1st place – Bob McAdoo (C)
Braves per game averages: 40.2 minutes, 28.5 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 2.5 blocks.
Braves totals: 4 full seasons (1972-73 to 1975-76 — also played 20 games in 1976-77), 334 games, 9,434 points, 4,229 rebounds, 868 assists, 289 steals, 614 blocks, 50 field goal percentage.
Honors with Braves: Rookie of the Year (1972-73), 1x NBA MVP (1974-75), 3x All-Star (1973-74 to 1975-76), 1x All-NBA 2nd team (1973-74), 1x All-NBA 1st team (1974-75), 3x scoring leader (1973-74 to 1975-76).
Blake Griffin has the edge over Bob McAdoo in terms of longevity and upward trajectory for the rest of his career. McAdoo only completed four full seasons with the Buffalo Braves, so he may not be a long-time feature in the franchise’s history.
However, seeing as McAdoo was at the top of the league during that time, becoming the only NBA MVP the team has had, it’s hard not to still keep him on top.
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McAdoo was an exceptional scorer, and it allowed him to lead the team forward as a high draft pick (2nd overall in 1972) in a similar way to Griffin. Both received the Rookie of the Year award, too, so Blake is following in good footsteps when it comes to previous Los Angeles Clippers greats.
From McAdoo’s smooth play in the post, fadeaway jumpers, work on the offensive glass or mid-range game, he was a scoring machine right away. After averaging a solid 18 points per game in his rookie season, his production skyrocketed in the form of 30.6 points on a league-best 54.7 percent shooting, 15.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.3 blocks in his sophomore year.
Obviously, McAdoo was an All-Star, making the All-NBA Second Team as well.
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If he wasn’t unstoppable enough already, he took another step forward in his third season in 1974-75. Scoring a career-high 34.5 points per game, McAdoo was named to the All-NBA First Team and was crowned MVP.
For three straight seasons from 1973-74 to 1975-76, he was the league scoring champion.
Such statistical prowess rightfully keeps McAdoo on top of this list. He took the Clippers from 22 wins the year before he arrived to 42 by his second season and 49 by his third, taking them back to the playoffs in the process.
Unfortunately, McAdoo’s time with the Braves came to an end when he was traded in December of 1976.
When he left, McAdoo was ranked 4th in total rebounds (4,229), 5th in total blocks (614), 3rd in PER (22.8), 5th in win shares (50.9) and 3rd in win shares per 48 minutes (0.182). And, you guessed it, he was pretty high in scoring, ranking 2nd in both total points (9,434) and points per game (28.5).
For just over four seasons work, that gaudy level of production speaks volumes about McAdoo’s remarkable talent.
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Griffin is on his way to the top, though. Especially if he re-signs next summer to continue leading the Los Angeles Clippers’ future.