ABA Stories: Part 2 | With Bob Costas, Artis Gilmore, and Rod Thorn

The Ryen Russillo Podcast

In Part 2 of a two-part series, Ryen Russillo talks with basketball legend Rod Thorn about his time with the New York Nets, Julius Erving, his wild experience as head coach of the Spirits of St. Louis, wrangling ABA legends Wendell Ladner and Marvin Barnes, the NBA-ABA merger, and more (2:00). Then Ryen Talks with ABA MVP and six-time NBA All-Star Artis Gilmore about choosing to play in the ABA over the NBA, playing with the Kentucky Colonels, defending a young Moses Malone, scrapping with Mo Lucas, transitioning to the NBA post-merger, and more (35:00). Finally, Ryen is joined by sportscasting legend Bob Costas to discuss starting his career with the Spirits of St. Louis at the age of 22 in 1974, the rough-and-tumble nature of the ABA, hanging with Marvin Barnes, teams folding financially, the importance of keeping these ABA stories alive, the Dropping Dimes Foundation, and more (56:15).

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