clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

ABA Stories Part 1 With Julius Erving and Terry Pluto

Ryen talks with Hall of Fame legend “Dr. J” about his time playing in the ABA before talking with renowned sportswriter Terry Pluto about the history of the league

By Ryen Russillo
ABA 50th Reunion Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images


In Part 1 of a two-part series, Ryen Russillo talks with Basketball Hall of Fame legend Julius Erving about his time playing for the Virginia Squires, his famous Atlanta Hawks exhibition games, the “Ice Man” George Gervin, ABA fist fights, winning an ABA title with the New York Nets, and finding his basketball “home” in Philadelphia (3:30). Then Ryen talks with Terry Pluto, renowned sportswriter and author of Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association, about the fast-and-loose ABA, its aggressive competition with the NBA, chaotic drafts, money troubles, ever-present merger rumors, and so much more (40:15).

If you would like to donate to the Dropping Dimes Foundation click HERE.

Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / RSS

Next Up In The Ryen Russillo Podcast

The Latest

The Bengals Offense Is Broken—and There Might Not Be an Easy Fix

With an injured Joe Burrow and a virtually nonexistent deep passing game, Zac Taylor will need more than a tweak or two to get Cincinnati back on track

By Steven Ruiz

Week 4 Matchups, Dolphins-Bills, Ravens Panic, Broncos Zag, and Kamara’s Return

Plus, giving out awards!

By Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and 1 more

A Dame Trade Deep Dive With Ben Thompson, Plus Seth Meyers and Million-Dollar Picks

Bill and Ben Thompson share their thoughts on the Lillard trade before Seth Meyers joins to discuss the writers strike, ‘SNL,’ and more

By Bill Simmons

‘The Challenge: USA’ Season 2, Episode 11 With Tyler

Tyler Crispen joins the show to recap Episode 11 and talk us through his game this season

By Johnny Bananas

Back in Business, ‘Bachelor’ Nation!

Juliet and Callie discuss their overall thoughts on Episode 1 of ‘The Golden Bachelor’ and ‘Bachelor in Paradise’

By Juliet Litman and Callie Curry

‘Reservation Dogs’ Series Finale and ‘True Detective: Night Country’ Trailer

Plus, Chris and Andy talk The Replacements’ newly reissued remixed album Tim (Let It Bleed Edition) and how it feels to hear something meaningful to your youth in a new way

By Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald