Greatest of the Game: Top 5 NBA players of the 1970s

The 1970s were a decade when the NBA felt like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment. Old dynasties clung to their thrones while ambitious challengers fought to tear them down, and the battles that unfolded became the stuff of basketball legend. 

Madison Square Garden roared during the 1970 NBA Finals when the New York Knicks shocked the world with their captain limping out of the tunnel in Game 7, sparking one of the most emotional championship wins in league history. On the opposite coast, the Los Angeles Lakers clawed through countless heartbreaks, setting the stage for a dramatic breakthrough that finally delivered long-awaited glory in purple and gold.

The Golden State Warriors stunned the basketball world in 1975 by sweeping the heavily favored Washington Bullets—one of the greatest upsets ever seen in the Finals. The Boston Celtics clawed their way back to dominance, highlighted by the unforgettable triple-overtime thriller against the Phoenix Suns in the 1976 Finals, a game still considered one of the greatest ever played.

At the heart of this turbulent decade were the players who shaped it. Towering forces, brilliant playmakers, defensive masterminds, and clutch performers who refused to back down from the decade’s mounting pressure.

Here are the 5 greatest NBA players in the 1970s:

5. Willis Reed

Few players in NBA history embodied toughness, leadership, and resolve like Willis Reed. As the emotional anchor of the New York Knicks’ golden era, Reed set the tone for a franchise built on selflessness, defense, and unshakable chemistry. His scoring touch in the post, dominant rebounding, and commanding presence in the paint made him one of the most complete big men of the decade.

Reed’s legacy is forever cemented by one of the most iconic moments in NBA history: limping onto the Madison Square Garden floor in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals despite a severe leg injury. With the crowd erupting and his teammates instantly energized, Reed knocked down two early jumpers that turned the building electric and shifted the momentum of the entire series. The Knicks rode that spark to a championship, and Reed’s courage became a symbol of the decade itself.. A two-time champion, Finals MVP, and league MVP, he was the emotional core of a team and a city, earning his place among the defining stars of the 1970s.

4. Bob Lanier

Bob Lanier was one of the most gifted big men of the 1970s, a player whose combination of finesse, power, and touch made him nearly unstoppable on the block. Standing 6-foot-11 with massive hands and remarkable mobility, Lanier anchored the Detroit Pistons through a decade of battles in one of the league’s most physical eras. His scoring arsenal was among the best of any center of his time: soft mid-range touch, bruising post moves, and a left hook shot that defenders struggled to contest. Night after night, Lanier delivered elite production, averaging well over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game throughout the decade, establishing himself as one of the premier frontcourt forces in the NBA.

But Lanier was more than a stat-sheet titan. He was the steady presence who kept the Pistons competitive during turbulent seasons. He battled through injuries, punishing defenses while absorbing constant physical play, and still found ways to elevate his team. His eight All-Star selections in the ’70s stand as a testament to his consistency and impact, even as the Pistons cycled through rebuilding years. Though he never captured a championship, Lanier’s skill, toughness, and longevity made him one of the decade’s defining centers, a player whose greatness was recognized every time he stepped on the court.

3. Julius Erving

Before he ever stepped foot onto an NBA court, Julius Erving was already a phenomenon—an athlete whose style, swagger, and gravity-defying plays transformed the sport itself. During the 1970s, Erving became the face of the ABA and the living highlight reel who blurred the line between basketball and art. His soaring dunks, acrobatic finishes, and balletic movement through the air gave the game a new dimension, captivating fans and inspiring an entire generation of future stars.

Erving’s impact went far beyond the spectacle. He brought substance with the style as an elite scorer, versatile defender, and fierce competitor who carried the New York Nets to two ABA championships during the decade. His 1976 performance in the final ABA season, highlighted by the iconic “Baseline Move” in the Finals, cemented his place as a legend before he ever joined the NBA. When the leagues merged, Erving elevated the standard of play, proving that his brilliance transcended leagues, rules, and eras. By the end of the 1970s, Julius Erving was the symbol of basketball’s evolution, the bridge between the rugged past and the soaring future.

2. Walt Frazier

Walt “Clyde” Frazier was the embodiment of style and substance in the 1970s. A floor general whose poise, defense, and playmaking made him the engine of the New York Knicks’ championship success. Frazier orchestrated the offense with a calmness that belied the pressure of the decade’s biggest moments. But his true brilliance shined on defense, where he became one of the greatest perimeter stoppers the game has ever seen.

No performance captures his greatness better than Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. While Reed provided the emotional spark by taking the floor injured, it was Frazier who delivered one of the most dominant performances in Finals history. His 36 points and 19 assists remain one of the most complete Game 7 efforts ever recorded.. Throughout the decade, Frazier was the steady heartbeat of a Knicks team built on unselfishness and grit. A seven-time All-Star, perennial All-Defensive selection, and one of the most influential guards of his era.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

No player defined the 1970s quite like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. From the moment he entered the league, he became the decade’s most dominant and consistent force. His signature skyhook, a shot both graceful and devastating, became the most unstoppable weapon in basketball history, gliding over outstretched hands with mechanical precision. Throughout the decade, Kareem collected MVP awards at a staggering pace, winning five in the 1970s alone, cementing his place as the most decorated player of the era.

Abdul-Jabbar was a complete cornerstone. His rebounding, shot-blocking, and defensive presence anchored every team he played for, first lifting the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship in 1971 and later transforming the Los Angeles Lakers into an instant contender. In Milwaukee, he led the Bucks to one of the most dominant playoff runs ever seen, losing just two games en route to the title. 

By the end of the 1970s, Abdul-Jabbar stood not only as the greatest player of the decade but as the figure who shaped the NBA’s competitive landscape. His combination of longevity, efficiency, dominance, and innovation made him the undisputed king of the ’70s.

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