The History of the ABA Part 5-6

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

[FBproductions7]

3 pointers turn him on? thats just nasty

[slydawg221]

@FBproductions7 maybe that meant something different back then than it does now. the english language has changed a lot over the past 30 or 40 years (at least the american version of it).

[FRSFreeStateNow]

The ABA was successful because some of their teams were able to become part of the NBA

[cbaldwinjr]

Wendell Ladner was Pimp Greatness haha.

[MrBennetzen]

Wendell Ladner as well as Maurice Lucas were the most feared enforcers of the ABA!

[BoArnberg]

JACKIE MOON. story of Wndell Ladner