Lew Alcindor signs with the LA STARS of the ABA!

Post #1 » by **penbeast0** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 4:58 am

In Tall Tales, the ABA spent money on psychiatrists and the like and came up with a plan to sign Lew Alcindor out of UCLA. They were going to make sure he would go the NY or LA and give him a million dollar check up front. But league commissioner George Mikan ignored their advice and lowballed the first offer and Alcindor signed with Milwaukee.

What if:
(a) They follow through and Alcindor does indeed sign an ABA contract
(b) They keep the LA Stars in LA instead of moving them to Utah to give him a team
(c) The Stars (who went to the ABA finals even without a strong center) still surround him with rookies Mack Calvin and Willie Wise (plus their vets).
(d) Zelmo Beaty signs with the New York Nets and has to sit out a year but in 71, they get not only Beaty but Rick Barry from Virginia to create another challenger.

How many titles do they win in his first 5 seasons?
How does Alcindor/Jabbar do against Mel Daniels, Beaty, and a young Artis Gilmore who comes in 2 years later?
Does it succeed in forcing a merger with the NBA despite Oscar Robertson and the players union?

Go, speculate wildly, have fun!

falcolombardi · Post #2 » by **falcolombardi** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 5:35 am

Kareem and the doctor may have given enough popularity/'legitimacy" to the aba to become a more populat league than even the nba

We may have seen a full fusion of the leagues nfl style

ronnymac2 · Post #3 » by **ronnymac2** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 5:59 am

Honestly, considering how far they got in those first four years anyway, I say they win titles in 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973. 1974 becomes a little dicey because the real team's SRS went down and they had to contend with the best ABA player ever in Dr. J. 1974 KAJ would be one hell of an equalizer though. So maybe five titles in a row.

Young, spry KAJ + prime Willie Wise = the best defensive dynasty in ABA history imo. Wise was a monster. One of the most underrated players of the era.

capfan33 · Post #4 » by **capfan33** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 5:06 pm

Don't know a ton about the ABA but Kareem is cooking those guys lol. Gilmore could give him some issues. Would be very interesting how this affects the history of the NBA and ABA.

Post #5 » by **penbeast0** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 7:21 pm

ronnymac2 wrote:Honestly, considering how far they got in those first four years anyway, I say they win titles in 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973. 1974 becomes a little dicey because the real team's SRS went down and they had to contend with the best ABA player ever in Dr. J. 1974 KAJ would be one hell of an equalizer though. So maybe five titles in a row.

Young, spry KAJ + prime Willie Wise = the best defensive dynasty in ABA history imo. Wise was a monster. One of the most underrated players of the era.

Don't forget Calvin, probably the best small scoring guard in ABA history (Dampier was a better playmaker and 3 point shooter, Jimmy Jones had the higher peak, but overall).