Tuesday 05th November 2024,
The Hoop Doctors

Top 10 Centers of the 1970’s

August 30, 2011 – R.S. De France

The Hoop Doctors continue looking back at the greatest centers in NBA history, decade by decade, with the 1970’s:

ABOUT STATISTICS NOTES
Drafted 1975 In 1970’s:
Games 299
Points 5266 17.6 ppg
Rebounds 2649 8.8 rpg
Steals 412 1.37 spg
Blocks 329 1.1 bpg
  • Career: 14.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.3 spg, and 78.8% FT’s
  • 1 NBA Finals
  • 3 Western Conference Finals
  • 1976 ROY
  • 1976 All-Star
  • Best Season: 19.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.5 spg, and 1.5 bpg
  • 9x playoffs (3x in 70’s)
  • 0-2 in playoffs v great centers (Cowens & Sikma)

Teamed with guard Paul Westphal, Adams led the Phoenix Suns to the 1976 NBA Finals, where they lost in 6 games to Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, and the Boston Celtics. This series included the historic triple-overtime game 5, in which Dave Cowens scored 26 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for the Celtics, while Adams scored 20 points and corralled 9 rebounds for the Suns.

ABOUT STATISTICS NOTES
Drafted 1963

In 1970’s:
Games 622
Points 9,183 14.7 ppg
Rebounds 8,464 13.6 rpg
Blocks 553 2.1 bpg

  • Career: 15 ppg, 15 rpg, 2.1 bpg, and 2.7 apg
  • 3 Conference Finals in 1970’s
  • 7x All-Star (3x in 70’s)
  • Best Season (1968): 20.5 ppg, 22.0 rpg, and 4.2 apg
  • Best Years: 1965-1974
  • 9x playoffs (7x in 70’s)
  • 2-6 in playoffs v great centers (1-1 v Wilt)

Thurmond was one of the best rebounders and shot blockers of the decade.

ABOUT STATISTICS NOTES
rafted 1974

In 1970’s:
Games 209
Points 3,578 17.1 ppg
Rebounds 2,822 13.5 rpg
Assists 923 4.4 apg
Blocks 533 2.5 bpg

  • Career: 13.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 3.4 apg, and 52.1% FG’s
  • 2x NBA Champion 1977 & 1986
  • 1977 Finals MVP
  • 1978 MVP
  • 1986 6th Man of the Year
  • 2x All-Star (70’s)
  • Best Years: 1976-1978
  • Best Season: 18.6 ppg, 14.4 rpg, 3.2 bpg, 3.8 apg, and 1.0 spg
  • Led NBA in: rpg, bpg, and defensive rating (2x, 70’s and 80’s)
  • 4x playoffs (‘77, ‘78, ‘86, ‘87)
  • Playoffs 3-2 v great centers (swept Jabbar 4-0 in 1977 playoffs)

Walton was one of the most dominant centers in the NBA, and he was highly skilled in scoring, passing, and rebounding. Devastated by foot injuries, Walton would be unable to produce more than a few amazing seasons.

 

ABOUT STATISTICS NOTES
NBA Debut 1959

Games 339
Points 5,985 17.6 ppg
Rebounds 6,524 19.2 rpg
Assists 1461 4.3 apg

  • Career: 30.1 ppg (31,419 points), 22.9 rpg
    (23,924 rebounds), 4.4 apg, and 54% FG’s
  • 1972 NBA Champion
  • 1972 Finals MVP
  • 13x All-Star (4x in 70’s)
  • Best Years: 1960-1968
  • Led NBA in FG% 9x, rebounds 11x, points 7x, PER (Player Efficiency Rating) 8x
  • All-time: 1st Rebounds, 4th in points, 2nd in ppg, 1st in rpg, and 5th in PER
  • 13x playoffs (5x in 70’s)
  • Playoffs 4-4 v great centers (1-2 v Reed)

After Chamberlain dominated the 1960’s, the 1970’s saw Wilt take on the role of defender and rebounder more fervently than ever before in his quest for that elusive 1972 NBA title.

ABOUT STATISTICS NOTES
Drafted 1968

Games 839
Points 9,323 11.1 ppg
Rebounds 12,002 14.3 rpg
Steals 511 0.6 spg

  • Career: 10.8 ppg, 14.0 rpg, and 3.9 apg
  • 1978 NBA Champion
  • 1978 Finals MVP
  • 1969 MVP
  • 1969 ROY
  • 5x All-Star
  • Best Season (1969): 13.8 ppg, 18.2 rpg, and 2.6 apg
  • Led NBA in FG% 1976)
  • 11x playoffs (every year of 1970’s)
  • Playoffs 7-9 v great centers (1-5 v Reed)

Undersized for his position, Unseld found a way to be an intimidating force under the basket. Not only was Unseld one of the most consistent rebounders of the decade, he was one of the game’s best outlet passers.

ABOUT STATISTICS NOTES
Drafted 1972

Games 525
Points 14,405 27.4 ppg
Rebounds 6,421 12.2 rpg
Blocks 872 1.66 bpg
Steals 529 1.0 spg

  • Career: 22.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.0 spg, 2.3 apg, 75.4% FT’s, and 50.3% FG’s
  • 2x NBA Champion 1982 & 1985
  • 1975 MVP
  • 1973 ROY
  • 5x All-Star
  • Best Season (1975): 34.5 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 1.1 spg (37.4 ppg in playoffs)
  • Best Years: 1974-1978
  • Led NBA in Points and ppg 3 consecutive years
  • 9x playoffs (4x in 70’s)
  • Playoffs 0-3 v great centers (0-2 Cowens)

Bob McAdoo was not only one of the very best scorers and shooters, but he was one of the best overall defenders of the decade.

ABOUT STATISTICS NOTES
Drafted 1970

Games 644
Points 14686 22.8 ppg
Rebounds 7,690 11.9 rpg
Assists 2,134 3.3 apg
Blocks 799 1.2 bpg

  • Career: 20.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.5 bpg, 51.4% FG’s, and 76.7% FT’s
  • 1974 All-Star Game MVP
  • 8x All-Star (7x in 70’s)
  • Best Years: 1972-1978
  • Best Season (1974): 22.5 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.4 spg, 3.0 bpg, and 79.7% FT’s
  • 9x playoffs (4x in 70’s)
  • Playoffs: No significant matchups with great centers

Dave Cowens described Lanier best when he said that “[Lanier] put the fear of God in you.” Overall, Lanier was an amazing player with a soft touch from the outside, and he did everything else: intimidate, rebound, score, and block shots.

ABOUT STATISTICS NOTES
Drafted 1970

Games 660
Points 12,252 18.5 ppg
Rebounds 9,636 14.6 rpg

  • Career: 17.6 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.1 spg, and 78.3% FT’s
  • 2x NBA Champion 1974 & 1976
  • 1973 MVP
  • 1973 All-Star Game MVP
  • 1971 ROY
  • 7x All-Star
  • Best Years: 1971-1978
  • Avg. 16.2 rpg (1973)
  • 7x playoffs (6x in 70’s)
  • Playoffs 6-3 v great centers (2-0 v McAdoo)

Cowens’ scoring, rebounding, defense, and passing helped lead a strong cast of Boston Celtics to two NBA titles in the 1970’s.

ABOUT STATISTICS NOTES
Drafted 1964

Games 335
Points 6132 18.3 ppg
Rebounds 4147 12.3 rpg

  • Career: 18.7 ppg, 12.9 ppg, and 1.1 bpg
  • 2x NBA Champion 1970 & 1973
  • 1970 & 1973 Finals MVP’s
  • 1970 MVP
  • 1970 All-Star Game MVP
  • 7x All-Star (3x 70’s)
  • Best Years: 1965-1971
  • 7x playoffs (5x 70’s)
  • Playoffs 10-4 (5-1 v Unseld and 2-1 v Wilt)

Reed’s historic playoff moment:

 

Even though the New York Knicks of the 1970’s were built around effective team play, Reed was their centerpiece. He was a dominant center who gave you 20 points and 14 rebounds on any given night, and he was tough and skilled enough to mix it up with legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

 

ABOUT STATISTICS NOTES
Drafted 1969

Games 773
Points 22,141 28.6 ppg
Rebounds 11,460 14.8 rpg
Assists 3440 4.4 apg

  • Career: 24.6 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 3.6 apg, 55.9% FG’s, 72.1% FT’s
  • 6x NBA Champion (1x in 70’s)
  • 6 MVP’s (5 in 70’s)
  • 1971 Finals MVP
  • 1985 Finals MVP
  • 1970 ROY
  • 19x All-Star (8x in 70’s)
  • Best Years: 1970-1980
  • Best ppg 34.8 (‘71-‘72)
  • Best bpg 4.1 (‘75-‘76)
  • Best rpg 16.9 (‘75-‘76)
  • Best apg 5.4 (‘78-‘79)
  • Avg. 3.8 bpg in playoffs (‘79-‘80)
  • All-time Records: 1st all-time in points, 3rd in rebounds, 12th in FG%, 3rd in blocks, 15th in ppg, 23rd in rpg, 8th in bpg, and 12th in PER
  • 18 playoffs (8x in 70’s)
  • Playoffs 5-7 v great centers (1-1 v Wilt)

Great Jabbar highlights:

Although Jabbar won more titles in the 1980’s when he teamed up with Magic Johnson in a Los Angeles Lakers’ uniform, Jabbar dominated the 1970’s in terms of scoring, awards, and even blocks. He was just simply amazing!

ABA Greats
Dan Issel “The Horse”
Elvin Hayes “The Big ‘E’” F/C
Artis Gilmore “The A-Train”
Mel Daniels

Honorable Mention

Billy Paultz “The Whopper”
Jerry Lucas
George McGinnis PF/C
Caldwell Jones
Truck Robinson
Elmore Smith
Sam Lacey
Rudy LaRusso
Bill Russell
Billy Cunningham
Bill Bridges
Walt Bellamy
Dave Robisch
Mike Green “Count”
Connie Hawkins “The Hawk” PF/C
Paul Silas
Clifford Ray
Sidney Wicks F/C
Bob Kauffman
Lloyd Neal
Leroy Ellis
Neal Walk
Zelmo Beaty
Jim Chones
Darnell Hillman “Dr. Dunk”
Swen Nater
Mel Counts “Goose”
Fred Hetzel
“Big Game” Les Hunter
Trooper Washington
Lonnie Shelton
Jim Fox
Tom Owens
Cincinnatus Powell
John Beasley
Rich Jones
Gene Moore
Spencer Haywood F/C
Bob “Golden” Rule

Rob S. De France is a College and University instructor of English Composition living in Los Angeles. He has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Writing. De France has played, coached, and officiated competitive high school basketball in California for many years. Recently, De France, his wife, and another colleague started an internationally read magazine at Shwibly.com.

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