The 1969-70 Milwaukee Bucks season marked a pivotal moment in the franchise’s history. This was the team’s second season in the NBA, during which they made a significant leap by acquiring Lew Alcindor, who later became known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as the first overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft. His impact was immediate and transformative for the Bucks.
Under the guidance of head coach Larry Costello, the Bucks finished the regular season with a remarkable 56-26 record, a significant improvement from their inaugural season. Alcindor’s presence was complemented by the performance of other key players like Jon McGlocklin and Bob Dandridge, solidifying a strong roster. The Bucks advanced to the playoffs and reached the Eastern Division Finals but were ultimately defeated by the New York Knicks. This season set the foundation for future successes, establishing Milwaukee as a formidable team in the league.
- Regular Season Record: 56-26
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 4-1, Division Finals: 1-4
Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats for 1969-70 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 82 | 28.8 | 14.5 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 35.2 | 16.8 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Flynn Robinson | 81 | 21.8 | 3.2 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 12.8 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jon McGlocklin | 82 | 17.6 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 14.9 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Dandridge | 81 | 13.2 | 7.6 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 16.3 | 8.7 | 5.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Greg Smith | 82 | 9.8 | 8.7 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 10.7 | 8.5 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Len Chappell | 75 | 8.3 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 7.7 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Freddie Crawford | 77 | 7.6 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 8.8 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Zaid Abdul-Aziz | 80 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Guy Rodgers | 63 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Arthurs | 11 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Greacen | 41 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sam Williams | 11 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Cunningham | 60 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Milwaukee Bucks in the 1970 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the 1970 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks, led by a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and veteran Oscar Robertson, faced the Atlanta Hawks in the second round. The Bucks showcased their dominance by sweeping the series 4-0, demonstrating their formidable defense and offensive prowess that set the tone for their future as a powerhouse team in the league. This performance marked their rapid ascent in the NBA, just two seasons after their inception.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 125-118 | |
| Mar 27, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-105 | |
| Mar 30, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 156-120 | |
| Apr 01, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-111 | |
| Apr 03, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 115-106 |
1970 Conference Championship vs. New York Knicks
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-102 | |
| Apr 13, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-111 | |
| Apr 17, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | W 101-96 | |
| Apr 19, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | L 117-105 | |
| Apr 20, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 132-96 |
Milwaukee Bucks 1969-70 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1969-70 season for the Milwaukee Bucks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 119-110 | |
| Oct 19, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 130-106 | |
| Oct 22, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 115-102 | |
| Oct 24, 1969 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-112 | |
| Oct 25, 1969 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 118-104 | |
| Oct 26, 1969 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 119-99 | |
| Oct 28, 1969 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 120-107 | |
| Oct 30, 1969 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 102-81 | |
| Oct 31, 1969 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 129-125 | |
| Nov 01, 1969 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-108 | |
| Nov 03, 1969 | vs. New York Knicks | L 109-93 | |
| Nov 08, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 100-96 | |
| Nov 09, 1969 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 116-105 | |
| Nov 11, 1969 | @ Boston Celtics | W 129-118 | |
| Nov 14, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 122-100 | |
| Nov 15, 1969 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 129-120 | |
| Nov 16, 1969 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 129-123 | |
| Nov 18, 1969 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 127-110 | |
| Nov 21, 1969 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-115 | |
| Nov 22, 1969 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 125-106 | |
| Nov 24, 1969 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 129-104 | |
| Nov 25, 1969 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 130-115 | |
| Nov 26, 1969 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 100-81 | |
| Nov 29, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 129-111 | |
| Nov 30, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 111-99 | |
| Dec 02, 1969 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 122-114 | |
| Dec 05, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 131-98 | |
| Dec 06, 1969 | @ New York Knicks | L 124-99 | |
| Dec 10, 1969 | vs. New York Knicks | L 96-95 | |
| Dec 12, 1969 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 123-109 | |
| Dec 13, 1969 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 121-100 | |
| Dec 14, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 118-105 | |
| Dec 17, 1969 | @ Boston Celtics | W 124-106 | |
| Dec 19, 1969 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 115-111 | |
| Dec 21, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-111 | |
| Dec 26, 1969 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 114-101 | |
| Dec 27, 1969 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 112-110 | |
| Dec 28, 1969 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 133-124 | |
| Dec 30, 1969 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 126-124 | |
| Dec 31, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 143-126 | |
| Jan 02, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | W 118-105 | |
| Jan 04, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 126-125 | |
| Jan 07, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 138-119 | |
| Jan 09, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 120-116 | |
| Jan 10, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 124-109 | |
| Jan 13, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 112-92 | |
| Jan 14, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 115-113 | |
| Jan 17, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 132-130 | |
| Jan 18, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 123-107 | |
| Jan 22, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 115-106 | |
| Jan 24, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 125-109 | |
| Jan 25, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 131-116 | |
| Jan 26, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-103 | |
| Jan 28, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 126-114 | |
| Jan 30, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 121-105 | |
| Jan 31, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 107-106 | |
| Feb 01, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-116 | |
| Feb 04, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 141-123 | |
| Feb 06, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 118-105 | |
| Feb 08, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 120-106 | |
| Feb 10, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 139-131 | |
| Feb 11, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 127-120 | |
| Feb 14, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 127-117 | |
| Feb 15, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 98-96 | |
| Feb 18, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 109-102 | |
| Feb 20, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-114 | |
| Feb 21, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 140-127 | |
| Feb 22, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 144-124 | |
| Feb 24, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 136-111 | |
| Feb 25, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 115-113 | |
| Feb 27, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 131-113 | |
| Mar 01, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 120-114 | |
| Mar 03, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 127-116 | |
| Mar 05, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 126-117 | |
| Mar 06, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 121-118 | |
| Mar 08, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | W 138-134 | |
| Mar 09, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-105 | |
| Mar 10, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 140-127 | |
| Mar 15, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 130-107 | |
| Mar 18, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | W 116-108 | |
| Mar 20, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 138-112 | |
| Mar 22, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 129-115 |