I grew up in the Louisville area. I worshipped the Colonels and liked the Pacers too. By 1976, the Nuggets were the best pro team, and Dr. J. was the best pro player. Our ABA had arrived, but the money had run out. I am so grateful I got to see in person and on TV what most NBA fans missed. The best basketball!
I saw Dr. J, hall of famers Moses Malone and Bobby Jones play (Against The Spirit of St Louis) Moses actually played for us(St Louis). Our radio announcer was none other than the great Bob Costas.
@11:56. Bobby Jones (Denver Nuggets) and Dr.J ended up on the 1983 76’ers team that swept the showtime Lakers who had 5 hall of famers....for the ring.
Another special moment at the gloriously unsponsored Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. To be followed by the Islanders Cup wins. I didn't have cable so I had to listen to the Nets win their second championship and the ABA's last on the radio. John Sterling on the play by play, with Mike DiTomasso. Sterling's signature "Bullseye" when the Nets would score on a jumper.
Gerald GOVAN was the best rebounder ever in the ABA! Mr Govan was a GREAT defender and passer. Mr Govan was also the most underrated player in the HISTORY OF THE ABA! Mr GOVAN was one of only 6 men to play all 9 seasons that the ABA was in existence.
Those 1970's hairdos were neato. You could have scrubbed out all of the commodes and urinals in all the arenas and stadiums with those hairdos. They just needed some Comet or Ajax.
one of the first things Doug Moe did as assistant coach of the Cougars was to throw Joe Caldwell out of a practice...telling him "get your ass outta here, we only won 35 games last year with you here, we can win that many without you"
About 4 months before the crash of Eastern 66, I went to an ABA game at the Nassau Coliseum-Dr. J starred as usual but Ladner had one of his better games. I remembered him more for his number (4; my favorite number) than anything else. When the crash happened and even the sports pages ( I grew up about 20 minutes from JFK Airport) had headlines because he was among those killed (113 in all), that was sad even for a 9 year old. I can only imagine how Erving and the rest of the Nets felt. :(
This was more like a love letter to 4 people (Larry Brown, Doug Moe, Dr. J & Wendell Ladner) instead of one to the ABA as a whole. I love Dr. J and he did practically carry two leagues on his back but the ABA existed 4 seasons before he got there. Dr. J was not the first superstar of the ABA or the originator of legitimatizing the dunk or the streetball style of play. The ABA had already established itself as a more flashy, fast-paced, offense heavy league before Julius. Just sayin’ 🤷🏾♀️
The ABA saved the NBA by giving it life. The entire NBA game changed when the ABA merged with NBA. The NBA was boring. The ABA energized the NBA with an infusion of young players like Dr.J, George Gervin, Dan Issel, David Thompson, Artis Gilmore, Bobby Jones and others.
The NBA has been around before the ABA. However, the ABA brought excitement to the game. That's what the NBA didn't have. The ABA had the 3 pt shot which eventually the NBA adopted some years after the merge and the ABA also had the Slam Dunk Contest, which again, the NBA adopted some years later.
For one thing, the ABA invented the 3-point shot, which the NBA laughed at -- until the '80s, when the NBA realized they needed it and adopted the 3-pointer. That energized the league, making its game a lot livelier.
The ABL was the first league to implement the 3 point shot (not the ABA), and basically the ABA legitimized the more flashy, fast-paced, streetball style of play that the NBA looked down on for so many years but eventually embraced because it put butts in seats.
You are correct about the ABL introducing the 3-point shot to pro basketball. As you know. the ABL lasted only 1 1/2 seasons. The ABA adopted it from the outset and is rightfully credited with popularizing the 3-pointer. @@LadyDuchess
The NBA wouldn't be what it "is" if it weren't for the ABA...Thanks guys.
i agree
EXACTLY
I'll go one better, the NBA doesn't survive to see Magic and Bird without the ABA.
@@GetBenched2010 Bird said that while growing up, the Indiana Pacers, particularly Mel Daniels, were his inspiration to become great.
Absolutely. I live in NC during that time and to alot of Cougars games in Charlotte and Greensboro. Great basketball😊
Oh my God, Billy Dee Williams narrating is just the cherry on top
Dr. J is a legend and paved the way for many generations.
I grew up in the Louisville area. I worshipped the Colonels and liked the Pacers too. By 1976, the Nuggets were the best pro team, and Dr. J. was the best pro player. Our ABA had arrived, but the money had run out. I am so grateful I got to see in person and on TV what most NBA fans missed. The best basketball!
Doug Moe was the head coach of the Denver Nuggets. The rivalry between the Nuggets and Houston Rockets was fierce.
I saw Dr. J, hall of famers Moses Malone and Bobby Jones play (Against The Spirit of St Louis) Moses actually played for us(St Louis). Our radio announcer was none other than the great Bob Costas.
THANKS FOR POSTING, OLD ABA FAN. ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE...
@11:56. Bobby Jones (Denver Nuggets) and Dr.J ended up on the 1983 76’ers team that swept the showtime Lakers who had 5 hall of famers....for the ring.
With another former ABA player as their teammate: Moses Malone.
threeby8887 : In the ABA, Moses Malone played for my hometown team, The Spirit of St Louis. I had his autograph.
R.I.P. Wendell Ladner “AKA” the Burt Reynolds of the ABA. Lol 😆
Another special moment at the gloriously unsponsored Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. To be followed by the Islanders Cup wins. I didn't have cable so I had to listen to the Nets win their second championship and the ABA's last on the radio. John Sterling on the play by play, with Mike DiTomasso. Sterling's signature "Bullseye" when the Nets would score on a jumper.
I always enjoyed aba Basketball
Gerald GOVAN was the best rebounder ever in the ABA! Mr Govan was a GREAT defender and passer. Mr Govan was also the most underrated player in the HISTORY OF THE ABA! Mr GOVAN was one of only 6 men to play all 9 seasons that the ABA was in existence.
Govan?
@@krisharkleroad8 Yes, GERALD GOVAN! Look him up.
Thank You, This Was Great...
Larry Brown : One of the greatest coaches ever.
Cheating bastard in college!!!
Doug Moe!!
David sky walker Thompson needs to be mentioned
Super John Williamson was the star that won it for the Nets
Awesome Afros !
If Maravich had played in the ABA they may have lasted a few years longer.
He would have averaged 40 pts a gm,in the aba,
@@brando7266 that is not inconceivable
the ABA merger helped the NBA survive
Stellar
Those 1970's hairdos were neato. You could have scrubbed out all of the commodes and urinals in all the arenas and stadiums with those hairdos. They just needed some Comet or Ajax.
a shame that territory fees forced the nets to sell it all.
one of the first things Doug Moe did as assistant coach of the Cougars was to throw Joe Caldwell out of a practice...telling him "get your ass outta here, we only won 35 games last year with you here, we can win that many without you"
Didn't know about Wendell. Peace and thanks.
About 4 months before the crash of Eastern 66, I went to an ABA game at the Nassau Coliseum-Dr. J starred as usual but Ladner had one of his better games. I remembered him more for his number (4; my favorite number) than anything else. When the crash happened and even the sports pages ( I grew up about 20 minutes from JFK Airport) had headlines because he was among those killed (113 in all), that was sad even for a 9 year old. I can only imagine how Erving and the rest of the Nets felt. :(
Jackie Moon was the best owner.
Don't forget about the Skywalker....David Thompson.
Who was it who said at 0:19 "I like the colors of the ball."? Does anyone know? Thanks!
ARTIS GILMOOOOORRREEEEEE
Artist Gilmore
Was this the entire film?
"well I like the colors of the basketball"
If that got Artis Gilmore to the ABA, then great for the colors!
My thing was how were franchises paying these players coming out of college, when franchises were folding in a instant?
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
The movie Semi-Pro tells the story of the ABA.
Where can I find this movie ?
The movie trashes the ABA.
It’s a great movie will Ferrell at his peak
Yes the movie Semi-Pro trashed the ABA. Especially since the ABA and NBA played against each other. The ABA won the all time series.
This was more like a love letter to 4 people (Larry Brown, Doug Moe, Dr. J & Wendell Ladner) instead of one to the ABA as a whole. I love Dr. J and he did practically carry two leagues on his back but the ABA existed 4 seasons before he got there. Dr. J was not the first superstar of the ABA or the originator of legitimatizing the dunk or the streetball style of play. The ABA had already established itself as a more flashy, fast-paced, offense heavy league before Julius. Just sayin’ 🤷🏾♀️
Very good comments.
True
The ABA saved the NBA by giving it life. The entire NBA game changed when the ABA merged with NBA. The NBA was boring. The ABA energized the NBA with an infusion of young players like Dr.J, George Gervin, Dan Issel, David Thompson, Artis Gilmore, Bobby Jones and others.
Can someone explain me please , how the ABA save the NBA and I didn’t know that the ABA was before the NBA
The NBA has been around before the ABA. However, the ABA brought excitement to the game. That's what the NBA didn't have. The ABA had the 3 pt shot which eventually the NBA adopted some years after the merge and the ABA also had the Slam Dunk Contest, which again, the NBA adopted some years later.
For one thing, the ABA invented the 3-point shot, which the NBA laughed at -- until the '80s, when the NBA realized they needed it and adopted the 3-pointer. That energized the league, making its game a lot livelier.
The ABL was the first league to implement the 3 point shot (not the ABA), and basically the ABA legitimized the more flashy, fast-paced, streetball style of play that the NBA looked down on for so many years but eventually embraced because it put butts in seats.
You are correct about the ABL introducing the 3-point shot to pro basketball. As you know. the ABL lasted only 1 1/2 seasons. The ABA adopted it from the outset and is rightfully credited with popularizing the 3-pointer. @@LadyDuchess
i was at the game.
Too bad the ABA teams where not allowed to join the NBA intact I think they were only allowed to keep one player.
4 teams from the ABA did come over to the NBA when the merger happened, the Pacers, Spurs, Nuggets, can't remember the 4th team.
@@fred5nycThe New Jersey Nets