Bucks Zone

How Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s arrival changed the Milwaukee Bucks

Kareem-Abdul Jabbar's arrival changed the Milwaukee Bucks' trajectory.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar entered the league in 1969 and started dominating in his first season. His 7-foot-2 frame and two-way abilities made him a generational player who cemented his name as one of the greatest players in the NBA.

Expansion team to playoff team

The Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns were part of the NBA's expansion project, taking the total number of teams to 14. As expected, their first season wasn't a winning season, as the Bucks finished with a 27-55 record. However, things would soon change for the franchise with the arrival of Abdul-Jabbar in the 1969 NBA Draft. He was the first overall pick, and the big man immediately changed the organization's trajectory.

"The second year, everything changed so much from the first," former Bucks player Jon McGlocklin recollected in an interview with John Gurda. "Even though they got their feet wet as an organization, you get Kareem. Well, that changes everything."

"Everything changed then because the spotlight was suddenly on our franchise," he added.

The Bucks finished second in the Eastern Division during the 1969-70 season with a 56-26 record. They beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs (4-1) but lost to the New York Knicks in the following round. However, their playoff run indicated that their roster was ready for the challenge.

Milwaukee Bucks center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
Kareem during his rookie season / © Malcolm Emmons - USA TODAY Sports

Rookie of the Year: KAJ

Abdul-Jabbar played in all 82 games during his rookie season, finishing with impressive averages of 28.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He made his presence felt with multiple big nights throughout the season, including a 51-point season-high – while shooting 72% from the field.

Kareem was an all-around player who could add value in several facets of the game. Apart from his scoring, the Bucks' big man was also a tremendous rebounds -- recorded 1,190 rebounds in his rookie season. Abdul-Jabbar was named 1969-70 Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star team.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.