2011 Basketball Hall of Fame ABA Round Table

To conclude the 2011 Basketball Hall of Fame Reunion Dinner the evening's host Rick Camla is joined on stage by Hall of Famers Artis Gilmore. Rick Barry, Julius Erving, and Dan Issel. Topics include each of them sharing their favorite ABA stories, the influence of that league on basketball, and much more.

[@sethbank6425]

As much as I loved the other 3, Issel is so underrated.

[@lovemybeer99]

Artis Gilmore should have been in the HOF back in the 90s.

[@iess2006]

Only Wilt was stronger than Artis Gilmore in the entire history of the game.

[@rocknroll7065]

@@iess2006 Shaq?

[@iess2006]

@@rocknroll7065 I'd put Artis and Wilt above Shaq on the strength scale...maybe a tie between Artis and Shaq tbh.

[@rocknroll7065]

@@iess2006 I can't argue with that

[@iess2006]

@@rocknroll7065 Check out some old videos with the A-Train....incredible strength! Amazingly even he was intimidated by old Wilt. Shaq definitely the strongest in the modern era.

[@georgeoshust793]

Gerald Govan is the most underrated player in the HISTORY OF THE ABA! Gerald was a GREAT player. He was one of the TOP 5 REBOUNDERS in the HISTORY OF THE ABA. Gerald was one of only 6 men to play all 9 years of the ABA'S existence.

[@jerryorrell4856]

I remember watching Dr. J when he was playing for the Virginia Squires. That man was great. NBA or ABA, that man was great. Thank you Mr. Julius Irving for the many thrills you gave us in Hampton, Virginia.

[@capitanfuturo594]

*THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF ABA !!!*

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@Tong Zou I'd put the Doctor above any Pacer (or any other ABA player).
But the next 2 IMO should be Mel and Roger, as 2 of the *VERY FEW* that played pretty much as long as the ABA existed and were superstars - and when the "All ABA" team was picked, MEL was the only player not named Julius to get more than one "League MVP" vote.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@Tong Zou George gets a LITTLE talk, mostly due to his time and championship with the 76ers (paired with Dr. J).
But way too many people still thing the ABA had inferior players and play - despite the NBA-ABA record turning from "medium NBA stronger" the first year to "VERY ABA stronger" the last 3 years and the ABA champion winning it's series with the NBA champion *every season*.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@Tong Zou The only member of the "Unanimous vote" members of the All ABA Team that saw his numbers drop when he got to the ABA was Louis Dampier - but he didn't have a 3 point line any more, and he was well past his prime having been playing almost 15 years at that point.
That includes Artis and Issel - George was the highest vote-count that wasn't unanimous.
Also consider Don Buse being the league leader in assists and steals - in the ABA the season before the merger, AGAIN in the NBA the season after.
That's an amplification of your comment, BTW - I totally agree with it.

[@randysandberg5615]

Rick Barry led the NCAA, ABA, and NBA in scoring. Nobody has ever done that. Too bad he played before ESPN.

[@iess2006]

AND he's an egocentric jerk.

[@randysandberg5615]

@@iess2006 From what I've heard, you're right. Too bad. When your own teammates don't like you, that says something.

[@rocknroll7065]

According to one video I watched Barry's teammates didn't jump in to a fight that he was involved in. Another story goes like this. Rick refused to shoot the ball for an entire game and his team lost by a big margin.

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

@@rocknroll7065 So you're saying he was the first modern NBA superstar.

[@silewis9396]

@@rocknroll7065 That's almost 2 parts of the same story. The fight was in the first half game 7 1976 WCF vs Phoenix. Barry is said to have watched the fight at half time, noticed noone backed him up so that's why he decided not to shoot for "most of the 2nd half". Something Barry denied. I'd rather see it for myself but cannot find the full game online

[@DWilliam1]

Loved the ABA. Saw all of these guys play…luckily.

[@michaelserrurier9392]

That is awesome.

[@georgemartinez9414]

4 GREATS i admired watchn playn on the old black n white back in the day

[@darrellwalton3482]

Very touching

[@9Ballr]

Artis, Dan, and the Doc are so humble...

[@darrylking2500]

Thank God for the ABA It was Popular A League.The NBA Needs To Give some of the these Cites like Louisville, Pittsburgh, Virginia Could more likely Support a Franchise.

[@Amick44]

Narrator Rick Kamla does an excellent job. Remember him on NBA TV.

[@pjpj2639]

So many great players by the time of the merger many were past their prime….but still made such an impact on the nba

[@antonioangelocento9855]

Julius Erving Doctor J was the greatest natural born talent I have ever seen play ,,,the most exciting ,dangerous, open court player ,,,,, it's a shame the ABA had no national television contract , so alot of people throughout the country never even saw Julius Erving play even 1 ABA game ,,,, it's unbelievable to think !!

[@hectornegron9155]

MJ was known as the face of the NBA.
Dr. J was known as the face of pro basketball. Whether in the ABA or the NBA.

[@gohanblack3355]

That’s simply not true lol

[@scottdavidson7001]

Anybody catch the fine blonde walking behind Artis as he was coming up. Wow. Yum yum and num NUMS. 😋

[@e.renardjackson1298]

Scott Davidson Oh yeah...

[@gohanblack3355]

Alright bro……

[@steveng8727]

"da doctor Julius Errrrrrvvviiiing!!"

[@markflood9755]

Larry kenon was a beast

[@LadyDuchess]

Wait, Kentucky got Championship rings? The Pittsburgh Pipers didn’t get sh*t but a plastic trophy lol.