Soul Power discussion (spoilers)

[EnergizedLib]

I absolutely loved the first episode of Soul Power. It’s on Prime (Bezos, I know, but my girlfriend has it, not me).

That was a fantastic opening episode, very educational, including not just stuff about basketball, but American history and society at the time.

I’ve always known the ABA as the red, white and blue ball league. It wasn’t that long ago I learned that the ABA introduced the 3-point shot, and that they had dunking when the NBA at the time did not. The NBA, as it was portrayed, was a very boring league at one point.

I guess Red Auerbach was portrayed as someone who was part of the old guard, didn’t give much attention and didn’t like the league.

I learned about a false accusation about Connie Hawkins a fixing scandal, thus him winning a championship with the Pittsburgh Pipers and jumping back to the NBA.

What really took me aback and didn’t know of was both the Milwaukee Bucks AND New York Nets wanted Lee Alcindor (Kareem). What a generational fumble by George Mikan to not present the million dollar check to Kareem, which led to him passing up the ABA to join the Bucks. My gosh, can you imagine Kareem, of his stature, staying home in New York to play for the Nets? Basketball history would’ve changed, maybe the Bucks don’t win a championship until 2021.

The episode ends with the start of the Spencer Haywood case, and will watch Episode 2 probably tomorrow, but how it shows the ABA developed the idea of drafting underclassmen.

Unbelievable. The modern NBA, heck modern basketball, isn’t what it is without the ABA.