 5x MVP, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, and 8x All-Defensive selection in the 1970s with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers; moreover, he averaged 28+ points, 14+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game and led the Bucks to their first NBA title, winning Finals MVP in the process. Jabbar then went on to finish up the decade with the Lakers.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Highlights in his Prime / 1969 – 1975