The 1971 Utah Stars won not only their lone ABA Championship, but it's the only pro basketball title ever in Salt Lake City. The franchise originated as the Anaheim Amigos in the ABA's maiden season of 1967, then next moved to Los Angeles to become the Stars, who moved into the Memorial Sports Arena, the Lakers former homecourt from 1960-67. The Lakers drew fans in the Forum; the Stars drew flies and could not gain an audience in two forgettable seasons (1968-70), so the Stars moved to the Beehive State. There is a banner honoring the 1971 Stars at the Energy Solutions Arena, home to the Utah Jazz.

This team proved Utah was ready for a pro franchise. God bless the Stars.

THANK YOU.THANK YOU.THANK YOU. Willie Wise and Company really knew how to play the game. This video is a treasure.

I was a Hoosier kid watching the Pacers while I did my homework. Never could dislike any other ABA teams, though. Loved the Stars and Colonels.

@weamjb

5 жыл бұрын

They were all great rivals. I know as a kid growing up in Utah, I greatly admired Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, and George McGinnis from Indiana...Dampier, Issell etc. from the Colonels.

Great video. I'm glad that an original ABA player like Red Robbins had the opportunity to experience a championship. The more ABA footage on KZread, the better. Thanks for posting.

My Dad Mike Butler recently passed on the 18th. He never gets the love due to his height 6'2. #12 Forever.

@tmack7948

5 жыл бұрын

That's awesome Michelle, fantastic video

@weamjb

5 жыл бұрын

Your dad was one of my heroes. So sorry to hear of his passing.

@giantobsession3993

4 жыл бұрын

Your Dad clinched Game 7 with a 3 pointer, FG, and 2 FT as I remember in the closing moments. Broke Kentucky's back. So sorry for your loss.

@3243_

3 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry about your loss, Michelle.

@stevearquitt8950

2 жыл бұрын

I was saddened to hear of your father's death. I went to Treadwell in Memphis and I remember him so well, the best high school basketball player I ever saw. I also remember going to the Memphis State games with my dad to watch him play.

The next year Bill Sharman won an NBA Championship with the L.A. Lakers...the only coach to win titles in both leagues!

@d820m

4 жыл бұрын

that distinction actually goes to Sharman's former USC teammate Alex Hannum who coached the 1958 St. Louis Hawks and the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers to NBA titles and the 1969 Oakland Oaks to the ABA Championship

what a GREAT VIDEO, WHAT A GREAT BUILDING, THE OLD SALT PALACE WAS A GEM;;

@bumpusjones.1978

4 жыл бұрын

If a gem is something the smells like urine with high notes of rodeo cowboy farts and walls festooned cow poop.

@bumpusjones.1978

4 жыл бұрын

I’m mostly kidding but not totally.

One of my fave teams of all-time. Got hooked on the ABA watching this Final. What names on that Stars' team--Beaty, Wise, Boone, Robbins and Combs. Great video for the age as well. Shows you how film stock stands up over time.

i got hooked on the ABA after watching the first aba-nba allstar game in 1971. Willie Wise had a great game that night and was the ABA's 2nd leading scorer with 18 points, behind Rick Barry who scored around 30 or more. I followed the ABA as much as possible after that but they weren't on TV often. But Wise and Barry were great friends and Wise was a guest on Barry's radio show in San Francisco in the 1990's. A great conversation, wish I had a recording of it!

Not only was Big Z the man and always will be, but I remember listening to the Stars on a transistor radio under my pillow. Bill Howard was the man also that guy could really describe a game and make you feel like you were there.He was awsome. Zelmo is a forgotten player, sadly and had he played his career only in the NBA he would have been a hall of famer for years! Selfishly, thank god he didn't!

@bumpusjones.1978

4 жыл бұрын

As much as I love technology I have great memories of getting grounded because the Bucks were playing on the west coast and I was under the covers listing to games and got caught long past my bedtime.

I still miss the ABA>

great team

Great league..let's get Willie Wise in the hall of fame....

George stone was my grandpa

@brachio1000

5 жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear he's gone.

@3243_

3 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry about your loss, Steven.

I sat in the front row of the San Diego Sports Arena watching the Conquistadors play these teams and these players. I was about 10 years old during the time the ABA was in SD. The names called out in this clip...Wise, Robbins, Dampier, Powell, Boone, Zelmo

@brando7266

7 ай бұрын

I still remember watching the nets lose in sd, in triple ot, one of the greatest games I've ever seen, dr j scored 60, would u know if there is any video of that game? , it was on a local channel in nyc,

Nice crowd.

Was at nets 1st championship over Utah..seen Moses Malone play for stars as rookie just out of high school

Is that what enticed Jack Kent Cooke to bring then Head Coach, Bill Sharman, to the Los Angeles Lakers? That ABA Championship?

@PeekaPeep

3 жыл бұрын

BINGO! Should've brought in Alex Hannum for the '69 team, though. Bill Van Breda Koff was pure TRASH and cost them the title that year!

@Jiltedin2007

Жыл бұрын

@@PeekaPeep Why did that idiot Van Breda Kolff bench Wilt Chamberlain for half of Game 7 of the 1969 Finals?

@Jiltedin2007

Жыл бұрын

@@PeekaPeep How did K.C. Jones also come to the Lakers? Jones was Sharman’s Assistant Coach when the Lakers won the 1972 NBA World Championship.

The Stars song at the end inspired the song "Naughty" from the musical "Matilda".

Still can't see how the Stars didn't last til the merge. They would have been a great NBA team.

Didn't they have color film by 1971?

Wow was it really that boring in Utah or was Salt Lake so small everyone lived at the airport. Mostly kidding, I lived in Green Bay I know boredom and tiny.

Utah stars > Utah jazz

@master-kq3nw

Жыл бұрын

yes but stars is good name

three point play has ruined today's game IMO.