1974 NBA Finals Game 7 vs Milwaukee Bucks

Lore & Background

In Game 6 of the 1974 NBA Finals, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made his famous 'sky hook' shot in a classic double-overtime victory for the Bucks. However, the Bucks then lost in game seven.

In Their Own Story

By the final minutes, the humidity in Milwaukee Arena felt less like weather and more like a physical weight. John Havlicek wiped grit from his stinging eyes, his lungs burning as he sprinted down the floor, ignoring the screaming instructions of coach Tom Heinsohn on the sideline. The Bucks' offense sputtered against Boston's suffocating defense, trapping them in a cycle of forced shots and missed opportunities. As the clock wound down, the lead remained razor-thin until a desperate Bucks shot clanged off the rim. The rebound was secured not with celebration, but with a grim nod from Havlicek; the roar that erupted wasn't just for a win, but for a team that had refused to die on the road.

Reader's Guide

It only notes that the Bucks lost Game 7 and did not return to the Finals until 2021.

Did You Know?

• The Bucks won their first NBA championship in 1971 by sweeping the Baltimore Bullets.
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only players to win Finals MVP for the Bucks.
• The Bucks are the only NBA team to have won a championship in both the Eastern and Western Conference.