BBBuffalo Braves

Franchise history

The Braves entered the NBA in 1970-71 as one of three expansion teams, alongside the Portland Trail Blazers and Cleveland Cavaliers, and spent their early seasons among the league's weakest, going 22-60 in each of their first two years. The franchise's fortunes turned with forward Bob McAdoo, drafted in 1972, who developed into one of the most prolific scorers of his era: he won three consecutive NBA scoring titles from 1974 to 1976 and was named league MVP for the 1974-75 season, averaging 34.5 points a game.

Buffalo made the playoffs three straight years, 1974 through 1976, including a hard-fought six-game first-round loss to the Boston Celtics in 1974, giving a city better known for the Bills and Sabres a genuine pro basketball contender for a brief stretch. The success did not translate into a stable business: attendance stayed thin and the team competed for arena dates with the Sabres and Canisius College basketball. After McAdoo was traded away in 1976 and the team slipped to a 27-55 finish in 1977-78, owner John Y. Brown swapped franchises with Boston Celtics owner Irv Levin, and the team relocated to become the San Diego Clippers for the 1978-79 season.

Sources

• Buffalo Braves — Wikipedia
• Bob McAdoo — Wikipedia