The 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks season was a landmark in the franchise’s history as they clinched their first and only NBA Championship during this period. Under the leadership of head coach Larry Costello, the team finished the regular season with an impressive 66-16 record, the best in the league. This remarkable success was fueled by the dynamic duo of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won the NBA MVP award, and Oscar Robertson, whose veteran presence was pivotal.
In the playoffs, the Bucks displayed dominance, sweeping the San Francisco Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals and finals, respectively. They then faced the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA Finals, where they continued their undefeated playoff run, sweeping the series 4-0. This championship victory not only cemented the Bucks’ place in NBA history but also underscored the impact of Abdul-Jabbar and Robertson on the team’s success.
- Regular Season Record: 66-16
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-1, Eastern Conference Finals: 4-1, NBA Finals: 4-0
Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats for 1970-71 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 82 | 31.7 | 16.0 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 | 26.6 | 17.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Oscar Robertson | 81 | 19.4 | 5.6 | 8.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 | 18.3 | 5.0 | 8.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Dandridge | 79 | 18.4 | 7.9 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 | 19.2 | 9.6 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jon McGlocklin | 82 | 15.8 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 | 14.9 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Greg Smith | 82 | 11.7 | 7.1 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 | 11.6 | 8.6 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Boozer | 80 | 9.1 | 5.4 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 | 7.4 | 5.3 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lucius Allen | 61 | 7.1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 | 7.3 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| McCoy McLemore | 28 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gary Freeman | 41 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marv Winkler | 3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Cunningham | 76 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Greacen | 2 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 6.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Webb | 29 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Zopf | 53 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Milwaukee Bucks in the 1971 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. San Francisco Warriors
In the 1971 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks dominated the second round by sweeping the San Francisco Warriors in four games. Led by the formidable duo of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, the Bucks showcased their offensive and defensive prowess, outmatching the Warriors on both ends of the court. This decisive victory propelled them into the NBA Finals, highlighting their championship-caliber performance.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 1971 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 107-96 | |
| Mar 29, 1971 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 104-90 | |
| Mar 30, 1971 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 114-102 | |
| Apr 01, 1971 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 106-104 | |
| Apr 04, 1971 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 136-86 |
1971 Conference Championship vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1971 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks showcased their dominance in the conference finals by sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in a convincing 4-0 series. Led by the unstoppable duo of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, the Bucks demonstrated exceptional teamwork and strategy, setting the stage for their first NBA Championship. Their performance in the series underscored their status as a powerhouse in the league that season.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 09, 1971 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 106-85 | |
| Apr 11, 1971 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 91-73 | |
| Apr 14, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 118-107 | |
| Apr 16, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 117-94 | |
| Apr 18, 1971 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 116-98 |
1971 NBA Finals vs. Baltimore Bullets
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 1971 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 98-88 | |
| Apr 25, 1971 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 102-83 | |
| Apr 28, 1971 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 107-99 | |
| Apr 30, 1971 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 118-106 |
Milwaukee Bucks 1970-71 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1970-71 season for the Milwaukee Bucks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 107-98 | |
| Oct 20, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 115-114 | |
| Oct 24, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 122-120 | |
| Oct 25, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 126-107 | |
| Oct 27, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 126-113 | |
| Oct 31, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 121-100 | |
| Nov 04, 1970 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 110-108 | |
| Nov 08, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 125-105 | |
| Nov 11, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | W 123-113 | |
| Nov 14, 1970 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 116-107 | |
| Nov 15, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 105-90 | |
| Nov 16, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 119-100 | |
| Nov 18, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 117-111 | |
| Nov 20, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 117-100 | |
| Nov 21, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 127-102 | |
| Nov 22, 1970 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 126-104 | |
| Nov 24, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 117-108 | |
| Nov 25, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 113-87 | |
| Nov 27, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | L 103-94 | |
| Nov 28, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 100-99 | |
| Nov 29, 1970 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 124-111 | |
| Dec 03, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 107-100 | |
| Dec 04, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 128-122 | |
| Dec 08, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 125-104 | |
| Dec 09, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 127-97 | |
| Dec 11, 1970 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 134-92 | |
| Dec 12, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 113-111 | |
| Dec 13, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-107 | |
| Dec 18, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 124-114 | |
| Dec 19, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 119-110 | |
| Dec 20, 1970 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 131-101 | |
| Dec 21, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-88 | |
| Dec 26, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 131-111 | |
| Dec 28, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 137-114 | |
| Dec 29, 1970 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 119-97 | |
| Dec 30, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-107 | |
| Jan 02, 1971 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 118-73 | |
| Jan 04, 1971 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-110 | |
| Jan 06, 1971 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 119-106 | |
| Jan 07, 1971 | vs. New York Knicks | W 116-106 | |
| Jan 09, 1971 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 118-100 | |
| Jan 10, 1971 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 151-99 | |
| Jan 15, 1971 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 135-116 | |
| Jan 16, 1971 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 110-90 | |
| Jan 17, 1971 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 120-113 | |
| Jan 20, 1971 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 120-116 | |
| Jan 22, 1971 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 117-110 | |
| Jan 23, 1971 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 142-117 | |
| Jan 24, 1971 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 142-120 | |
| Jan 26, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | L 107-98 | |
| Jan 27, 1971 | @ Boston Celtics | W 132-129 | |
| Jan 29, 1971 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 142-118 | |
| Jan 31, 1971 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 131-104 | |
| Feb 02, 1971 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 123-111 | |
| Feb 03, 1971 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 108-101 | |
| Feb 05, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-93 | |
| Feb 06, 1971 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 111-85 | |
| Feb 08, 1971 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-94 | |
| Feb 09, 1971 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 107-106 | |
| Feb 11, 1971 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 122-88 | |
| Feb 13, 1971 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 103-96 | |
| Feb 14, 1971 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 124-88 | |
| Feb 16, 1971 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 135-103 | |
| Feb 17, 1971 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 119-114 | |
| Feb 19, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 128-112 | |
| Feb 20, 1971 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 104-96 | |
| Feb 21, 1971 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 125-97 | |
| Feb 23, 1971 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 118-107 | |
| Feb 24, 1971 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 139-104 | |
| Feb 26, 1971 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 135-111 | |
| Feb 28, 1971 | @ Boston Celtics | W 111-99 | |
| Mar 01, 1971 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 127-103 | |
| Mar 03, 1971 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-97 | |
| Mar 04, 1971 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 116-113 | |
| Mar 05, 1971 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 108-95 | |
| Mar 08, 1971 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-99 | |
| Mar 09, 1971 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 110-103 | |
| Mar 13, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | L 108-103 | |
| Mar 14, 1971 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 125-113 | |
| Mar 16, 1971 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 119-111 | |
| Mar 18, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-121 | |
| Mar 19, 1971 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 111-99 |