Why weren't we?" McAdoo enrolled at the University of North Carolina in 1971, the only junior college player Dean Smith recruited in his career. McAdoo, playing alongside Bobby Jones, led the 1971–72 Tar Heels, coached by Dean Smith, to a 26–5 record and the Final Four of the 1972 NCAA University Division basketball tournament. McAdoo averaged 19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds. He was named first-team All-American. He also earned MVP honors at the ACC tournament. Citing family hardship, McAdoo sought and won early eligibility for the 1972 NBA draft under the "hardship" clause that existed until 1977. McAdoo consulted with Coach Dean Smith, who encouraged him to go to the NBA. McAdoo said, "When I left, a lot of people were very angry and upset. But Dean gave me his blessing. He told me, ‘If they’re going to offer you this kind of money, I think you should leave to help you and your family.’ I had his blessing. My mother was totally against it,” McAdoo added, “but my father and Dean Smith were the guys who got me to move.” Professional career 1972 ABA and NBA drafts McAdoo sought and won early eligibility in the 1972 NBA draft. However, it was rumored that McAdoo had signed with the Virginia Squires of the rival American Basketball Association after a "secret" ABA draft in which names of those drafted were not made public. Even though no contract was produced and McAdoo denied, reportedly, NBA Commissioner Walter Kennedy advised NBA teams not to draft McAdoo. Other reports were that a contract was signed and voided, because McAdoo was too young to have signed it and that Buffalo somehow knew this. Later, McAdoo was indeed noted as the No. 1 pick of the 1972 American Basketball Association Draft. Buffalo Braves (1972–1976) Buffalo acted anyway, and McAdoo was selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers), after rumors that contract talks between the Portland Trail Blazers and McAdoo didn't come to fruition with the first pick. LaRue Martin was selected by Portland. McAdoo signed with the Braves and quickly became one of the NBA's premier players. He won the 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He earned the first of three consecutive NBA scoring titles in only his second season. McAdoo was frustrated with Buffalo's losing