“Soul Power”: A Slam Dunk

If you’re a fan of the NBA, you probably enjoy the fast-paced play, the epic three-point shots, and the All-Star Weekend, which includes the now-famous Slam Dunk contest. All of those innovations were brought over from the former American Basketball Association.

The history of the ABA, which existed between 1967 and 1976, is celebrated in the new documentary Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association.  The four-part series takes a fascinating look into the history of this “other” basketball league, which was created as a thrilling and more exciting alternative to the then-staid, old-school National Basketball League.

The ABA started with 11 teams, debuting during the 1967-68 season. From the beginning, it was designed as a razzle-dazzle alternative to the NBA. This compelling, richly detailed documentary shows how the new league quickly moved onto the court and into the hearts of fans.

The ABA gained attention with its energetic, competitive gameplay, its iconic red, white, and blue ball, and its impressive array of talent, including players like Julius “Dr. J” Irving, Rick Barry, Spencer Haywood, and Larry Brown. Dr. J, who’s also an executive producer of Soul Power, offers some insightful stories about his time in the league throughout the series.

Soul Power takes a deep dive into how the ABA initially succeeded by shaking things up in the world of basketball, and how the NBA fought back, trying to deal with the threat of this upstart group of teams. The series also views the ABA’s history through the prism of what was occurring in the social and political sphere at the time and doesn’t shy away from the racial tensions going on in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In addition to the player and owner interviews featured in the series, there’s also commentary from sportscasters Bob Costas and James Brown, authors and filmmakers Nelson George and Theresa Runstedtler, and sportswriter Bob Ryan.

This candid, entertaining series is a passionate tribute to the sport of basketball, and an engrossing look at the heroes and villains in the story of this freewheeling sports league.

The NBA and the ABA ultimately got together, shook hands, and merged in 1976. But Soul Power deftly illustrates a legendary chapter of sports history that is still fondly recalled by many hoops fans. Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

-John Visconti

Fair use image of Soul Power