Robert Allen McAdoo Jr. was born on September 25, 1951.

McAdoo attended Ben L. Smith High School, where he participated in basketball, track, and the marching band as a saxophone player.

As a senior at Ben L. Smith High School, McAdoo led the basketball team to the state semifinals and set a new state high-jump record of 6 feet and 7 inches at the state track tournament.

McAdoo enrolled at Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana, due to initially lacking the academic test scores required by Division I schools.

Vincennes University won the NJCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, with McAdoo scoring 27 points in the championship game.

McAdoo averaged 25.0 points and 11.0 rebounds at Vincennes.

McAdoo played for Team USA at the 1971 Pan American Games, averaging 11.0 points per game.

McAdoo enrolled at the University of North Carolina, becoming the only junior college player Dean Smith recruited in his career.

McAdoo led the Tar Heels to a 26–5 record and the Final Four of the 1972 NCAA University Division basketball tournament, averaging 19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds.

McAdoo sought and won early eligibility for the 1972 NBA draft under the "hardship" clause.

McAdoo was selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the Buffalo Braves in the 1972 NBA draft.

McAdoo won the 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

McAdoo began a three-season streak as the NBA scoring champion.

McAdoo averaged 30.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game, also leading the NBA in field goal percentage.

McAdoo earned his first All-Star selection and led Buffalo to its first playoff appearance.

McAdoo was awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, averaging 34.5 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.12 blocks per game.

McAdoo and the Braves advanced out of the first round of the 1976 NBA Playoffs, beating the Philadelphia 76ers.

McAdoo was traded by the Buffalo Braves with Tom McMillen to the New York Knicks for John Gianelli and cash.

The Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 2–0 in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers with Julius Erving 4–0 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

McAdoo was traded by the Knicks to the Boston Celtics for Tom Barker and three first-round picks in the 1979 NBA draft.

McAdoo was traded by the Celtics to the Detroit Pistons.

McAdoo was waived by the Pistons after playing in only six games with the team in 1980–81.

McAdoo signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets.

McAdoo was traded by the New Jersey Nets to the Los Angeles Lakers.

McAdoo won his first NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers.

McAdoo re-signed with the Lakers.

McAdoo helped the Lakers to another NBA Championship, defeating Boston 4–2 in the NBA Finals.

McAdoo signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers.

McAdoo played with Olimpia Milano, as one of the best American players ever seen in Europe, and the FIBA European Champions Cup (now known as the EuroLeague).

McAdoo led Olimpia Milano to win the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

McAdoo led Olimpia Milano to win the Italian League championship and the Italian Cup.

McAdoo led Olimpia Milano to win the FIBA European Champions Cup (EuroLeague), being named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP.

McAdoo led Olimpia Milano to win the Italian League championship.

McAdoo played with the Italian clubs Filanto Forlì.

McAdoo's first wife, Charlina, died of cancer.

McAdoo played with the Italian clubs Teamsystem Fabriano before retiring from playing professional basketball.

McAdoo retired from playing professional basketball.

McAdoo participated in the NBA Legends Tour to South Africa, a goodwill mission to promote the NBA.

McAdoo was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

McAdoo began working for the Miami Heat, where he would spend 25 years.

McAdoo was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

McAdoo was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

McAdoo was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

McAdoo won his first NBA title as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat.

McAdoo was named to the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors.

McAdoo participated in the Basketball Without Borders program in Beijing.

McAdoo was treated for a blood clot in his leg.

McAdoo won his second NBA title as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat.

McAdoo was inducted into the Olimpia Milano Hall of Fame.

The gymnasium at Ben L. Smith High School was named after McAdoo.

McAdoo was honored by the University of North Carolina on a banner displaying UNC alumni who had been elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

McAdoo was elected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.