The pro game never was his thing. His career was adequate, but he never fooled himself. He knew what he wanted to do with his life, and he was determined to develop those skills in the same fashion that he developed his skills on the court during teenaged summers
Tag Archives: ABA
Red Robbins Rides Again, 1973
Red Robbins is so vital to the interior clockwork of the Utah Stars that it would be virtually impossible to list the ways he contributes to the overall success of the ABA champions.
Ron Boone: The Game I’ll Never Forget, 1971
In all my years in the pros, that was the only championship series I have ever played in, and to have it come down to a seventh game really made it dramatic
Willie Wise Floats to the Top in Salt Lake, 1974
Willie Wise is one of Salt Lake City’s best-kept secrets: A three-time ABA all-star, bull-shouldered, 6-foot-6 forward with a pro career average of over 20 points per game, a man whom Dave DeBusschere calls one of the finest two-way ballplayers in basketball.
Does Pro Basketball Have a Drug Problem? 1975
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.”
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.”
From Way Downtown 