What Year Did The Milwaukee Bucks Win The Nba Championship?

The Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship in 1971.

1970 NBA Finals

The 1970 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 1969-70 NBA season. The Eastern Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3. This was the first time an NBA Finals game was played outside of the United States.

Game 1

The 1970 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 1969-70 season. The Eastern Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 0, giving the Bucks their first ever NBA championship.

This was the first Finals appearance for both teams; they were two of the three expansion teams to join the NBA in 1968 (the third expansion team, the San Diego Rockets, would appear in the 1971 Finals). The series was also the first ever meeting between an expansion team and a defending champion. This particular meeting of expansion teams would not happen again until 1980, when another Eastern Conference expansion team, the Philadelphia 76ers, lost to a Western Conference expansion team, the Lakers.

The 1970 Finals set several “firsts” in NBA history: it was both teams’ first trip to the Finals; it was also Los Angeles’ first trip to Milwaukee (the Lakers would not return there until 1974); and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s (#33) first trip back to Milwaukee since his trade from the Bucks to Los Angeles in 1975. Abdul-Jabbar had been drafted by then-Bucks general manager Wayne Embry in 1969 with the first overall pick in that year’s draft. He had become one of only three players (along with Oscar Robertson and Lew Alcindor) to win an MVP award while with Milwaukee.

Game 2

The 1970 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 1969–70 season, and the conclusion of that season’s playoffs. The Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Division champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3. The victory gave the Lakers their first NBA championship in Los Angeles, and their ninth overall. It was also the first title in the career of head coach Bill Sharman. In addition, this was the first ever meeting between two former Central Basketball Association rivals, as Jerry West played for West Virginia when it was in that league.

Game 3

The 1970 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 1969–70 NBA season. The Eastern Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks faced the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, with the Lakers holding home court advantage. The series was played under a best-of-seven format, with the first 2 games in Los Angeles, the next 3 games in Milwaukee, and the last 2 games in Los Angeles.

The Lakers defeated the Bucks 112–102 in Game 1 to take a 1–0 lead in the series. The Lakers then won Game 2 by a score of 87–86 to take a 2–0 lead in the series. The Bucks won Game 3 by a score of 120–104 to cut the Lakers’ lead to 2–1. The Bucks then lost Game 4 by a score of 94–79 to fall behind 3–1 in the series. The Laker then won Game 5 by a score of 105–102 to take a 4–1 lead in the series and win their first NBA championship.

1971 NBA Finals

The 1971 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1971 NBA Playoffs, which concluded the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 1970-71 season. The Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Eastern Conference champion Baltimore Bullets 4 games to 0. The Bullets, who had posted the best record in the NBA during the regular season (60-22), became the first team in NBA history to be swept in a best-of-seven series in the Finals.

Game 1

The 1971 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 1970–71 season, and the conclusion of that season’s playoffs. The Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks faced the Eastern Conference champion Baltimore Bullets in a best-of-seven series. The Bucks won 4–0 to win their first NBA championship. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) was named Finals MVP for the second straight year. It was the first time since 1957 that an NBA Finals featured two former Rookie of the Year winners.[1]

The Bullets were making their first appearance in an NBA Finals since 1954, when they were known as the Baltimore Bullets and lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in six games. They previously appeared in 1948 and 1949 as the Washington Capitols, losing both times to the Bullets’ predecessors, the Louisville Cardinals/Minneapolis Lakers.

This matchup was also notable as it featured two players who had been traded for each other early in their careers: Abdul-Jabbar (then Alcindor) had been sent from the New York Knicks to Milwaukee for center Earl Monroe and two other players in November 1975;[2] while Wes Unseld had been dealt from Baltimore to Kentucky (then Louisville) during his rookie season in November 1968.[3][4]

Game 2

The 1971 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1970–71 NBA season. The Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Eastern Conference champion Baltimore Bullets four games to one. This was the first time an expansion team reached the NBA Finals in their inaugural season.

Milwaukee coach Larry Costello had led his team to a 66-win regular season record, behind the play of Rookie of the Year Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Second Team All-NBA guard Oscar Robertson. The Bullets were coached by Gene Shue, and featured three future Hall of Famers: forward Elvin Hayes, guard Earl Monroe, and center Wes Unseld. They had won a franchise-record 60 games in the regular season behind the play of league MVP Haywood. Baltimore’s starting lineup also included Jack Marin and rookie Kevin Porter.

Game 2 took place on April 30 at Milwaukee’s arena, then known as Milwaukee Arena. With Milwaukee leading 59–58 late in regulation, Porter attempted a shot that was partially blocked by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The officials ruled that it was a goaltending violation, giving possession to Baltimore with 19 seconds left in overtime.

Game 3

The 1971 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 1970–71 season, and the conclusion of that season’s playoffs. The Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Eastern Conference champion Baltimore Bullets 4 games to 0.

It was the first ever NBA Finals matchup between rookie head coaches, as Milwaukee’s Don Nelson faced Baltimore’s Gene Shue. The two teams met again in the 1974 NBA Finals. This was also only the second time in NBA history where both participants in the Finals had worse records than any other playoff team; this would not happen again until the 1981 NBA Finals, and has not happened since.

This was Wilkens’ only appearance as a player in an NBA Finals series, as he would go on to appear in eight more as a head coach. In contrast, this was Lilly’s second and final appearance as a player in an NBA Finals series; he had previously won a championship with Boston in 1968

1972 NBA Finals

The 1972 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 1971–72 season, and the culmination of that season’s playoffs. The Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3. The series was played under a best-of-seven format, with the first 2 games played in Milwaukee and the remaining 5 games played in New York.

Game 1

The Milwaukee Bucks faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1972 NBA Finals. The Bucks won the series 4-1 to win their first ever NBA Championship.

In Game 1, the Bucks were led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who scored 31 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Oscar Robertson also had a big game, scoring 19 points and dishing out 8 assists. The Lakers were led by Jerry West, who scored 30 points. Elgin Baylor also had a big game, scoring 27 points.

The Bucks won the game 120-112 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Game 2

The 1972 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1971–72 NBA season. The Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks in five games. The Bucks won their first (and, to date, only) NBA championship in franchise history. Abdul-Jabbar was named Finals MVP for the second straight year.

Game 3

The third game of the 1972 NBA Finals was played on May 24, 1972, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New York Knicks 113–99 to take a 2–1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 36 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Bucks, while Oscar Robertson added 23 points and 12 assists. Jerry Lucas led the Knicks with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Walt Frazier chipped in 18 points.

The game was notable for Abdul-Jabbar’s performance, as he became the first player in NBA history to score 35 or more points in three consecutive Finals games. He would go on to do it again in Games 4 and 5.

1973 NBA Finals

Game 1

The 1973 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1972–73 NBA season, and the conclusion of that year’s playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks defeated the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1. The series was played from April 30 to May 11, 1973, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Each team won two home games.

This was the Knicks’ first NBA championship and the first time an NBA Finals had been played between two teams from opposite coasts. Considerable pre-series hype revolved around whether this would be a boring series between two defensively-oriented teams; the Knicks were known for their “hard” defense under head coach Red Holzman, while Lakers coach Bill Sharman’s team playing style was an innovative one which emphasized shooting free throws (the team set an NBA record by averaging nearly 22 per game during the regular season).

During warmups before game one at Madison Square Garden, usual pregame music was replaced with themes related to each city. Game one ended with a 103–98 Lakers victory, but 35 fouls were called on them (including 28 in the second half) as several players fouled out. Laker center Wilt Chamberlain blocked 11 shots but scored only six points due to persistent double-teaming by Holzman’s forwards Dave DeBusschere and Bill Bradley; when asked about it after the game, Bradley quipped “they can play keep-away from Wilt all day as far as I’m concerned.” Walt Frazier led all scorers with 29 points off the bench; DeBusschere tallied 27 points and 12 rebounds starting in place of an injured Earl Monroe (dislocated left elbow).

Game 2

The second game of the Finals was just as close as the first, with the teams trading leads throughout. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar again led the way for Milwaukee, scoring 28 points, including a clutch skyhook with under a minute remaining to give the Bucks a 106–104 lead. After a Knicks’ turnover, Oscar Robertson boned a free throw to ice the game for Milwaukee. The final score was 107–100, giving the Bucks a two-games-to-none lead in the series.

Game 3

The third game of the 1973 NBA Finals was played on May 27, 1973, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the defending champion New York Knicks 109–96 to take a 2–1 series lead. The Knicks were led by Walt Frazier, who had 36 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, while Knick center Bill Bradley had 21 points and 19 rebounds. Knicks forward Dave DeBusschere also had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. For the Lakers, guard Gail Goodrich led the way with 24 points, while center Wilt Chamberlain had 14 points and 22 rebounds. Forward Jim McMillian also scored 14 points for Los Angeles.