A former trainer in the ABA said, “I’d never be able to walk into a court of law and state that members of (my) team were taking drugs. But I do feel that drugs are more prominent than when I first started in the league in 1968.”
Tag Archives: ABA
Moses Malone: ‘Why Pro Basketball Players Will Love Me,’ 1975
Guaranteed, the Stars will not hesitate in playing him as often as possible this season. He is too valuable a commodity—and too good a product, both on and off the court—to waste sitting on the bench.
Checking in with Bill Melchionni
Bill Melchionni, a three-time ABA all-star with the New York Nets, recently joined the podcast No Weak Stuff to talk about his basketball career, from Villanova University to the pros (NBA and ABA). Melchionni discusses the 1973-1974 Nets, the youngest ABA title team, and its similarities with last season’s young Oklahoma City Thunder squad. MelchionniContinue reading “Checking in with Bill Melchionni”
Three-Point Shot: Pro Basketball’s Big Bomb? 1971
Imagine the excitement in Madison Square Garden if one of the Knicks sank a three-point play in the closing minutes of a stretch-run game. It would be pandemonium.
Jim McDaniels: The Dream That Failed, 1978
Even so, Jim McDaniels couldn’t help but admit that it’s been a while since he’s felt half as good as he does these days. It’s every reason why to McDaniels didn’t even mind the Buffalo winter. You can believe he’s gone through a lot colder winters in his time.
Maurice Lucas: Roughing It in the NBA, 1977
Lucas plays aggressively, and critics say he plays dirty. “I play very aggressively. I play with intelligence,” he said. He paused a moment and added a footnote. “I play rough.”
Warren Jabali: The Rock of Ages, 1995
On this day at North Dade, Jabali slides through the milling children as they head home. A little girl holding a pickle. Gives him a hug and moves on.
Warren Armstrong (Jabali): Like a Rock, 1969-1975
“Warren plays like he was 6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7. It’s not all jumping ability, either. He can jump with anybody, but [when] he gets around the ball, he’s got timing and he’s strong.”
Balls of Confusion: Signing Lew Alcindor, 1969
Brown handed him the certified check from Chemical Bank. Alcindor fingered the paper, eyed his name printed as clearas day across the middle, and handed it back. “Mr. Brown said to me, ‘We’ll give you a million dollars,’” recalled Alcindor, but without mentioning a timeframe.
Lou Carnesecca: Now Playing at the Island Garden, 1971
The car pulls into the driveway, and the inner tension reaches a peak. Defeat is too fresh in Carnesecca’s mind for it not to show on his face.
From Way Downtown 