Bob McAdoo
(Born 1951)
Hall of Fame Induction: 2000
Card Shown:
2007-08 Upper Deck
Chronology
Position: PF/C
Height: 6’9″
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Bob McAdoo was one of the best big men to ever shoot a basketball. Some, including Bill Russell, say he was one of the best shooters ever, regardless of size. A 6’9″ center/power forward, Bob had a deadly shot and could shoot from distance. In his second year in the NBA, McAdoo not only led the league in scoring but also in shooting percentage at 0.547.
Bob was traded often and played for seven different teams during his NBA career. He often found himself in unfavorable situations on these teams. However, in 1981, McAdoo joined the Los Angeles Lakers as a top reserve and helped them to win two rings while reaching the NBA Finals four consecutive years. Then, after a brief stay in Philadelphia, Bob resurrected his career by starring in Italy for seven seasons.
Awards and Honors
- In 1972-73, McAdoo was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. He averaged 18.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game during his rookie campaign.
- Bob was honored as the 1974-75 NBA Most Valuable Player.
- McAdoo played an important role in two NBA championship runs by the Los Angeles Laker teams in 1982 and 1985. Those teams featured Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes, and James Worthy (1985 only).
- Bob was a five-time NBA All-Star, representing the Buffalo Braves and the New York Knicks at the annual event.
- From the 1973-74 season through the 1975-76 season, McAdoo won three consecutive scoring titles. He averaged 30.6, 34.5, and 31.1 points per game, respectively, during those three seasons.
Points of Interest
- At Smith High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, Bob played the saxophone and was a member of the marching band as well as being on the basketball team. He had a side gig playing sax for a rhythm-and-blues group.
- In high school McAdoo also competed in track where he set a high jump record and competed against his future teammate Bobby Jones.
- Bob finished his NBA career with averages of 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. The sharpshooter also finished with a shooting percentage of 50.3%.
- After his NBA career ended, McAdoo played another seven years of professional basketball in Italy, leading Milan to the Italian and European championships at the age of 35.
- Bob retired from pro basketball in 1992 at the age of 41, having averaged 26.6 points and 8.7 rebounds during his career in the Italian league.
Statistics
Bob McAdoo Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com