Boston Celtics: Top 5 greatest one-season wonders in team history
By Steve Zavala
5. Bob McAdoo — 1978–1979 season
Bob McAdoo only played a mere 20 games while with the Celtics, but to his credit, he left behind an impact both in the short and long-term.
A season following the departure of team legend John Havlicek, the Celtics were amid a retooling period during the 1978–1979 season. The team was in disarray following a hectic off-season where a rare ownership switch transpired between Celtics owner Irv Levin and Buffalo Braves owner John Brown.
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There was turmoil in Boston and it only worsened when new team owner Brown traded three first-round picks to the New York Knicks for McAdoo. The move was a head-scratcher as the team was under the .500 mark at the time of the transaction and looked far from being a serious title contender.
On an individual level, McAdoo wound up proving doubters wrong in his brief 20 games in Boston. Even in a team with future Hall of Famers like Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White, McAdoo emerged as the team’s best player.
He averaged a team-high 20.6 points per game and recorded four 30+ point showings, including a 42-point game on 81 percent shooting against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Unfortunately, depth issues and injuries to other players derailed the Celtics’ season as they finished with a 29–53 season, which at the time was their worst record in franchise history.
The Celtics ended up redeeming themselves thanks to McAdoo’s high trade value; they traded him away to the Detroit Pistons for a pair of future first-round picks. The Celtics elected to later send both picks to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Robert Parish and a first-round pick, which turned out to be Kevin McHale.
It all worked out for Boston.