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BOSTON – 1979: Bob McAdoo #11 of the Boston Celtics shoots the jump shot over Ollie Johnson #27 of the Chicago Bulls during a game played in 1979 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1979 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Bob McAdoo (10 games, 1981)

It was a strange set of circumstances that brought former NBA MVP Bob McAdoo to the New Jersey Nets late in the 1980-81 season.

McAdoo had been sent to the Detroit Pistons as compensation for the Boston Celtics signing veteran free agent M.L. Carr and then proceeded to miss much of the season with stomach and foot injuries.

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He eventually filed a grievance against the Pistons, charging the team refused to play him even when he was healthy. McAdoo was waived on March 11 and signed with the Nets two days later, appearing in the 10 games of the season down the stretch.

But McAdoo and the Nets couldn’t come to an agreement on a contract and McAdoo held out until Christmas Eve, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for a second-round pick in 1983 and cash considerations.

In his 10-game stint with New Jersey, McAdoo averaged 9.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game, shooting .507/0-for-1/.810.

McAdoo had been NBA Rookie of the Year with the Buffalo Braves in 1972-73 and two seasons later earned the MVP award during a run of winning three straight scoring titles.

He made five straight All-Star appearances with Buffalo and the New York Knicks between 1974-78 before his career went a bit off the rails through stops with Boston, Detroit and New Jersey.

McAdoo became one of the NBA’s top bench players with the Lakers, helping the club to two NBA titles. His last NBA season was in 1985-86 with the Philadelphia 76ers.

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His career was far from over, however. McAdoo played another seven seasons in Italy, retiring in 1993 at the age of 41, and spent 19 years as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat.

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