ABAthrowbacks
@abathrowbacks
Celebrating and Honoring the Legacy of the Great American Basketball Association ❤️🤍💙
Another “plumber” from the 1970s jumping higher than any big today 🤷🏻♂️ Artis Gilmore was a 7’2” 240 lbs big man that won the ABA MVP, Rookie of the year, and was an all star all in the same year! Man had a 5 year stretch of averaging 15-18 RPG and 18-24 PPG 🔥
When I took the @pacers job, my knowledge of the @nba was rudimentary. I always had questions, Mel never ran out of patience, and always had time for me. He was as responsible as anyone for my early transition, although he did damn near break my hand the first time we shook. 🤣
Yesterday, No. 34 would’ve been 81. My best ABA friend…
Three years ago today… The NBA finally recognized the long overdue pension payments to many former ABA players in the form of $25M in Recognition Payments. ❤️💪
From Rick Barry… “Alex Hannum was crazy. We went to Tahoe after my rookie year. I got on 1 ski behind his boat. He got it up to 60 mph and nearly killed me! Sharman was the new coach so I asked him “Would you have pulled me that fast if you were my coach?” He said “Hell no!”😄
Fun fact. Alex Hannum was the 1st coach to win titles in both the NBA and ABA: NBA: St. Louis Hawks (1958) & Philadelphia 76ers (1967) ABA Championship: Oakland Oaks (1969) Thanks for @abathrowbacks for reminding me of him
In Oct ‘72, Alex Hannum instructed his Rocket players to foul any VA Squire who took a shot in Q4. He was conducting an experiment on taking pressure defense to the limits. Denver won 155-111 while VA scored 74 FTs. Hannum was different. Happy bday to the late Coach Hannum.
Hannum also coached San Francisco Warriors to ‘64 Finals, losing 4-0 to Celtics. Was voted coach of year as a result. As coach of St Louis & Philly, he won two titles v Celtics, ‘58 & 67, and took Boston to double OT, G7, in’57 & was not honored as COY all three seasons…
Spirits of STL too!
Colonels should have been part of it.
Was the addition of the four ABA teams in 1976 the greatest expansion in NBA league history?
Julius Dr. J Erving’s 🔴🔵⚪️ ABA Resume ALONE is better than almost EVERY NBA players resume: 2x ABA Champion🏆🏆 3x ABA MVP 2x ABA Playoff MVP 3x Scoring Champ ABA’s All-Time MVP All Time PPG Leader [28.7] Doc accomplished all of that in ONLY 5 SEASONS… then after the…
Happy Birthday in Heaven Bobby ‘Slick’ Leonard 🕊️ A conversation from 1993 with legendary Indiana Pacers' coach Bob "Slick" Leonard about the team's glory days in the American Basketball Association. 🎥 : WRTV-TV
Connie Hawkins would be 83 today. He was one of my first heroes and he made me believe a Pittsburgh kid could pursue his sports dreams. He had a similar impact on Julius. Connie is also one of the great What Ifs. What if he had gotten a full pro career?! RIP Cornelius 🙏
Remembering @abathrowbacks @NBA @Suns legend ‘92 @Hoophall inductee Connie Hawkins, who would have been 83 years old today. @PeterVecsey1 @YvanMontgury theshootersbounce.com/post/rememberi…
In 1974, This first ever ABA game for the Utah Stars rookie Moses Malone would take place in a preseason game playing against the Virginia Squires. 🎞️ : Rare NBA Footage
SCREEN TEST. Moses Malone, the Utah Stars' 19-year-old rookie, screens out Tom Owens and Gus Gerard of the Spirits as he goes for a rebound. 📸 : Robert C. Holt III
Connie Hawkins was an athlete so far ahead of his time 📽️ : @Converse
Not truly appreciated as he should be.
George McGinnis shooting a jumper against the Utah Stars.
Which NBA team has an affiliated G-league team named after the former ABA team in its market?
I’m 50 This year and it’s always & forever 1975-95 “Bring Back The SONICS”.
Which old Sonics logo should be the foundation for the future one?