Milwaukee Bucks: 30 Most Significant Moments In Franchise History
By Adam McGee
6. 1974 Game 7 Finals Loss
Words by Ti Windisch
The Bucks had not been to the NBA Finals since 1971, when they defeated the Bullets to win their first title. The Celtics had not been back since 1969, since Bill Russell had left the team. The two teams met there in 1974, both looking to prove themselves once more.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the best player throughout the series, but John Havlicek and the Celtics proved to be the better team. Boston won in seven games, despite Kareem averaging 32.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.
This series proved to be a splitting point in the successes of both franchises. The Celtics went on to make it to the Finals eight more times, winning it all in five of those trips. The Bucks have yet to return to the NBA Finals since the devastating Game 7 loss.
Next: 5. Trading Kareem to LA