1969–70 Milwaukee Bucks season

Draft picks

After a 27–55 record in their inaugural NBA season, the Bucks won a coin toss over the Phoenix Suns to give them the right to select first overall in the 1969 NBA draft. Their designated selection had long been a foregone conclusion: UCLA Bruins center Lew Alcindor. However, Alcindor was also selected first overall by the New York Nets in the competing American Basketball Association's entry draft, which triggered a bidding war for Alcindor's services. He eventually opted for the Bucks' five-year $1.4 million offer over a much more lucrative $3.2 million offer from the Nets, preferring the established NBA over a new and struggling ABA.

Roster

• Larry Costello
• Tom Nissalke

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

|-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 1 || October 18, 1969 || Detroit | W 119–110 | Lew Alcindor (29) | Lew Alcindor (12) | Alcindor, McGlocklin, Rodgers (6) | Milwaukee Arena | 1–0 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 2 || October 19, 1969 || Seattle | W 130–106 | Flynn Robinson (22) | Zaid Abdul-Aziz (14) | Guy Rodgers (10) | Milwaukee Arena | 2–0 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 3 || October 22, 1969 || @ San Diego | W 115–102 | Lew Alcindor (36) | Lew Alcindor (19) | Jon McGlocklin (5) | San Diego Arena | 3–0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 || October 24, 1969 || @ Los Angeles | L 112–123 | Flynn Robinson (33) | Lew Alcindor (20) | Flynn Robinson (7) | The Forum | 3–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 5 || October 25, 1969 || @ San Francisco | L 104–118 | Guy Rodgers (20) | Zaid Abdul-Aziz (11) | John Arthurs (5) | San Francisco Civic Auditorium | 3–2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 6 || October 26, 1969 || @ Phoenix | W 119–99 | Lew Alcindor (28) | Alcindor, Smith (12) | Guy Rodgers (15) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 4–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 7 || October 28, 1969 || Boston | L 107–120 | Lew Alcindor (43) | Greg Smith (15) | Flynn Robinson (6) | Milwaukee Arena | 4–3 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 8 || October 30, 1969 || @ Detroit | W 102–81 | Flynn Robinson (25) | Greg Smith (20) | Guy Rodgers (10) | Cobo Arena | 5–3 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 9 || October 31, 1969 || @ Philadelphia | W 129–125 | McGlocklin, Chapell (28) | Lew Alcindor (18) | Lew Alcindor (9) | The Spectrum | 6–3

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | March 25 | Philadelphia | W 125–118 | Lew Alcindor (36) | Lew Alcindor (20) | Bob Dandridge (6) | University of Wisconsin Field House 9,686 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | March 27 | Philadelphia | L 105–112 | Lew Alcindor (33) | Bob Dandridge (12) | Bob Dandridge (7) | University of Wisconsin Field House 9,686 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | March 30 | @ Philadelphia | W 156–120 | Lew Alcindor (33) | Lew Alcindor (17) | Flynn Robinson (14) | Spectrum 15,244 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | April 1 | @ Philadelphia | W 118–111 | Lew Alcindor (33) | Greg Smith (19) | Bob Dandridge (7) | Spectrum 14,206 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | April 3 | Philadelphia | W 115–106 | Lew Alcindor (46) | Lew Alcindor (25) | Bob Dandridge (8) | University of Wisconsin Field House 12,868

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and honors

• Lew Alcindor, NBA Rookie of the Year
• Lew Alcindor, NBA All-Rookie Team
• Lew Alcindor, NBA All-Star Game Appearance

Notes

References

• Bucks on Basketball Reference

References

1. (March 20, 1969). "Tails-Up Call on Coin Toss Wins First Basketball Pick for Bucks". [[The New York Times]].
2. (March 30, 1969). "Alcindor Rejects A.B.A.'s $3.2-Million Offer and Will Sign With Bucks". [[The New York Times]].