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Los Angeles Lakers: Biggest enemies of the 1970s

By Jamaal Artis

Mar 2, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; American broadcaster Bill Walton before the game between the Stanford Cardinals and the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; American broadcaster Bill Walton before the game between the Stanford Cardinals and the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 30, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; The Milwaukee Bucks logo on the floor prior o the game against the Phoenix Suns at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 105-94. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; The Milwaukee Bucks logo on the floor prior o the game against the Phoenix Suns at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 105-94. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Milwaukee Bucks

Before he became a Laker, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar turned the expansion Milwaukee Bucks into a powerhouse.  Pairing the young center with future Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson the Bucks went to two NBA Finals from 1971-1974 winning in 1971 and setting a league record by winning 20 straight games during the 1971 season.

During this period the Bucks main opponent for supremacy in the Western Conference were the Los Angeles Lakers.  The Lakers and Bucks faced off three times in the playoffs with Bucks coming out on top twice.  The Lakers broke the Bucks winning streak by winning 33 straight games in 1972, the streak was ended on national television as the Bucks won 120-104.

The rivalry also featured a personal rivalry between the young Abdul-Jabbar and Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain.  Abdul-Jabbar represented a changing of the guard of the most dominant center in the NBA, while Chamberlain tried to hold on to spot as the premier superstar of the league.

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