Episode Two picks up with Spencer Haywood, and I think it’s fitting this documentary came out during Black History Month, all the struggles of racism people like Spencer Haywood grew up with and experienced even in the ‘70s, when it came time for a new contract, he got lowballed by JW Ringsby of the former Denver Rockets, who resorted to a racial epithet, so Haywood went to the NBA, challenged the ruling of eligibility and won.
So, not once but twice does the ABA fumble - first with Kareem, then Spencer Haywood. Just think how much sports history changes if not for these fumbles.
Yet, even despite this, the ABA still gets legitimacy through the All Star Game the NBA barely won at the Astrodome in 1971, that the NBA starts poaching ABA talent, that Charlie Scott leaves the Virginia Squires during the playoffs to go to the NBA, and still, they go seven games with the New York Nets, brought on by Dr. J himself, but Rick Barry and Co. still win the Eastern Conference in 1972.
They cover the Pacers dynasty, and their camaraderie, which was awesome to see. I wonder why the talent all stayed together, didn’t jump. I knew Rick Barry had to be ordered back to the Warriors, but find it so interesting they found a loophole in his contract, and thus, he signed long term with the Warriors. It was hard to tell from the view from that ABA Finals game if Barry dropped the pass or if it was a bad pass. Rick Barry is still as animated as ever.
Yet, the poaching of talent, the bidding wars, this drove the salaries up, yet the players for many years were against a merger. I think I forgot at one point Dr. J was part of the Atlanta Hawks, but of course, I think about the Nets just trading him to the Sixers after the merger.
If only the ABA had a deal, if only they had more coverage, national broadcasting, if only they had the exposure the NBA had, though the ABA couldn’t afford things.
Thankfully, it looks like there are full ABA games on YouTube.
I do wonder, what was more significant to its respective sport, the AFL or ABA? You have the AFL beating the NFL twice, the merger, all the AFL teams into the then-new AFC, but as far as I know, football was still football between the NFL and AFL. The ABA redefined and brought in things that basketball uses today that the NBA once did not have.
I’ll have to watch the final two episodes at some point, really good series so far.
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