Special Editor
MANIA, Hustle Player

In any field, someone who has dedicated a long time to their craft is called a 'master.' After 20 years as an NBA fan, I bring you the hidden stories in NBA history through the eyes of a seasoned NBA master.

※ This content is part of a special collaboration with MANIA and features unique items from the Eland Museum.

In the NBA, the season MVP award is the most prestigious honor a player can receive. The legendary center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, famous for his “skyhook” shot, won this award six times—more than even the widely recognized G.O.A.T., Michael Jordan (5), or the 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell (5).

Kareem led UCLA to three consecutive NCAA Tournament championships and continued to dominate at the professional level. Drafted first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969, he transformed the team from a 27-55 record to 56-26 in just one season. By his second season in 1970-71, Kareem led the Bucks to an NBA title and earned his first MVP award.

The 1970s were the most competitive era in NBA history, often called a period of “warring states.” While the 1960s saw the Boston Celtics dominate with nine championships in a decade, the 1970s had a different champion nearly every year.

However, the competition for the title of the decade’s best player was less contentious. Kareem, who won his first MVP in 1971, added four more MVPs throughout the 1970s (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, and 1977). He also secured his sixth MVP in the 1979-80 season, cementing his legacy as the era’s undisputed king.

But Kareem’s journey to multiple MVP titles wasn’t always smooth. His 1975-76 MVP award, in particular, was one of the most closely contested victories of his career. It also marked his comeback after a challenging period in the mid-1970s.

Kareem had led Milwaukee to a championship in 1971 and a Finals appearance in 1974, establishing himself as the franchise’s biggest star. But when his long-time teammate Oscar Robertson retired after the 1974 season, Kareem began to question his future in Milwaukee.

Though he loved the city and its fans, Kareem, born in New York City and a UCLA alum, found Milwaukee’s small-town vibe and harsh winters less appealing. Modern NBA stars have the freedom to choose their teams in free agency, but in the 1970s, the only option was to request a trade. In the offseason before the 1975-76 season, Kareem quietly asked the Bucks to trade him to either New York or Los Angeles.

During a preseason game, Kareem was poked in the eye by an opponent. Reacting impulsively, he punched the backboard support, breaking his hand. This immature outburst caused him to miss 16 games and drew widespread criticism. With Kareem’s trade request becoming known, the Bucks’ morale plummeted, and they finished the season with a disappointing 38-44 record, missing the playoffs.

Milwaukee tried to persuade Kareem to stay throughout the season, but their efforts were unsuccessful, and by the end of the season, Kareem’s trade request was made public. (Unlike today, when even the smallest rumor can become front-page news, the 1970s media was not as pervasive, allowing a superstar like Kareem to keep his trade request under wraps for months.)

The Bucks tried all season to change Kareem’s mind, but to no avail. Eventually, his trade request became public, sending shockwaves through the league. The Los Angeles Lakers, one of Kareem’s preferred destinations, moved quickly. They offered two first-round draft picks (including 2nd overall pick Dave Meyers and 8th overall pick Junior Bridgeman), along with promising guard Brian Winters and shot-blocking center Elmore Smith. The deal was made, and Kareem moved to L.A., where he had thrived during his college years.

The Lakers, who had won a championship in 1972 but had since struggled, were coming off a disappointing 30-52 season. Despite the controversy surrounding his trade, Kareem looked forward to rebuilding the Lakers in the 1975-76 season.

Kareem led the Lakers to a 10-win improvement over the previous season (30 wins to 40), but they narrowly missed the playoffs. Ironically, the Lakers’ record was better than some playoff-bound teams from other divisions, but the NBA’s playoff structure at the time favored the top two teams in each division, leaving the Lakers out.

Though the Lakers didn’t make the playoffs, Kareem had an outstanding individual season. He averaged 27.7 points per game (2nd in the league) and led the league in rebounds (16.9 per game) and blocks (4.1 per game), putting him in the running for his fourth MVP award.

But the competition was fierce. Bob McAdoo, the reigning MVP, led the league in scoring (31.1 points per game) and pulled down 12.4 rebounds per game. Dave Cowens led the Boston Celtics to the best record in the East (54-28) while averaging 19 points and 16 rebounds per game.

These three had battled for MVP honors before. Cowens had controversially won the 1972-73 MVP award, even though Kareem’s individual stats were superior, because Cowens’ Celtics had the best record in the league (68-14). Kareem’s bid for the 1975-76 MVP was a chance for both redemption and revenge.

Despite his individual brilliance, Kareem’s MVP candidacy was hampered by the Lakers’ failure to make the playoffs. McAdoo’s Buffalo Braves made the playoffs, but only by a slim margin (46-36). Cowens’ Celtics had the best team record but weren’t as dominant as they had been in 1973 (68 wins to 54).

The MVP vote was one of the closest in NBA history. Out of 185 first-place votes, Kareem received 52, McAdoo 47, and Cowens 48. When second- and third-place votes were tallied, Kareem edged out McAdoo (409 points to 393) and Cowens (378 points) to win the MVP. It was the tightest race for MVP in NBA history.

Kareem was burdened by the fact that his Lakers team failed to make the playoffs. However, the team’s record was still better than several playoff teams, and his ability to significantly improve the Lakers from the previous season was highly regarded. In contrast, McAdoo’s Buffalo Braves (49 wins to 46) and Cowens’ Celtics (60 wins to 54) both saw their records decline from the previous season, which worked against them.

Kareem became the only MVP in NBA history whose team didn’t make the playoffs. It was a moment of redemption for the 1970s’ undisputed king.

Kareem went on to win two more MVP awards and led the Lakers to an NBA championship in 1980. Though he wasn’t as dominant in the 1980s as he had been in the 1970s, he and Magic Johnson led the Lakers to five championships. In the 1985 Finals, the 38-year-old Kareem showcased his enduring talent, earning Finals MVP honors and becoming the oldest player to do so.

With six championships, six MVP awards, and a career scoring record (38,387 points) that stood until 2023, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remains one of the most iconic figures in NBA history.

* The trophy was named the “Podoloff Trophy” after the NBA’s first commissioner.

** The MVP trophy is now named after Michael Jordan, “The Michael Jordan Trophy.”

*** In 2019, Kareem auctioned his championship rings and three of his MVP trophies (1972, 1974, 1976) for charity.

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