1970–71 Milwaukee Bucks season
The 1970–71 Milwaukee Bucks season was the third season for the Bucks. Milwaukee posted a 66–16 record in only its third year of existence, and its second since drafting Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). A key part of this championship season was the acquisition of Oscar Robertson. Other role players on the Bucks included players such as Bob Dandridge (18.4 ppg), Jon McGlocklin (15.8 ppg), power forward Greg Smith & key reserves such as Lucius Allen, Bob Boozer and Dick Cunningham completing the nucleus. This season included a 20-game winning streak, the NBA's longest at the time, and still ranked fifth all-time. The Bucks became the first team from the Midwest Division to win the NBA title; it would be 23 years before the Houston Rockets would do the same.
| 1970–71 Milwaukee Bucks season | |
|---|---|
NBA champions | |
Conference champions | |
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Larry Costello |
| Arena | Milwaukee Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 66–16 (.805) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Midwest) Conference: 1st (Western) |
| Playoff finish | NBA champions (Defeated Bullets 4–0) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Radio | WTMJ |
In the 1971 NBA Playoffs, the Bucks defeated the 4th-seeded Warriors in 5 games. In the Western Conference Finals, the team dispatched the Lakers in 5 games. The Bucks made their way into the Finals for the first time in NBA history in just their third year of existence. They faced off against the Baltimore Bullets and swept them in four games. The Bucks had won their first title in franchise history. Lew Alcindor won MVP and Finals MVP honors.