Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking the 10 greatest seasons in franchise history
By Adam McGee
10. 1969-70 season
56-26, lost 4-1 in Division Finals
As just the second season in the franchise’s existence, the Bucks’ performance in the 1969-70 season represents something of a marvel.
Of course, following up an inaugural 27-win season with 56 wins becomes a lot easier when a coin flip works in your favor and you can land an all-time great, as Milwaukee was fortunate enough to do with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) prior to this campaign.
Having dominated college basketball, Abdul-Jabbar had no difficulty in making the adjustment to life as a professional, immediately averaging 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds per game en route to Rookie of the Year honors.
The Coin Toss That Brought Kareem Abdul-Jabbar To Milwaukee. light. Related Story
Outside of Abdul-Jabbar, the Bucks received outstanding individual seasons from Flynn Robinson and Jon McGlocklin, as well as, Bob Dandridge, another rookie who would rival Abdul-Jabbar in terms of importance in the years to come.
Those collective talents were able to quickly dispatch of the Philadelphia 76ers in five games in the Division Semi-finals, although a New York Knicks team that caused the Bucks considerable problems over a number of years would then put an end to Milwaukee’s first playoff run with a 4-1 Division Finals defeat.