Bob McAdoo

Lore & Background

McAdoo was raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. He attended Ben L. Smith High School, where he played basketball and track and played saxophone in the marching band. As a senior, he led his team to the state basketball semifinals and was the high jump state champion, setting a new state record of 6 feet 7.75 inches. He enrolled at Vincennes University for two years, leading them to the NJCAA championship in 1970. He then played for the University of North Carolina in 1971–72, averaging 19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds, leading the Tar Heels to the Final Four. He was selected as the #2 pick in the 1972 NBA draft by the Buffalo Braves. He won the 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and three consecutive scoring titles. In 1974–75, he won the NBA MVP award, averaging 34.5 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 2.12 blocks per game. He later played for the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics before joining the Los Angeles Lakers, winning two NBA championships. He also played seven seasons in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A, winning the FIBA European Champions Cup. He later won three more NBA titles as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat in 2006, 2012, and 2013.

Reader's Guide

McAdoo played center for the majority of his career, splitting the balance of his time between power and small forward. He was known for his perimeter shooting as a center, making him a nearly unstoppable offensive force. He is one of the few players to have won both NBA and EuroLeague titles as a player.

Did You Know?

• LeBron James is the youngest player to have had a 50-point/20-rebound game, not McAdoo.
• McAdoo's 1973–74 season remains the last time an NBA player averaged both 30.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game.