Milwaukee Bucks 1970–1971 : Year Zero

Published on February 20, 2026 4 min. reading

Milwaukee, 1971. One season, one domination. The Bucks clinch their first championship ring. Lew Alcindor and Oscar Robertson at their peak. History is made through power and efficiency. A look back at the team that left its mark on the NBA with one of the most dazzling duos the league has ever seen.

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The context : The Bucks’ masterstroke

The Bucks were only in their third NBA season. The arrival of Lew Alcindor in 1969 transformed the franchise. In his rookie season, Alcindor averaged 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds. The Bucks went from 27 to 56 wins. The talent was there, but the experience was lacking.

The summer of 1970 was decisive. Milwaukee signed Oscar Robertson, the 32-year-old former star of the Royals. “Big O” was the leader they had been waiting for. He brought leadership, vision, and distribution to the team. The team was now armed with a dominant center in his prime and an experienced point guard who was a master of the game. The chemistry was instantaneous. The goal was clear: the title, immediately.

Regular season: An unstoppable march

The 1970-71 season was a show of strength. The Bucks set a record pace: 66 wins and only 16 losses. It was the best record in the NBA. They finished the season 15 games ahead of their closest rivals.

Their offense was lethal, with Milwaukee averaging 119.1 points per game. Lew Alcindor was unstoppable, leading the league in scoring (31.7 points) and rebounding (16.0). He was logically named MVP of the season.

The team was firing on all cylinders. Their shooting percentages were high. The Bucks set a historic streak of 20 consecutive wins, an NBA record at the time. Robertson, the catalyst, was more of a playmaker (19.4 points, 8.2 assists). The regular season was not a preparation, it was an execution.

Playoffs campaign: The royal road

The postseason confirms Milwaukee’s dominance. The Bucks play cool, precise basketball. Their playoff record speaks for itself: 12 wins, 2 losses.

Conference Semifinals: Golden State Warriors (4-1)

Milwaukee loses only one game on the road. Alcindor dominates the paint. The Warriors find no answer to the Bucks’ inside power. It’s a done deal, no question about it.

Conference Finals: Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)

The eagerly awaited duel. Alcindor versus Wilt Chamberlain. However, good old Wilt is 34 years old and no longer as effective as he once was, averaging “only” 20 points per game. He will be overtaken by Alcindor, like a passing of the torch to the man who will become the greatest center in history. Milwaukee dominates the paint and neutralizes the Lakers’ strength. The score is low. The Bucks prove that their regular season dominance can be replicated against the big names. L.A. is eliminated, 4 wins to 1.

NBA Finals : Baltimore Bullets (4-0)

The battle for the ring is a one-sided affair. Wes Unseld and Earl Monroe’s Bullets are overwhelmed. Milwaukee wins with a brutal sweep. Game 4 is won in Baltimore. Alcindor is named Finals MVP. In just 14 games, the Bucks secure the title.

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THE LEGACY: The foundation stone of one of the greatest legends in the sport

The 1971 ring was seminal. It established Lew Alcindor (who would become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) as the dominant center of his generation. At 23, he was champion, MVP of the season, and MVP of the Finals.

This season symbolized the success of the Big Two: the perfect alliance between the raw talent of a young superstar and the wisdom of a legendary veteran. Robertson finally won his title.

Above all, the Bucks became the fastest team in history (at the time) to win a title, after only three seasons of existence. The 1971 title is not just a statistic. It is the moment in time when Milwaukee, a small franchise, took its place among the greats.