The 1973 NBA Champions: Where Are They Now?
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The 1973 NBA Championship was a turning point in the history of the league. Here’s a look at where the members of that team are now.
The 1973 NBA Champions
The 1973 NBA champions were the New York Knicks who defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. After winning the title, the Knicks went on to win the 1974 NBA Finals becoming the only team in NBA history to win back-to-back championships. The team’s success was short-lived, however, as they failed to make the playoffs in 1975 and 1976.
The core of the team remained intact for several years, but age and injuries began to take their toll. In 1978, center Willis Reed retired due to chronic knee problems. Forward Carmelo Anthony was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2012. Power Forward Amar’e Stoudemire signed with the Knicks in 2010 but was plagued by injuries and was released in 2015. center Tyson Chandler was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2014. The only remaining member of the championship team is guard Earl Monroe, who served as a coach and scout for various NBA teams before retiring in 2008.
Where Are They Now?
The 1973 NBA champions were the New York Knicks The team was led by Head Coach Red Holzman and star players such as Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Bill Bradley The Knicks won the NBA Finals in seven games against the Los Angeles Lakers
So what happened to the 1973 NBA champions after they won the title? Here is a look at what some of the key members of the team are doing today:
Willis Reed: After his playing career ended, Reed became head coach of the New Jersey Nets and then worked as a television analyst. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
Walt Frazier: Frazier works as a television analyst for MSG Network. He has also been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame
Bill Bradley: Bradley retired from basketball in 1977 and went on to have a successful political career. He served as a United States Senator from New Jersey from 1979 to 1997 and was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 2000.
The Team Then and Now
The 1973 NBA Champions were a talented group of players who achieved something special. Despite having several players who went on to have successful careers in the NBA, the team was disbanded soon after winning the championship.
Now, almost 50 years later, we take a look at where those players are now and how their lives have changed.
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The Team’s Legacy
The 1973 NBA Champions the New York Knicks are still remembered fondly by basketball fans today. The team’s legacy is one of success and heartbreak. Although they only won one NBA Championship they were a force to be reckoned with in the 1970s, when they made it to the Finals three times. Their star player Willis Reed, was named MVP of the Finals in 1973 and is considered one of the greatest players of all time.
In addition to their on-court success, the 1973 Knicks are also remembered for their heartbreaking loss in the 1974 Finals. After taking a 3-2 lead against the Bruce Jenner led Los Angeles Lakers the Knicks lost game six at home. In game seven, Reed injured his thigh early on and was forced to watch from the bench as his team lost by nine points.
The loss still haunts Knicks fans today, but there is no denying that the team left a lasting mark on Basketball History
The Players Then and Now
The 1973 NBA champions the New York Knicks boasted a lineup of talented players that helped the team to a successful season Among those players were future Hall of Famers Willis Reed and Dave DeBusschere, as well as other greats like Jerry Lucas, Walt Frazier, and Earl Monroe. So where are they now?
Reed, who was named MVP of the 1973 NBA Finals retired from basketball in 1974 due to injuries. He acted in a few movies and tv shows before becoming Head Coach of the Knicks from 1977 to 1978. He then went on to work in various front office positions for the team until he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.
DeBusschere also had a successful career after his time with the Knicks. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983 and named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996. He also served as head of player relations for the NBA from 1975 to 1982. In recent years his daughter has been working to preserve his legacy through the Dave DeBusschere Foundation.
Lucas, Frazier, and Monroe all continued to play basketball for many years after their time with the Knicks. Lucas retired in 1977 after stints with several different teams; Frazier retired in 1980 after ten seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Monroe played until 1980 before retiring from basketball. All three men have been honored by the Knicks organization; Frazier and Monroe had their numbers retired by the team, and Lucas was inducted into the Knicks’ Court of Honor in 1992.
The Coaching Staff Then and Now
The coaching staff Then:
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
assistant coaches Tom Nissalke, Les Fleming, Bob Weinhauer
The Coaching Staff Now:
Head Coach: Tyronn Lue
Assistant coaches Larry Drew, James Borrego, Mike Longabardi
The Fans Then and Now
The diehard fans of the ’73 Knicks haven’t changed much. They’re still eagerly following the team, even though they haven’t won a championship in almost 50 years. Some of them have been to every Home game since the ’73 season. They’re the ones who always have their Knicks gear on, no matter what season it is.
But times have changed since the ’73 season. The Knicks are no longer the only basketball team in town. The Brooklyn Nets are now just as popular, if not more so. And there are other teams to root for, too, like the New York Liberty and the Westchester Knicks.
So while the fans of the ’73 Knicks are still loyal, they’re not as passionate as they used to be. They’ve been through a lot over the years, and they’ve seen their team go through some tough times. But they’re still there, cheering on their team through thick and thin.
The Rivalries Then and Now
In the early 1970s, the NBA was in a golden age of rivalries. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers had won eight championships apiece by 1973, and the two teams met in the Finals three times in four years between 1969 and 1972. The New York Knicks were also a powerhouse, making the Finals three times in that span.Meanwhile, the upstart Baltimore Bullets were challenging the established order, reaching the Finals in 1971 and 1973.
The Game Then and Now
In the early 1970s, the NBA was a very different place. The game was played at a much slower pace, and the rules were designed to favor defensive play. This made for a very different style of basketball than we see today.
One of the most successful teams of that era was the 1973 NBA Champion New York Knicks Led by Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach, the Knicks were a team built on defense and Fundamental play. They were not the most talented team in the league, but they were extremely well-coached and played with heart and intensity.
The Knicks won their first NBA title in 1970, and they followed that up with two more titles in 1972 and 1973. They are one of only two teams in NBA history to win three consecutive championships. (The other team is the Los Angeles Lakers who accomplished the feat from 2000-2002).
After their third championship, the Knicks began to decline. They lost in the 1974 NBA Finals to the underdog Boston Celtics and they would never again return to the NBA Finals The team slowly drifted towards mediocrity, and by the late 1970s, they were one of the worst teams in the league.
Today, the Knicks are once again one of the best teams in the NBA. Led by superstar forward Carmelo Anthony they are currently second in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 30-15. They have not won an NBA title since 1973, but they are once again poised to make a run at glory.
The 1973 New York Knicks were one of the most successful teams in NBA history They were led by Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach and featured a core group of players who played with heart and intensity. After winning three consecutive championships, the team began to decline in 1974 and never returned to the NBA Finals Today,the Knicks are once again one ofthe best teamsin Eastern Conference lead byCarmelo Anthony
The Aftermath
It’s been nearly 50 years since the Boston Celtics won the 1973 NBA Championship The “aftermath” refers to what happened to the team and its players after they won the title.
The team started to fall apart just a few years after their championship win. In 1976, stars Phil Esposito and Jo Jo White were traded away, and Head coach Tom Heinsohn retired. The following year, the Celtics failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 22 years.
The team continued to struggle in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but they were able to make a few playoff appearances. In 1984, head coach Bill Fitch was fired and replaced by K.C. Jones. Jones led the team to two more NBA championships in 1986 and 1987.
After another poor stretch in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Celtics finally returned to prominence in the mid-2000s. They won another NBA championship in 2008 and made it back to the Finals in 2010 and 2012, though they lost both times.
The current Boston Celtics roster includes several players who were part of those championship teams, including Paul Pierce Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo