SB Nation
Tim Ziller has defended the ’70s before, notably in Free Darko Presents: The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History. [His] argument was that it was a time of testing new limits, of parity and of transition. The glory of the ’80s was only possible because of the work done by Dr. J, Skywalker, The Ice Man, Kareem and the Rolls-Royce backcourt in the ’70s. Here’s another argument: the ’70s represented a battle for the soul of basketball.
MMA Crossfire
It’s been 28 years since professional basketball great Julius “Doctor J” Erving’s [retirement] and there still seems to be a glaring lack of basic knowledge for what the man did to earn the accolade as one of the greatest players ever.
SB Nation
The ABA began as a renegade league and ended up taking on the NBA, against all odds. Its legacy still lives on 39 years since its end.
NBA Pacers
It seems incongruous, this 6-foot-9 Hall of Famer with the vice-grip handshake reflecting on such tender topics with such sincerity. That is, unless you get to know him. And then it makes perfect sense that this bare-fisted brawler has written, by his estimation, at least 20,000 poems.
Vigilant Sports
On a Sunday evening in mid-July, seven former ABA Pacers were together in one room — for one cause they care dearly about.
If you knew these guys, you would know coming together is nothing out of the ordinary for them. They’ll often meet up at one of their houses and hang out. Some attend Pacers games regularly. The men (and their families) have remained close through the decades as the American Basketball Association merged with the National Basketball Association we know today back in 1976.
Fan Duel – AOL
Forty years ago this coming October, the American Basketball Association kicked off what would prove to be its final season, before merging with the NBA in 1977. But is “merging” really the proper way to describe the melding of the two preeminent hoops entities of the day? Well, that depends on what your definition of “merge” is. If you’re comfortable calling an esteemed older league absorbing a flailing younger league’s only four viable franchises a merger, then sure, it’s a merger.
Denver Post
The bright lights and excitement of playing and coaching basketball had long since diminished for Joe Belmont, once a prominent player and coach in Denver’s basketball history.
Indy Star
Now to be fair to Pacers rookies, it’s often hard to make an instant impact with players taken outside the lottery, which is where the Pacers have drafted for much of the past two decades…So with that said and what some are expecting of this year’s top pick, here are the 10 best seasons by a Pacers rookie in franchise history.
Kansas City Star
Don Dee, a member of the United States Olympic gold-medal winning basketball team in 1968, died of natural causes in North Kansas City, according to his family…Dee made the [Olympic] team, along with future professional standouts Spencer Haywood, Jo Jo White and Charlie Scott.
On Sunday, July 19th, The Dropping Dimes Foundation held its Tip-Off Fundraiser at the Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center in Indianapolis. The location held a special place in the hearts of both players and fans alike—it was once the site where the Indiana Pacers practiced.
During the event, fans had the opportunity to meet and greet former ABA greats and listen to the players share some of their favorite memories of playing in the ABA. Highlights included tales of the famous ABA brawls on the court, a committed fan who left little to the imagination when showing her devotion to the team, and a little off the cuff motivation from Bobby “Slick” Leonard — hockey style.
However, the high point of the evening was undoubtedly the return of Roger Brown’s Hall of Fame jacket when Brown’s former teammates were able to present the jacket to his family. The jacket will be on display at The Fieldhouse this coming season.
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