50 Greatest NBA/ABA Players Not In the Hall Of Fame
By Phil Watson
Copyright 1975 NBAE (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images)
Bob Dandridge joined the Milwaukee Bucks for their second season as that “other rookie.”
A fourth-round pick out of Norfolk State by the Bucks in the 1969 NBA Draft, Dandridge’s time in Milwaukee was mostly overshadowed by the guy taken first overall in the same draft, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Dandridge became a starter right away at small forward, however, as Milwaukee became an instant contender, earning All-Rookie honors.
He averaged 20.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game as the Bucks won their lone NBA title in 1971 by sweeping the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA Finals.
Dandridge was a key performer as they returned to the NBA Finals in 1974, losing to the Boston Celtics.
In August 1977, Dandridge signed as a veteran free agent with the Washington Bullets and helped the franchise to its only NBA title in his first season with the club in 1977-78, averaging 20.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists in the seven-game victory over the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA Finals.
His best season came in 1978-79, when he was named All-NBA and All-Defensive that season and finished fifth in the MVP voting as the Bullets returned to the Finals, losing this time to the Sonics.
In November 1981, Dandridge returned to the Bucks as a veteran free agent, with Washington acquiring a fifth-round pick in 1982 as compensation, but his return to Milwaukee was short-lived.
The Bucks waived Dandridge later that month after just 11 games.
In 13 seasons, Dandridge averaged 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals in 35.2 minutes per game, shooting .484/2-for-12/.780.