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Milwaukee Bucks: 49 years in 49 days – 1969-70 season

By Ti Windisch

MILWAUKEE - 1970: Kareem Abdul Jabbar #33 of the Milwaukee Bucks stands with Willis Reed #19 of the New York Knicks during the 1970 season at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1970 NBAE (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE - 1970: Kareem Abdul Jabbar #33 of the Milwaukee Bucks stands with Willis Reed #19 of the New York Knicks during the 1970 season at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1970 NBAE (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Bucks bounced back from a rough first season with 56 wins and a trip to the NBA playoffs in their sophomore season.

The season: 1969-70

The record: 56-26

The postseason: 5-5, lost in second round

The story:

From their first to second season, the Milwaukee Bucks experienced what has to be one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NBA history, going from 27 wins in their first season to 26 losses–and 56 wins–in their second season in the NBA. That jump was the highest in NBA history at the time, only surpassed when the Boston Celtics drafted some forward from Indiana State.

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Finishing the year second in the Eastern Division and the NBA, thanks to a down year for the Western Division, the Bucks began what was arguably the best run in franchise history in the 1969-70 season. The reason, of course, was the addition of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Kareem won the Rookie of the Year award that season, and definitely deserved it. He posted insane averages of 28.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game on his way to proving that he certainly was deserving of the hype surrounding him leading up to his professional debut.

In an era that prized having a dominant center above all else, it’s obvious having Kareem around was going to be huge. Still, he wasn’t the only big-time addition the Bucks made that before season in the NBA Draft.

While Abdul-Jabbar went first overall, the 45th overall selection would make a pretty damn big impression on Milwaukee Bucks basketball too. In what was the fourth round back then, Milwaukee selected Bob Dandridge out of Norfolk State University.

Bobby D’s rookie year was quieter than Kareem’s as he adjusted to the NBA game, but he got starter’s minutes and averaged 13.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. The young Bucks had tons of potential, but were still too young to really run at the title just yet.

Flynn Robinson was the oldest and most experienced veteran who played major minutes on the team, and he continued to score more than 20 points per game even with Kareem around. Although Electric Eye could rack up buckets, it wasn’t enough when the postseason rolled around.

Milwaukee stomped the Philadelphia 76ers in a five-game gentleman’s sweep in the first round before meeting up with the first-place New York Knicks in the second round, which was the Eastern Division Finals at the time.

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Just four wins away from an NBA Finals appearance in the franchise’s second season of existence, Willis Reed and the Knicks stood in the way. Unfortunately, the team was too much for Milwaukee to overcome, as the Bucks fell 4-1 to New York.

A more experienced Knicks team led by Reed could not do anything about Kareem, who led the series in scoring and averaged 34.2 points per game, but the dominant big man couldn’t do it on his own.

Robinson’s scoring nearly halved from his regular season average, as Dandridge became the Bucks second option despite not being ready for that burden. He continued to score about 13 points per game, and without a second deadly scorer the Knicks outlasted Milwaukee.

Next: 49 years in 49 days: 1968-69 season

The Knicks would go on to win their first-ever NBA championship that season after a seven-game victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Luckily for Milwaukee, the Bucks wouldn’t have to wait much longer to experience that jubilation as well.

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