Sonics Could Have Used Penalty Boxes For Games Against ABA

Quotes are from the archives of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Some of the roughest, toughest, chippiest games the Seattle Sonics played in the 1970s didn’t count in the standings – but the bumps and bruises and brawls were plenty real.

“I just snapped,” admitted Sonics forward Leonard Gray about the series of punches he rained down (with provocation) on a member of the Utah Stars. If the name Utah Stars doesn’t ring a bell, that’s because the club played in the upstart American Basketball Association (ABA). Between 1971-75, the NBA scheduled 155 preseason games against ABA squads.

Oct. 7, 1975: Seattle’s Gray Takes Matters Into His Own Fists

During the 2nd quarter of an exhibition in Salt Lake City, Utah’s Steve Green had gotten away with hitting Gray. “I told the ref to get control of things,” Gray explained, “but he kept letting Green hammer away.” Sonics coach Bill Russell similarly cautioned officials that the consequence of failing to calm tempers would be a fight. (The physicality was evident from a combined 119 free throws.)

After Green sent Gray to the deck again in the 3rd quarter, Leonard rose from the hardwood, ran down court, caught Green, and punched him several times. Benches emptied, and it took police to restore order. “I’m a peaceable guy, just out there to play basketball,” said Gray, who was ejected. “But when they start slugging me, I’m not going to let anyone do that.”

Games in ABA arenas followed that league’s rules, including a three-point line. So the Sonics, down 122-119, had two chances to tie in the final 11 seconds. But desperation 25-footers from Slick Watts and Spencer Haywood (25 points, 18 rebounds) failed to fall.

Oct. 8, 1975: Seattle’s Burleson Gets Tag-Teamed

The Sonics traveled to Denver, 24 hours later playing in the first-ever basketball game at the new McNichols Arena. A crowd of 9,108 couldn’t have imagined what they were about to see.

From the Seattle P-I game story: “Seattle waited all of two minutes and nine seconds to stage another mini-riot. Tommy Burleson KOd Denver post man Byron Beck with a roundhouse elbow.” Beck, who’d been aggressively checking Burleson, crumpled to the court. He lay unconscious for five minutes, later diagnosed at a hospital with a concussion.

Denver’s 6-0, 175 Fatty Taylor then attacked the 7-2, 225 Burleson, while Nuggets teammate Tony Byers flew off the bench to tackle Burleson around the neck. Aside from the ambush, the Sonics center was assessed a flagrant foul, but wasn’t ejected.

Despite 41 points and 16 boards from Spencer Haywood, Seattle went down 115-110. Haywood, returning to the city where he’d won the 1970 ABA MVP, had harsh words for his Sonics teammates. “There aren’t enough players on this club who are man enough to do the job every night.”

Sonics Extended Rare NBA Hospitality

The first time the Sonics played an ABA team, Sept. 28, 1971 at Seattle Center Coliseum, there were no fisticuffs. However, Indiana Pacers coach Slick Leonard engaged in a brief shouting match with Sonics fans behind his bench. Sonics player-coach Lenny Wilkens had something in common with the 7,880 in attendance. “I’ve never seen the Pacers play.”

Bob Rule led Seattle with 27 points in his first home game since returning from a torn Achilles’ tendon. The Sonics 117-93 victory was noteworthy for another reason: the first time an NBA club had hosted one of these inter-league games.

Most NBA teams were reluctant to invite ABA teams into their buildings, fearing it would enhance the credibility of the rival league. The Lakers and Cavaliers refused to schedule any matches at all. The concept of NBA-ABA preseason games had come about in 1971 because of the ultimately misguided belief that a merger was imminent.

When the two teams rematched in Indianapolis on Oct. 9, 7,423 watched the Pacers prevail, 93-88. George McGinnis, who began his pro career with Indiana of the ABA and finished it with Indiana of the NBA, pulled down 19 rebounds against the Sonics.

Although the game was played by ABA rules, the Sonics did not attempt a 3-point shot. “Why change the game just for a rule we won’t use in the NBA,” was the explanation provided by player-coach Wilkens.

Stars & Spurs Round Out Sonics vs. ABA History

Seattle had three other preseason games against ABA teams. Honolulu hosted the Sonics and Utah Stars on Sept. 24, 1972. What stood out in the Stars’ 115-111 win was the number of whistles. The P-I game story complained, “As for fouls, there were so many it was absurd. ABA officials called 67 infractions, 38 on Seattle.”

A depleted Seattle roster limped into San Antonio on Oct. 5, 1974. Partly due to three Sonics starters missing because of injuries, seven rookies dressed in the Spurs’ 112-83 victory. San Antonio standouts included George “Iceman” Gervin (40 points, 6 blocks, 11 rebounds) and Swen Nater (29 rebounds!). Nater would go on to grab 30+ boards three times in the NBA regular season.

The Sonics’ final game against an ABA opponent came Oct. 15, 1975 at Seattle Center Coliseum. Even though Seattle lost, 108-98, it was a memorable night for Bruce Seals. The rookie, who’d been released by the Stars one year earlier, showed off against them with 14 points and six rebounds. Seals would stick with the Sonics for three seasons and 235 games.

Circle of basketball life: the Stars were coached by Tom Nissalke. Back in 1972-73, Nissalke was fired in Seattle after just 45 games (13 wins). The replacement coach was Bucky Buckwalter. Buckwalter later was coach of the Stars, and when he was let go by Utah, they hired Tom Nissalke.

Unfortunately, the Stars’ season would last 16 games before the franchise folded. Owner Bill Daniels had been distracted by a failed attempt to become governor of Colorado. (A cable TV pioneer, Daniels later named his Denver mansion “Cableland.” Really.) Nissalke recovered to coach in the NBA for eight seasons in Houston, Cleveland, and back in Utah with the Jazz.

The reason the Sonics stopped scheduling exhibitions against ABA teams is because the league called it quits after eight seasons in June, 1976. Four of its teams – New Jersey Nets, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets – were absorbed into the NBA.