NBA History: 1976-77 Season Was Wild Ride, From ABA Merger To 'Blazermania'

The 1976-77 NBA season was the moment pro basketball decided to shake things up, blend in some chaos, and redefine itself. Bill Walton, Trail Blazers, Cavaliers

It started with a seismic shift — absorbing four ABA teams (New York Nets, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs) and reshuffling the deck with a dispersal draft. What did that mean? Stars like Artis Gilmore and Julius Erving found new homes, and suddenly, the NBA had 22 teams, more star power, and fresh drama.

If you thought the league had parity issues before, think again.

From Unknown to Unstoppable: The Portland Trail Blazers

And then there were the Blazers. Coming into this season, Portland was… let’s be honest… irrelevant. They were that NBA team you barely remembered existed. Six seasons. Zero playoffs. A dreary 28-win average. But then, boom, in comes Maurice Lucas from the ABA, pairing with the ever-talented yet injury-prone Bill Walton, and things clicked.

Walton, with his wild red hair and Cali coolness, finally stayed healthy, which felt like a minor miracle. Add Lucas’ grit, scoring, and rebounding toughness? That was the one-two punch every contending team dreams about. The results? Portland went from an afterthought to legit champions in just one season.

Coach Jack Ramsay? Give him all the flowers. Ramsay was a visionary who balanced Walton’s cerebral, finesse game with Lucas’ rugged style. He built a team that could run, defend, and win when it mattered most.

And don’t even get me started on their playoff run. Portland didn’t just win; they captivated. They beat the likes of Bob Lanier’s Pistons, David Thompson’s Nuggets, and then swept Kareem’s Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. You read that right: swept. Walton versus Kareem was the headliner, and Walton outdueled the league MVP when it mattered most.

Then came the Finals.

NBA Finals: Philly Stars, Portland’s Heart

This was it. The mighty Julius Erving, arguably the best player on the planet, leading a stacked Sixers squad. Game 1? Philly. Game 2? Philly again. Portland looked overmatched, and Walton looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Then… the haircut.

Yes, Walton chopping off his signature locks somehow symbolized a shift. Portland roared back with four straight wins, capped by a masterpiece from Walton in Game 6 (20 points, 23 rebounds, 7 assists, 8 blocks).

The guy was everywhere, turning “Rip City” into a household name. Erving was brilliant, but Philly’s chemistry wasn’t. Meanwhile, Portland had found theirs in spades.

Blazermania had arrived.

Season Storylines: Legends and Legacies

This wasn’t just the year of the Blazers; it was a season full of individual excellence. Pete Maravich led the league in scoring, putting up 31.1 points per game in dazzling, must-see fashion. The man was a one-man highlight reel on a New Orleans Jazz team that desperately needed him.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Quietly dominant, as usual. He snagged his fifth MVP award, leading the Lakers to a 53-win season while shooting a ridiculous 57.9% from the field. People take his greatness for granted, but this was yet another season where Kareem made it look too easy.

And let’s talk rookies. Adrian Dantley walked into the league and averaged 20+ points per game. He was smooth, efficient, and already looked like a seasoned pro on a Buffalo Braves team that would need much more to stay relevant.

Then there was Bill Walton, the league leader in rebounds (14.4) and blocks (3.25). Walton was a unicorn—a big man with guard-like passing, elite defense, and the ability to anchor an entire team on both ends. His Finals MVP was the icing on the cake.

Oh, and don’t sleep on Don Buse, who quietly dominated the steals and assists categories for the Pacers. He was the ultimate disruptor.

Looking Back and Ahead

The 1976-77 season wasn’t just transitional; it was transformational. It introduced the league to new stars, new teams, and new hope for underdog franchises. Portland’s title was the culmination of years of struggle and a testament to how quickly things can change in the NBA.

This was the year basketball evolved — from the wild ABA days into a more structured NBA world — yet kept that sense of unpredictability. Who knows what’s next? One thing’s for sure: after this season, no one will ever overlook Portland again.