The rivalry between the two iconic big players, Kareem and Wilt, developed into one of the main storylines of early 1970s Bucks basketball.
NOTE: This story was updated on Jan. 18, 2022, to make it free for all readers.
Who was the NBA’s biggest of the big men in 1970-71?
The season represented a spiritual passing of the torch between the Los Angeles Lakers’ legendary Wilt Chamberlain and the Milwaukee Bucks’ already dominant Lew Alcindor (who would change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar following that season), although it wasn’t as simple as identifying Milwaukee’s championship season as the pivot point.
Chamberlain, 34 years old that year, still had plenty left in the tank, and Alcindor, who didn’t turn 24 until late in the season, already was a nationally recognized superstar thanks to his college exploits at UCLA and sensational rookie year.
With 14 victories apiece, the two titans met 28 times in the NBA. While Chamberlain’s scoring averages decreased in the latter stages of his career, he remained a megastar presence on the glass and defense. Abdul-Jabbar was by far the larger scorer in the head-to-head meetings.
It was accurate, but deceptive, to imply that Chamberlain’s career was nearing its end during the Bucks’ championship run. In 1972, a year after winning the 1967 championship with Philadelphia as a teammate of 1970–71 Bucks coach Larry Costello, he claimed his sole championship while wearing a Lakers outfit. It was also his second ring.
With 14 victories apiece, the two titans met 28 times in the NBA. While Chamberlain’s scoring averages decreased in the latter stages of his career, he remained a megastar presence on the glass and defense. Abdul-Jabbar was by far the larger scorer in the head-to-head meetings.
It was accurate, but deceptive, to imply that Chamberlain’s career was nearing its end during the Bucks’ championship run. In 1972, a year after winning the 1967 championship with Philadelphia as a teammate of 1970–71 Bucks coach Larry Costello, he claimed his sole championship while wearing a Lakers outfit. It was also his second ring.
In the last two of his career, Chamberlain led the NBA in rebounding and shooting percentage. In the final three seasons, he made the all-star team and did not miss a single game.
However, the Bucks’ best run against Chamberlain’s Lakers was from 1970–71, when they won four of their five regular-season games and defeated the Lakers 4–1 in the Western Conference finals. The friendly rivalry between the two large men came to an end when Milwaukee fans showered Chamberlain with a standing ovation as he left Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.Regarding.
It is alleged that Chamberlain told Alcindor, “I hope you go all the way, because it looks like you’re going to win it,” during the fourth quarter.
It is alleged that Chamberlain told Alcindor, “I hope you go all the way, because it looks like you’re going to win it,” during the fourth quarter.
Alcindor stated: “Both parties were satisfied. There was a great deal of reciprocation involved. Wilt was working. Playing him doesn’t require a lot of energy because he is so powerful. He’s almost immune to being shoved around, so you don’t really do it.”
It’s also true that their most well-known confrontations took place outside of the 70–71 season. The teams met in 1969 for their much anticipated first encounter; in January of 1972, the Bucks ended the Lakers’ record 33-game winning streak; and on the last day of the 1973