Happy 74th Birthday, Bob McAdoo
- Jake C
- Sep 25
- 5 min read
Cover photo: Bob McAdoo of the Buffalo Braves posing with his MVP trophy in 1975. Photo credit: Dick Raphael, Getty Images.
One of the greatest power forwards in NBA history celebrates a birthday on September 25 as Bob McAdoo turns 74.
Born in Greensboro, N.C., McAdoo attended Ben Smith High School before Vincennes University (Indiana) and the University of North Carolina. In his one season (‘71-‘72) at UNC, McAdoo averaged 19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds and was 1st team All-American.
In the 1972 NBA Draft, McAdoo was drafted second overall by the Buffalo Braves. The first four seasons of McAdoo’s career were as good as you will find among any player in the modern game.
Bob McAdoo’s Stats: 1972-73 to 1975-76
1972-73: 18.0 points (45.2% FG, 16.2 FGA), 9.1 rebounds, 32.0 minutes, 80 games, Rookie of the Year
1973-74: 30.6 points (54.7% FG, 22.3 FGA), 15.1 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, 1st in PPG, 1st in FGM (12.2), 1st in FG%, 1st in FTM (6.2), 1st in FTA (7.8); 43.0 minutes, 74 games, 2nd in MVP voting, 2nd team All-NBA
1974-75: 34.5 points (51.2% FG, 26.1 FGA), 14.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 1st in PPG, 1st in FGM (13.4), 1st in FTA (9.7), 1st in minutes (43.2), 82 games, 1st team All-NBA, MVP
1975-76: 31.1 points (48.7% FG, 24.6 FGA), 12.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.1 blocks, 1st in PPG, 1st in FGM (12.0), 1st in FGA (24.6), 1st in FTM (7.2), 1st in FTA (9.4), 1st in minutes (42.7), 78 games, 2nd in MVP voting
In 20 games with the Braves in the 1976-77 season, McAdoo averaged 23.7 points (45.5% shooting, 20 attempts) and 13.2 rebounds per game in 38.4 minutes per game. On December 9, 1976, McAdoo was traded to the New York Knicks for John Gianelli and cash. For the 1976-77 season between both teams (72 games), McAdoo averaged 38.9 minutes and 51.2% shooting on 20.1 attempts for an average of 25.8 points and 12.9 rebounds. He was an All-Star.
McAdoo played 171 games (39.8 minutes per game) with the Knicks and averaged 26.7 points (52.9% on 19.9 attempts) and 12.0 rebounds. In 79 games in 1977-78, he averaged 26.5 points (52.0%, 19.8 attempts) and 12.8 rebounds per game in 40.3 minutes per game. McAdoo averaged 26.9 points and 9.5 rebounds in 40 games with the Knicks in 1978-79 before a February 12, 1979 trade to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Tom Barker and three first-round picks. McAdoo played only 20 games with the Celtics, but was still very productive in putting up 20.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in 31.9 minutes per game. He was traded on December 6, 1979 to the Detroit Pistons for two 1980 first-round draft choices. McAdoo spent 64 games with the Pistons, registering 20.2 points and 7.9 rebounds in 35.4 minutes per game. After six games with the Pistons and ten with the New Jersey Nets during the 1980-81 season, he was traded to the Lakers, on December 24, 1981, in exchange for a second-round draft pick.
The Lakers received a 30-year-old McAdoo who had a lot of game left and became a key role player on two championship teams in 1982 and 1985. In the 1982-83 season, McAdoo averaged 15.0 points (52.0%, 12.0 shots) and 5.3 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game, 47 games. He averaged 13.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 1983-84 in 20.8 minutes per game in 70 games. In those 20.8 minutes, he shot 10.7 attempts per game and made 47.1% of his shots. McAdoo averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 66 games (19.0 minutes per game) in 1984-85 and finished sixth in 6th Man of the Year voting. He spent the 1985-86 season with the Philadelphia 76ers before playing seven seasons in Italy between Olimpia Milano, Filanto Forli, and Fabriano Basket.
In his 14 NBA seasons, McAdoo averaged 22.1 points and 9.4 rebounds in 33.2 minutes per game in 852 games. He averaged 50.3% from the field on 17.3 shot attempts. Considered one of the original stretch big men, McAdoo’s run with the Braves is one of the most impressive in league history - three consecutive scoring titles, an MVP and Rookie of the Year and two second-place MVP finishes. In 334 games as a Brave, he posted 28.2 points (50.0%, 22.1 attempts), 12.7 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 40.1 minutes per game.
McAdoo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and in 2006 into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. He was named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors in 2008, and in 2021 received his due as one of the Top 75 NBA players of all-time after not being a named to the 50 Greatest team in 1997.
In his playoff career, McAdoo scored at least 20 points thirty-six times. In his first playoff series against the Boston Celtics in 1974, he posted 29 points and 8 rebounds, 23 points and 20 rebounds, 38 points and 13 rebounds, 44 points and 16 rebounds, 16 points and 10 rebounds, and 40 points and 15 rebounds against fellow Hall of Famer Dave Cowens. In the 1975 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Washington Bullets, McAdoo registered games of:
35 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks
36 points, 6 rebounds
34 points, 19 rebounds
34 points, 13 rebounds
37 points, 10 rebounds
36 points, 11 rebounds
In Game 4 of the series, he made 20-of-32 shots for 50 points and 21 rebounds. In the 1976 first round against the 76ers, he tallied:
36 points, 21 rebounds
21 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists
34 points, 22 rebounds
In Game 2 of the 1976 Conference Semifinals against the Celtics, McAdoo posted 40 points and 8 rebounds. As a Knick in Game 1 of the 1978 first-round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, McAdoo scored 41 points with 6 rebounds. He posted at least four games of 20 and 20 in his playoff career.
In retirement, McAdoo was a longtime Miami Heat assistant, from 1995-2014. He currently serves as the team’s community liaison.
One of the original stretch forwards with an outstanding run to begin his career, McAdoo had one of the more impressive runs to begin a career. He teamed with point guard Ernie DiGregorio, who in 1973-74 won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award (15.2 points and a league-leading 8.2 assists). The team also boasted guard Randy Smith, who was an All-Star in 1975-76 when he posted 21.8 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. Smith played all 82 in four of his seasons playing with McAdoo.
Former Braves’ General Manager Eddie Donovan said that McAdoo ran like a deer and was one of the fastest centers down the floor.
Said former Celtic forward and Hall of Fame head coach Don Nelson of McAdoo:
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better shot nowhere. His release is unbelievable.”
Happy 74th, Bob McAdoo.
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