Much publicized, the team largely played this year as a victory lap, particularly after cornerstone Dave DeBusschere announced his pending retirement halfway through the season.
The Lakers, however, sued Chamberlain to prevent his playing in the ABA while still owing Los Angeles the option year of his contract.
Jerry West played just 31 games due to injury, and that likewise spelled the end to his nearly peerless career at guard.
These two teams, which had led the league from two huge cities and carried the NBA to new media heights, were now poised to decline, which now gave strong runners-up from a year ago their chance to ascend.
Two of them, Milwaukee and Boston cast strong shadows all season long, each led by powerful individual forces determined to win.
One player, Atlanta's high-scoring Pete Maravich, had more shots, but Kareem sank his tries at a 53.9% clip, the second-best in the NBA.
The rest of the Bucks lineup provided good support for Abdul-Jabbar, but age and injuries remained a concern into the playoffs.
The Boston Celtics cast a very determined shadow across the East with 56 wins, willed by 33-year-old team captain John Havlicek.
The Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons each again posted strong campaigns to finish second and third in the division, with the third and fourth-best records in the entire league.
The Bulls impressed all season long in being able to deny opponents easy shots with strong, clean defense that did not often foul.
Jack Ramsay's club was well-balanced and deep, with Ernie DiGregorio as the pure point guard to lead his offense.
Elvin Hayes and Phil Chenier were the team stars this year, with Wes Unseld battling knee injuries.
Gail Goodrich continued to bewilder critics with a 25.3 scoring average, trying and making more free throws than any other NBA player at an 86% clip.
But Ray was no match for Abdul-Jabbar at center, and coach Larry Costello's team got a good bench boost as well to pound the Bulls in four straight.
But the Celtics hung tough, even after losing 102–101 in a legendary double-overtime affair at Boston Garden that saw Abdul-Jabbar throw in a 15-foot hook shot to win the game at the buzzer.
Havlicek had averaged 27 points and six assists in 18 playoff games to win his first NBA title ring without Bill Russell.
But it was Cowens, who had saved his best game for last, who stood out most in proving he was in fact center enough to lead an NBA champion past the taller giants of the league.