In Late June 1996 inside San Antonio international airport, a twelve year old rocking a Ken Griffey Jr jersey and a backward hat got his first autograph from a famous sports figure. It wasn’t MJ, Mr. Robinson or even a young Kobe Bryant, which this kid idealized at that point in time. Instead, it was from a man simply known as, “ICE”.
The Iceman, George Gervin signed the back of a parking pass for garage B my aunt had in her purse. That parking pass is framed and hangs in my office to this day. When I look at it I can still hear Ice saying “Right On My Man” when I thanked him for his time. What a cool cat, I mean, it’s 1996, people didn’t talk like that anymore. At least not in a 12 year olds world. It was at that point in time that I learned of a different league not named the NBA. My aunt gave me a history lesson that day, a deep dive on the stylish, smooth, cool, groovy and wildly entertaining hoops league from the past.
The ABA.
There is an old saying in Basketball. Live by the three, die by the three. The three-point shot can swing a games momentum, put a close one out of reach or fuel a furious fourth quarter comeback.
Just ask Regie Miller and the New York Knicks. We all remember Reggie scorching the Knicks in the Garden during those 1990’s playoff battles.
Or you could ask Ray Allen, who put a dagger in the heart of the city of San Antonio in 2013.
Perhaps we could question Larry Legend, or even the bay area splash brothers. The list can go on and on.
It is a little-known fact however that without the ABA, these players who are known for being three point shot artists may not have had this opportunity to utilize the three ball. I mean why go for two when you can have three am I right?
The ABA says yes, I am 100% right.
Inventers of the three-point shot. That’s what the ABA did back in the day which was later adopted by the NBA and now is an interregnal part of todays game. Let that sink in. The ABA invented the three.
At the time, this was frowned upon by the NBA and basketball purists. Who wants to see Connie Hawkins pull up on a fast break and launch one from thirty-three feet away when the practical approach would have been an easy layup? Me. I want that. Give me all of it. The entire thing, all the smoke. Live by the three die by the three.
Things like this is what made the ABA different. And I bet that before reading this, most happy go lucky basketball fans did not know the origins of the three-point shot as we know it today. Let’s keep in mind that this is not what made the ABA so much fun to watch. I mean sure it played a critical role and is likely the greatest contribution the league made to the game in general. But the ABA was so much more than a contribution. Filled with personalities, dunk machines & team names out of this world, the ABA inventing the three-point shot was simply a cherry on top of this sundae.
The Anaheim Amigos, Pittsburg Pipers, San Diego Conquistadors, and the Minnesota Muskies. Woah! Hold up a second. What is going on here? This is just pure fire. Yes, the ABA did produce teams like the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. In fact, eight organizations currently balling in the NBA have ABA origins. But give me the Conquistadors all day long. I mean come on; imagine how much you could do with a Conquistador as your mascot. Or maybe the Pipers. Time to pay the piper would be a chant at every home game.
The players, coaches & owners to pair with these team names were equally as awesome.
Connie Hawkins, one of the leagues stars suited up for the Pipers back in the day. Pittsburg was the first champion crowned by the ABA, and in large part due to Connie. This dude could straight up ball, and only ended up in the ABA because of alleged point shaving in other leagues he played in. Takes paying the piper meaning to an entirely new level if you ask me.
Then we have this dude named Pat Boone, who owned the Amigos. This guy went off and stole NBA great Rick Barry away from their league. Wheeling and dealing like a seasoned used car salesman. Honestly, I don’t know how this happened. “Yo, Rick! Come play for the Amigos!”
Daryl “Chocolate Thunder” Dawkins. Oh man. His main objective was to shatter backboards. That’s it. And he did, on numerous occasions. Straight violence. https://youtu.be/P0OuHgr18Cc
Speaking of dunks, the ABA also pioneered the first ever slam dunk contest. Headlined by David “Skywalker” Thompson, George “The Iceman” Gervin & Dr. Julius Erving, it produced arguably the most iconic image of the ABA when Dr J took flight from the free throw line and threw down that red white and blue ball that the ABA used. I have one myself, use it at the park on weekends. The ball design, much like the three-point shot and dunk contest all stood the test of time.
So why didn’t the league?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Basketball_Association?wprov=sfti1
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