The History of the ABA Part 6-6

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

[master82565]

maybe today aba would be survive today have too many tv station and sponzors, legendary afro hair, legendary floridans girls, nba is jellaousy on aba always like red aurebach,, this season aba is ressurection we see all jersey of legendary aba teams in this season nba. in aba is always soul music spirit of 70s.. dont forget baseline san antonio spurs fans, they hate larry brown and nuggets,, spirit of st louis legendary team,

[master82565]

aba in 70s is been better then nba , they have 1, 3 points, they have a beatiful ball, and they have a better players then nba , issel,dr,j,gervin,haywood,thom­pson, gilmore, why aba is destroyed beacuse of nba? first plan is been play 4 or 5 years then joined in nba, that is wrong, nba scare rivarly with aba,aba hve first slam dunk and first 3 points in nba. when 4 clubs goes in nba my opinion is that kentucky colonels must go with them, together with pacers,nuggets spurs and nets...

[cflo1386]

Red was a traditional NBA coach who never saw the potential that the ABA could have on the NBA and the game of basketball; I'm sure if he was around he would still discredit the ABA's contribution to the game. Plus he was a good coach with great players, the only coach who I consider to be a truly great coach is Larry Brown. Larry Brown took an ABA team to the playoffs, won a NCAA title with Kansas, and won an NBA title with unknown players.

[slydawg221]

@WatchVenusSpa sounds to me like he was afraid of the competition.

[slydawg221]

@rayluca12 i heard that paul brown was the same way toward the AFL.

[OlRooter]

I'm drunk, and had to say this. The ABA kicks the NBA's collective AAAASSSSSSSS!!!1!

[35kenon]

@drjimiboy69 i also am a big fan of the aba, my coach used to take some player's to the game, he knew Al Skinner and Julius Erving. the first time i saw artis gilmore(huge) and dan issell and george gervin. aba was the best and Red (nba) raped the nets and kept the kentucky colenels out of the nba. now that was a good team

[havingfun1968]

The ABA was one of the BEST things EVER to happen to Basketball. I miss it so greatly, and because of people like Auerbach, we are NEVER allowed to look or think outside the box.

[JayGatsbyOdysseus]

FUCK RED AUERBACH....I HATE THAT BASTARD!!!!! HE IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY. IF HE WAS NOT A BASKETBALL OWNER HE WOULD BE ON WALL STREET PUSHING SHADDY DERIVATIVES.

[drjimiboy69]

@WatchVenusSpa Red was a genius, but he really was a stubborn, obnoxious prick, at least where the ABA was concerned. Give him his due for featuring black players during the NBA quota years, and for hiring black coaches Bill Russell and K.C. Jones. He's one reason I always hated the Celtics and rooted for the ABA. Loved Warren Jaballi, James Silas, Joe Caldwell, Marvin Barnes, Dr. J, Big Mac, Roger Brown, Donnie Freeman, Mack Calvin, Willie Wise, and many others. ABA forever!