The History of the ABA Part 4-6

This is a series of Videos taken from the HBO Documentary "Long Shots: The Life and Times of the American Basketball Association"

The hour-long documentary features rarely seen ABA team films, home videos, and footage from local television stations. The feature also contains numerous interviews with ABA players, coaches, and personnel.

Among the many ABA movers and shakers interviewed in the HBO documentary are Julius Erving, George Gervin, Larry Brown, Hubie Brown, Louis Dampier, Artis Gilmore, Connie Hawkins, Dave DeBusschere, Dan Issel, Bob Costas, Lloyd "Pinky" Gardner (Colonels trainer), and George McGinnis. There is even an interview with Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics, who typically demeans the ABA while puffing on his trademark cigar.

The documentary highlights the contributions the ABA made to the NBA, including the three-point field goal and the All-Star Game slam dunk contest. The feature is filled with never-before-seen ABA film of the Floridians Ballgirls, the 1975 All-Star game in San Antonio, Darnell Hillman's enormous and unequaled afro, the 1976 ABA All-Star game slam dunk contest (new angles!), and the New York Nets' wild comeback against the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 of the 1976 ABA Finals.

If you want to see some NBA Hall-of-Famers playing in ABA arenas (using the ABA's "beach ball"!) look no further: the documentary has footage of Lew Alcindor and the Milwaukee Bucks playing the Kentucky Colonels (at Freedom Hall), Wes Unseld and the Baltimore Bullets playing the Floridians (at Miami Beach Convention Hall), and Willis Reed of the New York Knicks playing the Utah Stars (at the Salt Palace). Finally, if you're a fan of Dr. J you're in for a treat. HBO unearthed some rare and unusual clips of Dr. J in the ABA (both with the Squires and the Nets!).

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• TheABAhistory
• ABA
• American
• Basketball
• Association
• NBA
• Merger

[FRSFreeStateES]

I believe the ABA saved the NBA, because the NBA was down in the 70s and the ABA brought a more exciting brand of basketball.

[good03boy]

Julius Erving(Dr. J) was to the ABA what Joe Namath was to the AFL: Their Signature Player!

[bordertown]

@rabbijose55

Any idea who that guy was? I thought it was Artis Gilmore, but if I remember correctly he doesn't wear #54.

[rabbijose55]

holy shit tht dude just blockd kareems hook at 8:40

[cbaldwinjr]

Watching this...I knew about Doc and I knew about Ice. But DAN ISSEL was a player! Wow...he's like an earlier, better Tom Chambers. He had hops, he could score...and he had some playground in his game...that's legit.

[havingfun1968]

To see the ICEMAN play live was beyond words.... To watch him and Doc in the ABA may have been such a gift to us who saw it all.....

[spiderdog07]

I like bob ryan with the mustache

[TheBrevo]

America has been the victim of the NBA! The ABA is where it was at, man!