It's funny that Bird/Magic revived the league

[Marchesk]

When the NBA already had Dr J, Kareem and Moses Malone in their primes. It's almost as if those guys are an afterthought to Bird, Magic and then later in the decade, MJ.

[Fallen Angel]

[WorldWarriors]

When the NBA already had Dr J, Kareem and Moses Malone in their primes. It's almost as if those guys are an afterthought to Bird, Magic and then later in the decade, MJ.

You have to think about the times though. The NBA was in a transition period in the 70s and lost a lot of the fanbase. The Bird-Magic rivalry brought the league back to life. That rivalry came straight from college to the pros.

[L.Kizzle]

When the NBA already had Dr J, Kareem and Moses Malone in their primes. It's almost as if those guys are an afterthought to Bird, Magic and then later in the decade, MJ.

Even with those guys around, 2 straight Finals featured The Sonics and Bullets. A team of old guys from the 60s in Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes and Bob Dandridge and the other team full of youngsters no one knew in Gus Williams, Jack Sikma and Dennis Johnson.

Also, the NBA was considered too black back then (go figure) and full of druggies like Spencer Haywood and Marvin Barnes.

Hell, and even when Magic and Bird came along, NBA Finals were still tape delayed. I think up until 1986, Finals games were on tape delay. I think some of the early 80s Finals games were even back to back games, due to scheduling.

[WorldWarriors]

Even with those guys around, 2 straight Finals featured The Sonics and Bullets. A team of old guys from the 60s in Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes and Bob Dandridge and the other team full of youngsters no one knew in Gus Williams, Jack Sikma and Dennis Johnson.

Also, the NBA was considered too black back then (go figure) and full of druggies like Spencer Haywood and Marvin Barnes.

Hell, and even when Magic and Bird came along, NBA Finals were still tape delayed. I think up until 1986, Finals games were on tape delay. I think some of the early 80s Finals games were even back to back games, due to scheduling.

Is it true that Spencer Haywood turned down shares in Nike back in the 70s?

[L.Kizzle]

Is it true that Spencer Haywood turned down shares in Nike back in the 70s?

Not sure, but Nike was a non-factor in the 1970's. It was Chuck Taylor's, than Puma, than Adidias.

That would be like signing with Under Armor (Pre Steph Curry) in today's world.

[choppermagic]

It was an awesome time to be a NBA fan. That's when i started watching.

East Coast versus West Coast, gritty Boston versus Showtime Lakers, flashy Magic versus Worker Larry. All surrounded by GOAT teams and all in their primes for the decade of glory!

Dam, those were fun battles. If either team had not existed, the other would have won 6-8 rings in the decade. It was Ali v Frazier for multiple years!

[Prime_Shaq]

Childhood memories

[WorldWarriors]

Not sure, but Nike was a non-factor in the 1970's. It was Chuck Taylor's, than Puma, than Adidias.

That would be like signing with Under Armor (Pre Steph Curry) in today's world.

Right. I know they were a non factor at the time but damn.

[Rolando]

Because Bird was white and had God-like abilities right from the start.
Because Magic was black, not angry and also had God-Like abilities.

Also because Celts vs. Lakers

[Psileas]

These supposed revivals are mostly a media/marketing getting into next level thing, thanks also in large to David Stern trying to promote his product more than any past commissioner. It's funny because if you check the NBA Finals Nielsen Ratings, the 1976 and 1977 Finals got good ratings, the 1978 and 1979 ones, not so much, then the mediocre numbers continued in 1980 and 1981 (the '81 Finals got almost as high a rating as the 2007 ones ), then they suddenly shot upwards, regardless of the '82 and '83 Finals being in general less exciting than the 1980 and 1981 ones respectively. The 1986 Finals, like the '81 ones, featured the Celtics and the Rockets and it's not as if there wasn't a clear favorite (of course, the Rockets had upset the champions Lakers, but so had they in '81), yet they got higher ratings even than the previous 1984 and 1985 Bird vs Magic showdowns.
Also, average game attendance was on the rise even in that "dark" period of the late 70's. In the early 80's, it still went up, but not by leaps and bounds.