Bucks: Marking 40 years since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trade changed 2 franchises
By Phil Watson
Apr 5, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; The Milwaukee Bucks logo on a players shorts during the game against the Toronto Raptors at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Toronto won 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Bucks: Before and After
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s arrival in Milwaukee resulted in an immediate 180-degree turn for the team, which posted a 29-win improvement in Kareem’s rookie season, finishing 56-26.
In the summer of 1970, the Bucks added Oscar Robertson to the mix in a trade from the Cincinnati Royals and the combination of the Big O and Kareem led the Bucks to the title in their first season together, the first of three straight 60-win seasons in Milwaukee.
In 1973-74, the Bucks returned to the NBA Finals, losing a Game 7 at home to the Boston Celtics.
Robertson retired after the season and the Bucks struggled to replace him at the point, first trying Lucius Allen before trading him to the Lakers and getting back Jim Price, who was limited to 41 games because of injuries.
Abdul-Jabbar broke his hand during the preseason in October 1974, sustaining a scratched cornea at the same time, and missed the first 16 games.
Milwaukee stumbled to a 3-13 start and could never recover, finishing last in the Midwest Division at 38-44 and missing the playoffs for the only time during Kareem’s stint with the Bucks.
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At the same time, Abdul-Jabbar’s unhappiness at being in Milwaukee boiled over with a trade request. He wanted to go to either the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Kareem’s biography at achievement.org.
Kareem was traded on June 16, 1975, as Bucks general manager Wayne Embry sent the three-time MVP along with backup center Walt Wesley to the Lakers in exchange for four players—guards Junior Bridgeman and Brian Winters, forward Dave Meyers and center Elmore Smith.
The Bucks again finished 38-44 in 1975-76, only this time that was good enough to win the Midwest Division. In 1976-77, Milwaukee started 3-15 and Larry Costello, the team’s first coach, was fired and replaced by Don Nelson, who had just ended his playing career the previous offseason.
Behind Nelson, the Bucks made the playoffs nine times in 11 seasons, but fell just short of the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers powers in the Eastern Conference in the 1980s.
The 1990s brought a dry stretch—seven consecutive seasons out of the postseason—but Milwaukee rebuilt well enough to reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001—the last time the franchise has won a playoff series.
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