HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The 1969–70 NBA season was the 24th season of the
National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
. The season ended with the
New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...
winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the
NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...
.


Regular season

The 1969–70 season saw the NBA into a new decade as well as a new era. The retirement of Bill Russell from the
Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...
at the end of the 1968–69 season effectively signaled the end of the Celtics dynasty that had dominated the NBA for the past decade. The
New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...
were the top club in the league. They had a solid team of players led by star center Willis Reed and rising star guard Walt Frazier. Dave DeBusschere, who had been acquired from the
Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
the previous year, combined with Frazier and Reed to anchor the league's best defense. Coach Red Holzman led the club to wins in 60 of its 82 regular season games to pace the league. In just their second season in the league, the
Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
totaled 56 wins helped by rookie superstar Lew Alcindor. Alcindor averaged 29 points per game on 52% shooting. He was also third in rebounds, seventh in shooting accuracy, and second in minutes played. Coach Larry Costello's team also had a strong backcourt of Jon McGlocklin and Flynn Robinson, and two ex- Cincinnati Royals, but Alcindor's arrival on the team nearly doubled their win total from the previous season, earning him rookie of the year honors. The Baltimore Bullets also reached the 50-win plateau. Coach Gene Shue led a squad looking to improve after their early playoff exit the previous year. Guards Earl Monroe and
Kevin Loughery Kevin Michael "Murph" Loughery (born March 28, 1940) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Loughery coached both Julius Erving and Michael Jordan, and gave Phil Jackson his first NBA coaching job. Early life Loughe ...
were the team's main scoring threats, while center Wes Unseld and forward Gus Johnson excelled at rebounding, giving the Bullets more field goals than any other NBA team that year. The
Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Easte ...
won the NBA's West Division title with 48 wins. Under coach Richie Guerin, they fielded a solid starting five, led again by scorer Lou Hudson. An early-season trade with Detroit netted star center Walt Bellamy.


Division standings


Eastern Division


Western Division

x – clinched playoff spot


Playoffs


Statistics leaders


NBA awards

*Most Valuable Player: Willis Reed,
New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...
* Rookie of the Year: Lew Alcindor,
Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
* Coach of the Year: Red Holzman, New York Knicks * All-NBA First Team: **F – Billy Cunningham, Philadelphia 76ers **F – Connie Hawkins, Phoenix Suns **C – Willis Reed, New York Knicks **G – Walt Frazier, New York Knicks **G – Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers *All-NBA Second Team: **F – Lou Hudson,
Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Easte ...
**F – Gus Johnson, Baltimore Bullets **C – Lew Alcindor, Milwaukee Bucks **G – John Havlicek,
Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...
**G – Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals * All-NBA Rookie Team: ** Dick Garrett, Los Angeles Lakers ** Mike Davis, Baltimore Bullets ** Jo Jo White, Boston Celtics **Lew Alcindor, Milwaukee Bucks ** Bob Dandridge, Milwaukee Bucks * NBA All-Defensive First Team: ** Dave DeBusschere, New York Knicks **Gus Johnson, Baltimore Bullets **Willis Reed, New York Knicks **Walt Frazier, New York Knicks **Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers *NBA All-Defensive Second Team: **John Havlicek, Boston Celtics ** Bill Bridges, Atlanta Hawks **Lew Alcindor, Milwaukee Bucks ** Joe Caldwell, Atlanta Hawks ** Jerry Sloan,
Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16 ...


See also

* 1970 NBA Finals * 1969–70 ABA season *
List of NBA regular season records This article lists all-time records achieved in the National Basketball Association, NBA regular season in major statistical categories recognized by the league, including those set by teams and individuals in a game, season, and career. The NB ...


Notes


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1969-70 NBA season