Bob McAdoo

Bob McAdoo was the most prolific scorer in the NBA for three consecutive years, winning scoring titles in 1974 (30.6 PPG), 1975 (34.5 PPG), and 1976 (31.1 PPG) — a run of offensive dominance that few players in history have matched. His 1975 MVP season, in which he led the league in scoring while shooting an efficient 51.2% from the field, established him as the best player in basketball.

McAdoo's game was ahead of its time. At 6'9", he was a big man who could face up and shoot over defenders from mid-range with a quick, high release that was nearly unblockable. He was the prototype for the stretch big — a player who could score from the perimeter as well as the post — decades before the concept became a foundational element of modern basketball.

After his prime years in Buffalo, McAdoo bounced between teams and his reputation suffered, but he reinvented himself as a role player with the Showtime Lakers, winning two championships in 1982 and 1985 alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His career arc — from dominant scorer to valuable reserve to champion — showed an adaptability that extended his career and legacy beyond his peak years.