Tag Archives: ABA

ProHoopsHistory HOF: Bobby Jones

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(remembertheaba.com)

(remembertheaba.com)

Few defenders have ever come as tough and agile as Bobby Jones. He played a physical, cerebral defensive style predicated on fundamentals and not grabbing, clutching, or cheap-shotting opponents. His results would be nasty for opponents, but at least they had the honor of being shut down by a gentleman like Bobby Jones.

Jones’ regal defense began in the ABA, a league more known for its offensive fireworks than defensive showstoppers. As a member of the Denver Nuggets, Jones was instantly named a member of the All-Defensive 1st Team in his rookie season. In his second season he repeated that accomplishment and with Dan Issel and David Thompson propelled the Nuggets to the ABA’s best record. They also got a Finals showdown with the New York Nets and Julius Erving.

Dr. J was the ABA’s premier player and even the best defenders sometimes become helpless. Erving lit up Jones for the series averaging 37.7 points and the Nets won the title. As fate would have it, the two small forwards would soon team up and form the nucleus of an NBA titan.

With the ABA folding after the 1976 season, Jones tranferred to the NBA with the Nuggets, but was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in 1978. The Sixers had already pilfered Erving from the Nets and thus made the fateful decision to make Jones their sixth man backing up the Doctor.

With no complaints, Jones packed in all of his defensive (and offensive) punch into the truncated time and proved the difference maker numerous times for the Sixers. For you see, just because Jones didn’t start the game didn’t mean he wasn’t on the court in crunch time. Over and over again he’d deliver timely blocks, steals, rebounds, and hustle plays to thwart opponents and save the Sixers.

The NBA recognized Jones for the amazing defender he was with eight straight All-Defensive 1st Team appearances, bringing his career total to 10. All the while his offense was an understated asset. He was never prone to racking up huge scoring games, but what shots he did take he hit. (He also had some hops and could throw down unexpected jams). Three times he led the NBA  and ABA in FG% and never shot less than 52% for a season. When it comes to forwards all-time (with a minimum 200 games), Jones is 6th in FG%. And the five guys ahead of him combined have scored just 790 more points than Jones did.

A savvy offensive player. A 10x All-Defensive Team member. The first ever Sixth Man of the Year back in 1983. An NBA champion that same year. Bobby Jones has a lot going for himself and proved that hustle isn’t a substitute for talent, it is indeed a talent all unto itself.

Seasons Played: 1975 – 1986

Accolades

ABA -
2x All-Defensive 1st Team (1975-’76)
All-ABA 2nd Team (1976)
All-Star (1976)
All-Rookie 1st Team (1975)
NBA -
Champion (1983)
Sixth Man of the Year (1983)
8x All-Defensive 1st Team (1977-’84)
All-Defensive 2nd Team (1985)
4x All-Star (1977-’78, 1981-’82)

Statistics

ABA - 167 Games
14.9 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 59.2% FG, 69.7% FT
2x FG% Leader (1975-’76)
1st All-Time FG%, 11th All-Time Blocks, 16th All-Time Steals

NBA - 654 Games
11.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 55.0% FG, 78.0% FT
FG% Leader (1978)
14th All-Time FG%

ProHoopsHistory HOF: Larry Kenon

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Larry Kenon

“I’m the best all-round forward in the game,” he says. “If anyone takes the trouble to look, they’ll see that I’m the one who makes our team go. I’m the most important guy out there. I love to rebound and run the ball right up the court. I was the first forward to do that. Now others are imitating me. I make cross-court passes that no one else dares, and then I follow the ball like I got it tied to a string. I play good defense, though I don’t get a lot of credit for that. Look, I’m not out for an argument. I say that I’m the best. Anybody else has the right to say that about himself.”

Don’t ever say that Larry Kenon was bashful. But also don’t discount his exuberant words.

From 1974 to 1980, the 6’9″ Kenon was indeed one of basketball’s best forwards. During this period he was 5th among all forwards in the NBA and ABA in points scored and steals nabbed, while also placing 3rd in rebounds grabbed. His averages during this period were pretty noteworthy: 20 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 49% FG, and 80% FT.

He burst into the ABA in the 1973-74 season with the New York Nets and his brash offensive skills made “Special K” an instrumental piece in the Nets’ title run that season. He was never shy about carving out  a piece of the offensive pie with mainstay Julius Erving leading the club. In both the regular season and postseason, he led the club in rebounding as well.

After the 1975 season, Kenon was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Overshadowed by the more gossamer George Gervin, Kenon was nonetheless every bit of the Ice Man’s equal during this period. Indeed, he’d clear the glass and spark San Antonio’s powerful offensive assault with Gervin and James Silas. The Spurs were always in the playoffs with this core and reached the Eastern, yes Eastern, Conference Finals in 1979 where they lost in 7 games to the Washington Bullets.

That was the highwater mark for Kenon’s run with the Spurs. He continuously ran into contract troubles with the Spurs and by 1980 Kenon bolted for the Chicago Bulls in free agency. The move was a career death sentence. He averaged a career-low 14.1 points in 1981. Then a new career low in 1982 with 7 points. And then another new career low in 1983 with 6 points. His career petered out after that as he was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The surprisingly quick end of his career is unfortunate. In his final game with the Spurs, Kenon nailed 51 points on the Detroit Pistons. He still holds the record for most steals in an NBA game with 11 back in 1976. He was everything he bragged about himself being: a good defender, a transcendent dunker and scorer, a key indispensable cog on the Spurs and Nets of the 1970s.

However, the aura of Julius Erving and George Gervin still outshine the career and accomplishments of Larry Kenon. Special K is just one of those splendid players who gets lost in the shuffle of the long and winding history of professional basketball.

Seasons Played: 1974 – 1983

Accolades

ABA -
Champion (1974)
3x All-Star (1974-’76)
All-Rookie 1st Team (1974)

NBA -
2x All-Star (1978-’79)

Statistics

ABA - 249 Games
17.7 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 48.5% FG, 75.5% FT
11th All-Time MPG, 11th All-Time RPG
28th All-Time FG%

NBA - 503 Games
17.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, 48.9% FG, 79.8% FT

ProHoopsHistory HOF: Mel Daniels

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Mel Daniels (nasljerseys)

Mel Daniels (nasljerseys)

Big and bad. Rough and tough. Mel Daniels doesn’t exactly fit the archetype of the ABA. It was a free-wheeling league where afros grew tall, dunkers flew high, and defense was negotiable, if played at all.  Daniels, despite not fitting any of those bills, deposited the most successful career of any person in the ABA’s brief history.

He was Rookie of the Year, a two-time MVP, and a three-time champion. At only 6’9″, Daniels nonetheless led the ABA in rebounds per game three times and is the league’s all-time leading rebounder. Rebounding was certainly Mel’s best quantifiable asset, but his scoring was also of import. He had decent range on his jumper and was a beast on getting cleanup buckets.

However, Mel’s best asset wasn’t quantifiable, it was pure qualitative. It was his imposing presence that solidified and anchored the Indiana Pacers as the most successful franchise in the ABA. The man was an imposing leader for the Pacers. If a scrum broke out, Daniels would be in the middle of it to make sure his Indiana mates wouldn’t be intimidated.

If his fists and granite-hard picks didn’t intimate enough intimidation, then Daniels’ game was certainly more than good enough to accomplish the task. On one spectacular occasion, he scored 37 points pulled down 26 rebounds in a single half. Those kinds of exciting performances though were always in the ABA for Mel. He had a 9-year career, but spent just a grand total of 11 forgettable games in the NBA.

What shouldn’t be forgettable are his triumphant days in the ABA. They were 628 games of unrequited triumph.

For more on Mel Daniels’ career, head over to Yahoo!’s Ball Don’t Lie

Seasons Played: 1968 – 1977

Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers

Accolades

ABA -
3x Champion (1970, 1972-’73)
2x MVP (1969, 1971)
4x All-ABA 1st Team (1968-’71), All-ABA 2nd Team (1973)
Rookie of the Year (1968), All-Rookie 1st Team (1968)
7x All-Star (1968-’74)

Statistics

ABA - 628 Games
18.7 PPG, 15.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.5 BPG, 46.8% FG, 65.8% FT
3x RPG Leader (1968-’69, 1971)

9th All-Time Games Played, 4th All-Time Minutes Played
4th All-Time Points, 4th All-Time FGs Made, 9th All-Time FTs Made
1st All-Time Rebounds, 1st All-Time Defensive Rebs, 1st All-Time Offensive Rebs
10th All-Time Blocks

2nd All-Time RPG, 10th All-Time BPG
14th All-Time MPG, 20th All-Time PPG

ProHoopsHistory HOF: Moses Malone

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Moses Malone (Sports Illustrated)

Moses Malone (Sports Illustrated)

As the 1980s dawned in the NBA, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are credited with revitalizing the league. This assertion, while surely true in many regards, obscures who the most dominant player in the NBA was when those two rookies debuted.

Moses Malone was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1979, 1982, and 1983. He led the 40-42 Houston Rockets (a roster with many fine players but no all-stars besides Malone) all the way to the NBA Finals in 1981. He nearly made good on his Fo-Fo-Fo promise in 1983 to sweep the postseason as the Sixers lost just one game en route to the title.

During this five year stretch (1979-’83), Malone led the league in win shares, minutes played and total rebounds grabbed. With defensive rebounds, Jack Sikma edged Malone by 60 rebounds for the period. With offensive rebounds, Malone nearly doubled up second-place Dan Roundfield for the lead with 2637 offensive boards to 1336. Only George Gervin scored more points than Moses.

Those last two facets, prodigious offensive rebounding and torrential scoring, went hand-in-hand. Malone is legendary for his ability to work the angles and predict the trajectory of missed shots. He’d sneak in from out of bounds to snare the put-back opportunities. His strength easily moved opponents from prime real estate in the paint. His physicality was immense as it seemed the more you bumped him the stronger he became.

Malone also had some of the most dexterous hands a center has ever possessed. When he got his hands on the ball, it was in his hands to stay until he decided to release it. On top of all this Malone could also knock down the face-up jumper from 15-feet out and could nail short turnarounds with ease.

1979 to 1983 was the Age of Moses, but Malone, along with Robert Parish, played the longest career in pro basketball history. His rookie season was in 1974-75 with the ABA’s Utah Stars where he was immediately an all-star and a raw bona fide talent. He proceeded to bounce around as teams struggled to truly comprehend his biblical abilities. The Stars disbanded, the Spirits of St. Louis folded with the ABA, the Portland Trail Blazers had a glut of big men, the Buffalo Braves were just plain incompetent. Finally the Rockets gave Moses a durable home where he came to dominate the NBA.

He maintained that domination, or something close to it, through 1989. Moses had signed with the 76ers prior to the 1982-83 season and delivered them their long-awaited title that year. Philadelphia, though, fell victim to the trap Moses’ earlier stops had. They gave up too soon on the MVP center at age 30 in 1986 and traded him to the Washington Bullets. He wound up being an all-star through the end of the decade with the Bullets and Atlanta Hawks.

When he finally retired in 1995, Moses had played for 9 different franchises. He was the last player from the ABA to hang up his sneakers. Above all else, he was a basketball survivor no matter how often he was unceremoniously put out into the hardwood Sinai.

Seasons Played: 1975 – 1995

Accolades

ABA -
All-Star (1975)
All-Rookie 1st Team (1975)

NBA -
Champion (1983)
Final MVP (1983)
3x MVP (1979, 1982-’83)
4x All-NBA 1st Team (1979, 1982-’83, 1985)
4x All-NBA 2nd Team (1980-’81, 1984, 1987)
All-Defensive 1st Team (1983)
All-Defensive 2nd Team (1979)
12x All-Star (1978-’89)

Statistics

ABA - 126 Games
17.2 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 1.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 55.2% FG, 62.9% FT

NBA - 1329 Games
20.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 49.1% FG, 76.9% FT
6x RPG Leader (1979, 1981-’85)
1st All-Time Offensive Rebounds, 6th All-Time Defensive Rebounds, 5th All-Time Total Rebounds
7th All-Time Points, 2nd All-Time FTs Made, 16th All-Time FGs Made
10th All-Time Games Played, 13th All-Time Minutes Played
23rd All-Time Blocks
15th All-Time RPG

ProHoopsHistory HOF: Billy Cunningham

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Billy Cunningham (NY Daily News)

Billy Cunningham (NY Daily News)

A career as staggered and varied as Billy Cunningham’s naturally defies any sort of neat categorization. He was one of the great 6th Men in NBA history on one of the great teams in NBA history. He was a perennial NBA MVP candidate during the early 1970s. He was an MVP winner in the ABA. His return to the NBA ultimately truncated and ruined by unfortunate injury.

As the Sixth Man for the Philadelphia 76ers, Billy Cunningham was key to the team’s success and failure in the late 1960s. In the 1966 Eastern Division Finals, the Celtics successfully harassed Cunningham into an abysmal series (5 PPG, 16% FG) that Boston won 4-1. In 1967 Cunningham had a more respectable 14 PPG and the 76ers knocked off the Celtics 4-1 en route to the NBA title. In 1968 Cunningham went down to injury early in the playoffs and Boston won the EDF 4-3.

Cunningham’s days as a Sixth Man ended the summer of 1968 when Philly traded Wilt Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers. Standing only 6’6″, Cunningham over the next four seasons would usually start at forward but would sometimes have to slide over to center on an often scrambled 76ers roster. Cunningham’s toughness and versatility kept the hodge podge ensemble competitive up through 1971. Thereafter there wasn’t much his 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a night could do for a roster that was running on empty.

Luckily for Cunningham, the prime of his career wasn’t entirely wasted. The Kangaroo Kid jumped ship to the ABA for the 1973 season with the Carolina Cougars and was named that league’s MVP. The Cougars whipped up the ABA’s best regular season record that year, but lost in the conference finals to the Kentucky Colonels. That season proved to be Cunningham’s high-water mark.

In 1974 he battled kidney ailments appearing in just 32 games for the Cougars. In 1975 he bounced back in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers compiling an all-star worthy season. However, in 1976 his career finally came to a close when he blew his knee out against the New York Knicks. A shame since Cunningham still had game left and the next season, Philly would add Julius Erving to their core of George McGinnis and Doug Collins.

Even though his career took many winding, unexpected turns, Billy Cunningham excelled at each point. His slashing offensive attack proved nearly unstoppable. His remarkable rebounding and passing make him one of just 12 players to ever average over 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a season. Cunningham is also one of just four players to average over 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, and Elgin Baylor are the other three.

For the uninitiated, that may be a surprising fact to learn. But for those in the know, they can testify that the Kangaroo Kid at his best was definitely that caliber of player.

Seasons Played: 1966 – 1976

Accolades

ABA -
MVP (1973)
All-ABA 1st Team (1973)

NBA -
Champion (1967)
3x All-NBA 1st Team (1969-’71)
All-NBA 2nd Team (1972)
4x All-Star (1969-’72)
All-Rookie 1st Team (1966)

Statistics

ABA - 116 Games
23.1 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 48.3% FG, 79.1% FT

NBA –  654 Games
20.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 44.6% FG, 72.0% FT

ProHoopsHistory HOF: Ron Boone

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Ron Boone (Remember the ABA)

Ron Boone (Remember the ABA)

“Relegated” to the ABA for most of his career, Ron Boone isn’t instantly called upon as one of the great “little men” in basketball history. He was a tough and magnificent finisher around the basket and also could catch fire with a streaky jump shot. What made him a true terror was his tremendous upper body strength and his spectacular leaping ability. That’s why someone only 6’2″ could slide over from guard and play forward without harm for his teams. Yes, the bigger forwards could sometimes out-muscle Ron, but he could blow by the opponent with even more ease on the offensive end.

Debuting with the Dallas Chaparrals in 1969, Boone found his greatest individual and team success with the Utah Stars in the early 1970s. As part of a well-rounded cast with the likes of Zelmo Beaty and Willie Wise, Boone helped lead the Stars to the title in 1971 over the Kentucky Colonels in a tough 4-games-to-3 victory. His personal fortunes peaked in 1975 when he averaged a career-high 25 points a game on 49% shooting, just a touch below his career-high of 50% in 1973.

When the ABA finally went asunder in the mid-1970s, Boone could be found all over its record books. He was, and obviously remains, in the top 10 in points, assists, steals, minutes played, games played, field goals made, and free throws made.

After the ABA’s integration with the NBA in 1976, Boone suited up for the Kansas City Kings and put together two more fine seasons in his early 30s before finally hitting the decline. The NBA never saw the best of Boone, as it did with many ABA legends, but he achieved a notable milestone in his NBA days and it came on his last day as a professional ball player.

Boone played pro basketball through January 1981 when he was waived by the Utah Jazz. Thereafter retiring Boone had nonetheless played in 1041 career games. He had also played in 1041 straight games. Yes, that means he played in every game possible in his 13-year career. And he played significant minutes in nearly every single one of them, only averaging below 20 minutes a game once in his career. At no time did he receive a pity play to keep the streak alive like A.C. Green did with his subsequent games played streak that broke Boone’s record.

Ron was the real deal and earned every bit of that magnificent 1041-game streak and he played some tough incredible basketball in the process. When it comes to iron men, Ron Boone is the gold standard.

Seasons Played: 1969 – 1981

Utah Stars

Accolades

ABA -
Champion (1971)
All-ABA 1st Team (1975)
All-ABA 2nd Team (1974)
4x All-Star (1971, 1974-’76)
All-Rookie 1st Team (1969)

Statistics

ABA - 662 Games
18.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, 46.5% FG, 83.0% FT
3rd All-Time Points, 3rd All-Time FGs Made, 6th All-Time FTs Made
6th All-Time Assists, 9th All-Time Steals, 30th All-Time Rebounds
5th All-Time Games Played, 5th All-Time Minutes Played,
14th All-Time FT%, 16th All-Time APG, 21st All-Time PPG

NBA - 379 Games
13.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 45.4% FG, 85.4% FT

ProHoopsHistory HOF: George McGinnis

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George McGinnis (philly.com)

George McGinnis (philly.com)

If this were the NBA Hall of Fame, then George McGinnis likely wouldn’t be a member of the club. He definitely had a fine NBA career. Over his first four NBA seasons McGinnis averaged 22 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals a game. He was a member of the All-NBA 1st Team, made the All-Star game, and along with Julius Erving helped lead the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1977 NBA Finals.

After those first four seasons, McGinnis quickly faded. He lasted only three more seasons averaging 10.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 steals. Not bad numbers by any means, but it’s not blowing anyone away.

But that’s just McGinnis’ NBA career. If you take in his days in the ABA, you don’t just have a pretty good career. You achieve Hall of Fame status. As a rookie on the Indiana Pacers in 1972, McGinnis helped push the Pacers to the ABA title. The next season (1973), McGinnis was named the Finals MVP as the Pacers once again won the ABA title. By 1974 he was a member of the All-ABA 1st Team. In 1975 he was awarded the league’s regular season MVP award after averaging an absurd 30 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 2.5 steals a game.

After that mammoth season, McGinnis jumped ship to the NBA where the Philadelphia 76ers were ecstatic to receive an MVP caliber player:

As his averages attest, McGinnis was one of the finest all-around players basketball has ever seen. As a power forward, he certainly lived up to the typical job description. He tussled aggressively on the boards and was one of the strongest men in basketball. McGinnis’ chiseled physique didn’t mean a lumbering giant, though. He was able to grab a board and dribble the length of the court to flush home a dunk or perform duty as point forward.

His combination of power and speed grew from the seeds planted by Maurice Stokes in the 1950s and McGinnis helped pass it on to the likes of Karl Malone and LeBron James. Taking in McGinnis’ entire pro basketball career easily propels him to the status of Hall of Famer.

And if you need to see more reasons why, just click here

Seasons Played: 1972 – 1982

Accolades

ABA -
MVP (1975)
2x Champion (1972-’73), Finals MVP (1973)
2x All-ABA 1st Team (1974-’75), All ABA 2nd Team (1973)
3x All-Star (1973-’75)
All-Rookie 1st Team (1972)

NBA -
All-NBA 1st Team (1976)
All-NBA 2nd Team (1977)
3x All-Star (1976-’77, 1979)

Statistics

ABA – 314 Games
25.2 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 47.0% FG, 68.2% FT
PPG Leader (1975)
6th All-Time in Steals, 21st All-Time in Points
22nd in Rebounds, 23rd in FTs Made, 24th in FGs Made

NBA - 528 Games
17.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 44.8% FG, 65.1% FT

ProHoopsHistory HOF: Maurice Lucas

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Maurice Lucas (ESPN)

Maurice Lucas (ESPN)

Lucas, the fearsome ABA enforcer, is another vegetarian, in addition to being one of the most complete power forwards in the league; at times [Bill] Walton appears stunned when, high over the backboard, he glances across the rim to witness Lucas ripping another rebound asunder and scattering the bodies below him. “Bill’s a gorilla until the fight starts. Then he goes in hiding while I straighten things out,” Lucas says.

That Sports Illustrated article accurately surmised Maurice Lucas in 1977. After decking 7’2″ Artis Gilmore in an ABA game his rookie season, the 6’9″ Lucas became the most feared enforcer in the basketball. The reputation never dissipated as Lucas continued to angrily confront other players for their transgressions against Lucas or his teammates. In fact, Lucas’ spirited confrontation with Darryl Dawkins is credited with helping swing the 1977 NBA Finals from Philadelphia 76ers to the Portland Trail Blazers.

35-year old Maurice Lucas scuffles with a young Hakeem Olajuwon in 1987 (Seattle Times)

35-year old Maurice Lucas scuffles with a young Hakeem Olajuwon in 1987 (Seattle Times)

As that SI article noted, however, Lucas was one of the most complete power forwards in basketball, not just some goon to physically intimidate opponents. As a scorer, Lucas was never likely to overwhelm but you certainly had to respect what he was capable of lest he did overwhelm you. As a rebounder he was second-to-none. The same goes for his defense. Never mind the blocks or steals totals, the man would get up in the opponent’s face, muscle him up, and force bad shots.

His dogged, determined play on both ends of the court endeared Maurice to teammates, even if that blustery attitude sometimes caused headaches for management. But Luke was never one to kowtow to authority. He was a rabble-rouser and committed to his class compatriots, his other four mates on the hardwood.

He was the man you despised playing against, and genuinely loved having on your side.

Seasons Played: 1975 – 1988

Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers

Accolades

ABA - 
All-Star (1976)

NBA -
Champion (1977)
All-NBA 2nd Team (1978)
All-Defensive 1st Team (1978)
All-Defensive 2nd Team (1979)
4x All-Star (1977-’79, 1983)

Statistics

ABA - 166 Games
15.2 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 46.3% FG, 77.5% FT

NBA - 711 Games
14.4 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 47.3% FG, 76.3% FT

ProHoopsHistory HOF: George Gervin

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George Gervin

George Gervin

One of the smoothest players to ever lace up a pair of Nikes, George Gervin was an effortless scoring machine. Nothing ever seemed to rattle, faze, or perturb the Ice Man. Inspired by Elgin Baylor’s litany of acrobatic and scooping shots, Gervin patented the finger roll to stunning results.

The shot was a so unorthodox and yet so effective it couldn’t help but make Gervin a star. His offensive arsenal went beyond the finger roll, though. He had a stellar, if gawky, jump shot. His skin-and-bones frame meant post ups were out of the question, but Gervin was constantly able to squirm and sliver through defenses to attack the rim.

He couldn’t play a lick of defense but when you snag 4 scoring titles in 5 years, on outstanding field goal percentages, your team figures out how to make due.

The San Antonio Spurs, whether in the ABA or NBA, certainly made the most of Gervin’s career as they missed the playoffs just once and advanced to the 2nd round seven times including three trips to the Conference Finals.

Gervin’s offensive deluges were aided by players like James Silas and Larry Kenon early in his career, and Johnny Moore, Mike Mitchell and Artis Gilmore toward the end. These players handled the passing, the defense, and the rebounding while Ice handled the scoring. Dick Motta in 1982 summed up defensive strategies for Gervin:

“You don’t stop George Gervin. You just hope that his arm gets tired after 40 shots. I believe the guy can score when he wants to. I wonder if he gets bored out there.”

At the tailend of his career when the ice began to melt, Spurs Cotton Fitzsimmons broached Gervin with the idea of being a sixth man. Gervin retorted, “I ain’t no John Havlicek.” Indeed he wasn’t. Havlicek was an all-around player while Gervin was “singular, comet-like” to use Terry Stembridge’s words.

Even if singular, his talent was awe-inspiring and it was enough to ensure that the San Antonio Spurs were a viable enough franchise to be absorbed by the NBA when the ABA finally collapsed in 1976. Future Spurs legends may have hung the title banners, but Gervin’s presence is what kept the franchise alive instead of having it permanently put on ice.

Seasons Played: 1973 – 1986

San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs

Accolades

ABA -
2x All-ABA 2nd Team (1975-’76)
3x All-Star (1974-’76)
All-Rookie 1st Team (1973)

NBA -
5x All-NBA 1st Team (1978-’82)
2x All-NBA 2nd Team (1977, 1983)
9x All-Star (1977-’85), All-Star Game MVP (1980)

Statistics

ABA- 269 Games
21.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 48.0% FG, 83.1% FT
7th All-Time in PPG, 12th All-Time in FT%
9th All-Time in Blocks, 15th All-Time in Steals
NBA - 791 Games
26.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 51.1% FG, 84.4% FT
4x PPG Leader (1978-’80, 1982)
9th All-Time in PPG

ProHoopsHistory HOF: Freddie Lewis

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Freddie Lewis (indystar.com)

Freddie Lewis (indystar.com)

The career of Freddie Lewis is marked by two second chances.

Drafted by the NBA’s Cincinnati Royals, Freddie couldn’t see the light of day with the regal squad of the Queen City. From Cincy’s point of view, it made sense. Oscar Robertson was at the peak of his powers while Flynn Robinson and John McGlocklin were capable backups. Not much room for a 4th round pick like Freddie Lewis to make headway.

After the wasted 1966-67 season in the NBA (Oscar Robertson’s mentorship aside), Freddie Lewis received a rebirth in the ABA. Joining the Indiana Pacers, Lewis eventually formed the ABA’s most powerful franchise with Roger Brown, Bob Netolicky, Mel Daniels, Bill Keller, and George McGinnis.

Freddie Lewis’ ball-handling skills, sharp-shooting, and hustle made him indispensable to the Pacers juggernaut.

Throughout Indiana’s playoff and title runs, Lewis was the man with the ball when things got critical. During the 1972 postseason, he led the Pacers past the Utah Stars in the climactic seventh game with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. In the next round, Indiana squared off with the New York Nets for the ABA title. Lewis spearheaded a dramatic 20-point comeback in Game 5. His clutch steal and free throws with 20 seconds left in the game sealed the Pacers’ 2nd ABA title in that decisive game.

However, by 1974, the Pacers assumed Lewis was washed up and traded him to the Memphis Sounds. The Sounds quickly flipped Lewis to the Spirits of St. Louis where he’d get his second second chance.

With the Spirits for the 1974-75 season, Lewis had perhaps the greatest year of his career at age 30. He averaged career-highs in PPG, APG, SPG and FG%. What was old age to Indiana was veteran presence and a steadying hand for St. Louis’ stable of youngsters including Marvin Barnes and Maurice Lucas.

In typical Lewis fashion, he helped St. Louis upset the 58-win Nets in the postseason. In the deciding Game 5, Freddie scored the Spirits’ final 10 points including a buzzer-beating jumper to win the game, 108-107. A severely sprained ankle suffered by Lewis in the next playoff round prevented the Spirits from making a deeper run. His lost leadership left St. Louis adrift and they were thrashed by the Kentucky Colonels.

Thereafter, Freddie had one more productive season with St. Louis in 1976, but the franchise was in absolute chaos as the ABA crumbled in its final year. Lewis spent his last season (1977) as a reserve back on the Pacers and in the NBA.

Despite his exploits, Freddie Lewis remains an under-appreciated legend outside of Indiana. But he has found himself in these waters before. Maybe yet another second chance lurks around the corner for Lewis to finally find widespread recognition.

Seasons Played: 1967 – 1977

Accolades

ABA -
3x Champion (1970, 1972-’73), Finals MVP (1972)
4x All-Star (1968, ’70, ’72, ’75), All-Star Game MVP (1975)

Statistics

ABA - 686 Games
17.0 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 43.3% FG, 81.9% FT
2nd All-Time in Minutes Played, 3rd All-Time in Games Played, 4th All-Time in Assists
6th All-Time in Points, 9th All-Time in Three-Pointers Made

NBA - 64 Games
5.8 PPG, 1.5 APG, 1.4 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 40.1% FG, 77.1% FT