The 1970s was the most turbulent era in the NBA, an era when players often fought and took drugs, so the stars of that era were not optimistic. As a result, the US media listed the 10 most underrated players of the 1970s.
10. Ervin Hayes
He averaged 21.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.6 blocks per game in his career. He won a championship in his career, and Ervin Hayes was named an All-Star 12 times in his career, six times to the NBA All-NBA Team, and twice to the Best Defensive Team. At the end of his career, he also had 27,313 points and 16,279 rebounds. He is one of the greatest players in Wizards history.
9. Pite Maravich
He averaged 24.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks per game. He was named an All-Star five times in his career and a four-time NBA All-NBA Team. Pite Maravic was one of the best defenders of his time, and his passing and dribbling skills were amazing.
8. Dave Coones
He averaged 17.6 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game in his career. He won 2 championships in his career, and as the rookie of the year in 1973, he was selected as the regular season MVP once, the All-Star 8 times, the All-Star Game MVP once, the Best Team three times, and the Best Defensive Team three times. Dave Coarnes played 11 seasons in his NBA career, 10 seasons with the Celtics in his career, and won two championships. Dave Coarnes is one of the most underrated big men in NBA history.
7. Lu Hudson
He averaged 20.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks per game. He was named an All-Star six times in his career and once in the All-Team. Lou Hudson was a brilliant shooter, but unfortunately he retired a year before making his three-pointer into the NBA.
6. Gael Goodrich
He averaged 18.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.2 blocks per game. He won a championship in his career, was named an All-Star five times, and was named to the NBA All-NBA Team once. Gail Goodrich is one of the greatest stars in the history of the Lakers, due to the original NBA expansion, Gayle Goodrich left the Lakers for a time, and then the Lakers called him back.
5. Dan Isel
He averaged 22.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. He has only been selected as an All-Star once in his career. With only 24 games missed in 15 seasons of his NBA career, he is also one of the greatest players in Nuggets history.
4. David Thompson
He averaged 22.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. As Rookie of the Year in 1976, he was named an All-Star four times, an All-Star Game MVP twice, and an NBA All-NBA Team Twice. David Thompson, who scored 73 points in a single game in his career, was one of the greatest scorers of his time and was one of the NBA's best-paid stars of the time.
3. Bob Dandridge
He averaged 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. Bob Dandridge has won two championships in his career, four All-Stars, one NBA All-Team, and one All-Defensive Team. Bob Dandridge is one of the greatest players in Milwaukee Bucks history, and he won a championship when both the Bucks and wizards.
2. Nate Archibald
He averaged 18.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.1 blocks per game. Nate Archibald has been named an All-Star six times in his career, an All-Star Game MVP once, and an NBA All-NBA Team Player five times. Although Nate Archibald is only 1.86 meters tall, he is a very good passer, and he also won a championship when he was a Celtic.
1. Spencer Haywood
He averaged 20.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.9 blocks per game in his career. Having won one championship in his career, a regular season MVP, five All-Star and four all-team names, he was also rookie of the year in 1970. Spencer Haywood, who played in the NBA and ABA, was also one of the most underrated players in that chaotic era of the '70s.