Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here are the details for Bob McAdoo:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Robert Allen McAdoo Jr.
  • Nickname: Mac (nba.com)
  • Nationality: American (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Date of Birth: September 25, 1951
  • Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
  • Weight: 210 lb (95 kg)
  • Wingspan: No verified sources (N/A)
  • Shoe Size: No verified sources (N/A)
  • Jersey Number: #11 (Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers), #24 (Philadelphia 76ers)
  • Position: Center / Power Forward
  • High School: Ben L. Smith High School (Greensboro, North Carolina) (en.wikipedia.org)
  • College: Vincennes University; North Carolina (en.wikipedia.org)
  • NBA Draft: 1972 — Round 1, Pick 2 — Buffalo Braves (basketball-reference.com)
  • Player Archetype: Stretch scoring big / face-up scoring center (britannica.com)
  • Primary Offensive Role: High-volume scoring hub; face-up mid-range scorer (britannica.com)
  • Defensive Role: Weak-side rim protector and rebounder (basketball-reference.com)
  • Play Style: Mobile scoring center operating from mid-post and perimeter (britannica.com)
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right (basketball-reference.com)
  • Athletic Profile: Fluid, mobile, long frontcourt scorer with track background (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Recruiting Status: Junior-college transfer to North Carolina (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Draft Status Detail: Early-entry candidate selected second overall after sophomore season (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Injury Status Category: Retired
  • Career Stage: Hall-of-Fame retired player (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Comparison Style: Early prototype stretch-five scoring big (britannica.com)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Buffalo Braves (1972–1976)
    • New York Knicks (1976–1977)
    • Boston Celtics (1977–1979)
    • Detroit Pistons (1979)
    • New Jersey Nets (1979–1981)
    • Los Angeles Lakers (1981–1985)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1985–1986)
    • Olimpia Milano (1986–1990)
    • Filanto Forlì (1990–1991)
    • Teamsystem Fabriano (1991–1992)
  • Championship Rings: 2× NBA Champion — Los Angeles Lakers (1982, 1985)
  • Parents: Robert McAdoo Sr.; Vandalia McAdoo (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Children: Robert III, Rita, Ross, Russell, Rasheeda, Ryan (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Siblings: Not publicly documented (N/A)
  • Athlete Relatives: Rasheeda McAdoo (professional tennis)
  • Retirement Age: 40
  • Retirement Year: 1992

Player Archetype / Play Style

Bob McAdoo’s player archetype was a stretch scoring big, functioning as a face-up center who operated as a primary offensive hub rather than a traditional low-post anchor. Defensively, he worked mostly as a weak-side rim protector and rebounder, using length and mobility more than brute strength. Offensively, he carried heavy scoring responsibility, attacking from the mid-post, elbows, and perimeter with a quick, high-release jumper uncommon for centers of the 1970s. His physical traits — a 6-foot-9 frame, long reach, fluid stride, and track-style athleticism — allowed him to run the floor and create mismatches against slower bigs. The overall play style combined perimeter scoring, face-up isolation, and transition offense, making McAdoo one of the earliest prototypes of the modern stretch-five.

Sources:
Basketball Reference — Bob McAdoo Stats
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Bob McAdoo
Wikipedia — Bob McAdoo