Clipperholics
Fansided

LA Clippers: The best centers in franchise history

By Aaron Hertzog

(Original Caption) Buffalo's Bob McAdoo, (11) goes over Cavalier's Lenny Wilkens (19 and bending over) and John Johnson (32) to score a basket during half play here on November 3rd. The Cavaliers won their third straight game, dumping the Braves 124-97.
(Original Caption) Buffalo's Bob McAdoo, (11) goes over Cavalier's Lenny Wilkens (19 and bending over) and John Johnson (32) to score a basket during half play here on November 3rd. The Cavaliers won their third straight game, dumping the Braves 124-97. /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
(Original Caption) Buffalo’s Bob McAdoo, (11) goes over Cavalier’s Lenny Wilkens (19 and bending over) and John Johnson (32) to score a basket during half play here on November 3rd. The Cavaliers won their third straight game, dumping the Braves 124-97.
(Original Caption) Buffalo’s Bob McAdoo, (11) goes over Cavalier’s Lenny Wilkens (19 and bending over) and John Johnson (32) to score a basket during half play here on November 3rd. The Cavaliers won their third straight game, dumping the Braves 124-97. /

LA Clippers best centers in franchise history: 2) Bob McAdoo

The Hall-of-Famer spent the first four-plus seasons of his incredible 14-year NBA career with the Buffalo Braves. He would no doubt be number one on our list if his time with the franchise spanned just a few seasons longer.

The big man burst on the NBA scene after being the second overall selection by the Braves in the 1972 draft. He was named Rookie of the Year for the 1972-73 season putting up averages of 18.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in his debut season.

McAdoo would go on to lead the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons from 1973-74 through 1975-76 in just his second through fourth years as a professional. In two of those seasons he also lead the league in minutes per game averaging 43.2 and 42.7 minutes per contest respectively. His marks of 30.6 and 15.1 rebounds per game in his second season mark the last time any NBA player has averaged 30 points and 15 rebounds per game for an entire season.

He would be named the MVP of the 1974-75 season averaging 34.5 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.12 blocks per game. In his 334 career games with the Braves he would average 28.2 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.

On December 9, 1976 McAdoo was traded with Tom McMillen to the New York Knicks for John Gianelli and cash.

He’d go on to play for five additional teams in his NBA career going from the Knicks to the Celtics, Pistons, Nets, Lakers, and 76ers. He would win two NBA titles as a member of the Los Angles Lakers.

After his NBA career, McAdoo spend seven more years playing professionally in Italy until he finally retired in 1992 after 21 seasons as a professional.