Olympic mens basketball squad, says the aba was the outlaw game and not just because it employed players the nba had blackballed. Loose balls is, after all these years, the definitive and most widely respected history of the aba. For their first two seasons of 196768 and 196869, the pacers had a lot going for them. The complete history and statistics of professional basketball by national basketball association staff 1989, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Basketball legend larry miller, a former catasauqua high school star who played for dean smith at north carolina, has a new book coming out that will spotlight his career and growing up in. History of the game of basketball including the nba and. Most of the dialogue is from former players, league executives. History of the game of basketball including the nba and the ncaa. American basketball association aba remember the aba. We changed the game is a storythe real storyabout the very beginning of the indiana pacers professional basketball team. We changed the game a real story of the incredible. Picture marvin barnes entering the locker room in a fur coat, eating fast food, moments before tipoff.
Written by league insiders bob netolicky, robin miller, and dick tinkham. The book picks up steam once it hits the legend of. Its a wild ride through some of the wackiest, funniest, strangest times ever to hit pro sportstold entirely through the often incredible words of those who played, wrote and connived their way through the leagues nine seasons. What better way to get kids curious about the past than to combine the two. Its about the laughable new league founded in the 1960s in which the pacers got their start as a team, the american basketball association aba, which gave many unsung players a shot or a second chance to make it in pro basketball but faced constant. The aba was shortlived, but its impact on basketball is. A shot made from beyond the three point arc 19 feet 9 inches 6 meters in college, and 22 feet to 23 feet 9 inches 7 meters in the nba is allotted three. Its about the growth of a league that was founded by nhl owners to fill arena dates and is. Known for its distinctive red, white and blue basketball, the aba competed with the established national basketball association the nba for players, fans, and media attention. The original american basketball association aba was a mens professional basketball league, from 1967 to 1976. Loose balls is either the great american novel in oralhistory sound bites or the definitive book on the 1970s, or both.
The book isnt just about the suit, which came about as the nba was preparing to merge with the aba. May 24, 20 the aba distincted itself with the red, white and blue basketball photo courtesy of turbosquid one of the themes of the 1960s was that establishment was being challenged. Murphy, a sports entrepreneur who cofounded the aba, explained to author terry pluto in his mustread aba history book, loose balls, the threepoint play was going to be a. The aba set up many of its teams in cities where the nbl, a predecissor to the nba, had originally been.
What makes loose balls great is that the aba is the last great american myth. The 9yearold league became instant trivia thursday when four aba terms merged into the national basketball association following 312 days of long and complicated talks between officials of the two leagues. The online museum devoted to the defunct american basketball association 19671976. Both of them are oral histories, tall tales about the early days of the nba this is relatively hard to find though and loose balls is about the history of the aba which is vital to understanding where the nba was headed, its pretty instructive about where the style of play. The book releases in late february, just a few weeks before the aba 50year reunion celebration. Sam smith talks about his new book, the history of the nba. Julius erving, american collegiate and professional basketball player who was one of the most colorful and exciting figures in the game during the 1970s and 80s. Its about the growth of a league that was founded by.
Alltime aba allstar team bleacher report latest news. The nba according to the sports guy by bill simmons, the crossover by kwame alexander, the breaks of. Its about the laughable new league founded in the 1960s in which the pacers got their start as a team, the american basketball association aba, which gave many unsung players a shot or a second chance to make it in pro basketball but faced constant struggles during. The aba ceased to exist with the american basketball associationnational basketball association merger in 1976, leading to several teams joining the national basketball association and to the introduction of the 3point shot in the nba in 1979. Loose balls book by terry pluto official publisher. Steve gietschier, the sporting news loose balls is either the great american novel in oral history sound bites or the definitive book on the 1970s, or both. Lakers glory captures the enormity of minneapolislos angeles lakers basketball. Womens american basketball association home facebook. Eleven franchises in new york, pittsburgh, indiana, minnesota, oakland, virginia, anaheim, dallas, new orleans, houston and denver formed to join. Formed in 1967 and lasting until 1976, the aba played a flashy, distinct brand of basketball, one far different from the traditional product the nba was playing at the same time. Kentucky colonels of the american basketball association. On this day in 1976, the national basketball association nba merges with its rival, the american basketball association aba, and takes on the abas four.
They all got their professional starts in the american basketball association. American basketball association196776 the american basketball association began as a rival to the nba in 1967. The aba existed from 1967 to 1976 for nine full seasons. Though the 3 point shot was used in the rebel aba american basketball association league, the shot did not actually come into favor in the nba until 1979 and with the ncaa until 1980. The american basketball association was as an upstart professional league which lasted 9 years before eventually merging with the nba in 1976. In an excerpt from the book of basketball, bill explains how the aba nba merger set off a crazy storm of events. Alltime aba allstar team 0 of 6 the league was founded with the intention of competing with the nba in the short term until the two entities could merge into one league with an explosion of talent. Its also available for football, hockey and baseball. Aug 06, 2015 murphy, a sports entrepreneur who cofounded the aba, explained to author terry pluto in his mustread aba history book, loose balls, the threepoint play was going to be a part of our league. Eleven franchises in new york, pittsburgh, indiana, minnesota, oakland, virginia, anaheim, dallas, new orleans, houston and denver formed to join the aba.
Aug 01, 2019 on this day in 1976, the national basketball association nba merges with its rival, the american basketball association aba, and takes on the abas four. It is the relaunch of the original aba which merged with the nba in 1976. Aba veterans say you had to be there, and now, thanks to this book, we are. The rosen publishing group, 2000 juvenile nonfiction 24 pages. If you are a true fan of probasketball history, this book will be like finding the dead sea scrolls. A new book about the aba and how it changed professional basketball forever. The short, wild life of the american basketball association, which chronicled the nineseason history of the aba, league organizers had planned to use the 3pointer from the beginning. Julius erving, in full julius winfield erving ii, byname doctor j, born february 22, 1950, roosevelt, new york, u. For those just beginning to research applied behavior analysis, this comprehensive book is a must read.
Being a native of indiana and a big fan of the early pacers, i never really knew that the aba was a league in constant turmoil during its nine year existence. With its stress on wideopen individual play, the adoption of the 3point shot and pressing defense, and the encouragement of flashy moves and flying dunks, todays nba is stilldecades. If you are a true fan of pro basketball history, this book will be like finding the dead sea scrolls. Written by two authorities on the subject, handbook of applied behavior analysis offers its readers detailed descriptions of the various theories, research, and intervention methods of aba. Jack mccallum, whose book dream team chronicles the 1992 u. The aba distincted itself with the red, white and blue basketball photo courtesy of turbosquid one of the themes of the 1960s was that establishment was being challenged. Kids love reading about sports, but it can sometimes be a bit harder to get them excited about history. In june 1976, the two rival pro leagues finally made peace. Tall tales and loose balls by terry pluto are both highly recommended. The history of basketball diana star helmer, tom owens. Olympic mens basketball squad, says the aba was the outlaw game and not just because it. Remembering the aba, the upstart league that challenged pro basketball and won new, 20 comments the aba began as a renegade league and ended up taking on the nba, against all odds. Few seasons in sports history better exemplify that term than the golden state warriors road to the 20162017 nba championship.
In an excerpt from the book of basketball, bill explains how the abanba merger set off a crazy storm of events. In an excerpt from the book of basketball, bill explains how the aba nba merger. He played forward and was noted for his fast breaks, balletic leaps toward the basket, and climactic slam dunks. The aba was shortlived, but its impact on basketball is eternal. Steve gietschier, the sporting news loose balls is either the great american novel in oralhistory sound bites or the definitive book on the 1970s, or both. Aug 24, 2015 remembering the aba, the upstart league that challenged pro basketball and won new, 20 comments the aba began as a renegade league and ended up taking on the nba, against all odds. New book tells insider stories about pacers, aba sports. The nba may have won the financial battle, but the aba won the artistic war. Dec 28, 2017 the book releases in late february, just a few weeks before the aba 50year reunion celebration. The book, a history of the original american basketball association, was written by sportswriter terry pluto, although much of his writing is limited to introductions and summaries of each season. In his book reborn the pacers and the return of pro basketball to indianapolis, mark montieth takes you back to the start of the aba, and the very beginnings of the pacers franchise. Its solid, but at least for me, it was a little boring. Both of them are oral histories, tall tales about the early days of the nba this is relatively hard to find though and loose balls is about the history of the aba which is vital to understanding where the nba was headed, its pretty instructive about where the style of play and labor.
The league has grown to become the largest professional sports league in the world. Jan 23, 2019 the american basketball association was as an upstart professional league which lasted 9 years before eventually merging with the nba in 1976. There is little to no evidence of if any of the stories it engendered are true, but the book lives up to its strange, yet engaging legacy of being both the epitome of what the 1970s were about afros, free spirited excess, drugs, guns and the birth of contemporary, fastflowing basketball. The books main focus is on the individuals from the owners to the players. Every day, well send you an email to your inbox with scores, todays schedule, top performers, new debuts and interesting facts and tidbits. Sep 22, 2011 alltime aba allstar team 0 of 6 the league was founded with the intention of competing with the nba in the short term until the two entities could merge into one league with an explosion of talent. Its the story of one of the aba s best, and most interesting, teams in the kentucky colonels. The big example in sports was the american football league challenging and competing with the wellestablished national football league.
Loose balls book by terry pluto official publisher page. Basketball is a team sport played by two teams of five players on a rectangular court. The objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop 18 inches 46 cm in diameter and mounted at a height of 10 feet 3. Ten percent of the book proceeds will fund dropping dimes, an indiana nonprofit that assists aba players and their families facing financial or medical difficulties. The abanba merger 1976 1970s, vintage newspapers, vintage sports note. The american basketball association aba is a mens professional basketball league. During that time, the aba fought a bitter war with the established national basketball association the nba for players, fans, and media attention.
New league the aba or american basketball association in 1967, a league popped up that would rival the nba for attention and, more importantly, players, the american basketball association aba. Four of the strongest aba teams the new york nets, denver nuggets, indiana. The ten best basketball books of all time truehoop espn. American basketball association aba 196768 to 197576. After adding kevin durant to an already elite lineup, the warriors stormed to a leagueleading 67 wins in the.
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