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The 1974 Title: Beating Milwaukee in Seven, Cowens’ Repeat Run

FMVP Club

NBA

15 views06/30/2026, 14:34 ET

In 1974 the Celtics beat the Bucks (Kareem) 4-3; Cowens and Havlicek teamed up to reclaim the crown after five years, cementing Boston’s new era.

A year after his Finals MVP, Cowens won another title with Boston in 1974. That Finals opponent was the Milwaukee Bucks led by a prime Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Boston and Milwaukee went seven games, and the Celtics prevailed 4-3, capturing the championship after a five-year gap.

For Cowens, this was a "short-over-tall" victory. Against Kareem's skyhook, he did not bang bodies; instead he fronted, helped and disrupted the timing of the giant's catches and turns. Across the series Cowens' rebounding and transition offense were the foundation that let Boston survive the tall-man battle.

This title also marked Boston's generational handoff: Havlicek remained the wing banner, Cowens the settled interior core. The two, inside and out, carried Boston from its 1960s glory into a new 1970s throne. For Cowens, standing on the podium two years running was the finest reward for his blue-collar basketball.