On This Date in Sports May 4, 1968: Champions of America
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The Pittsburgh Pipers win the inaugural championship in the ABA by beating the New Orleans Buccaneers in Game 7 of the ABA Finals 122-113 at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Charles Williams is the Pipers leading scorer in the deciding game, with 35 points, as Doug Moe scores 28 in a losing effort for New Orleans. Connie Hawkins was banned from the NBA and was the Playoff MVP with 29.9 ppg.
The American Basketball Association was the second attempt at a rival league for the NBA. Starting five years after the ABL folded in the middle of its second season, the ABA presented a flashier brand of basketball, with a red, white, and blue ball and a three-point shot. The league had 11 teams play in its first season. The Pittsburgh Pipers, coached by Vince Cazzetta, finished with the best record at 54-24, winning the Eastern Division, while the New Orleans Buccaneers, coached by Babe McCarthy, had the best record in the West at 48-30.
A major reason for the Pipers' success was Connie Hawkins, who the NBA had banned. During his freshman year at Iowa, Hawkins had his name come up in an investigation to point shaving while playing in High School in New York City. Though he was never formally charged, Connie Hawkins lost his scholarship as no other team in NCAA offered him a chance to play. After playing in the ABL with the Pittsburgh Rens, Hawkins' attempts to join the NBA were thwarted as he was banned for being associated with point shaving. As a result, Connie Hawkins filed a lawsuit against the NBA while staying active in basketball by joining the Harlem Globetrotters. When the ABA began to play, Hawkins showed the NBA what they were missing, as he was the league's first MVP, leading the league in scoring with 26.8 points per game.
In the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Pipers dominated the Eastern Division sweeping the Indiana Pacers in three straight, before beating the Minnesota Muskies four games to one to reach the ABA Finals. The New Orleans Buccaneers, led by players like Doug Moe and Larry Brown, meanwhile needed the full five games to hold off the Denver Rockets, winning the deciding game 102-97. The Bucs had an easier path in the Western Division Finals, taking out the Dallas Chaparrals four games to one.
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In the ABA Finals, the Buccaneers showed the Pipers right away they were in for a battle as Red Robbins scored 41 points in the opener. Connie Hawkins meanwhile had 39 as the Pipers won 120-112. With Larry Brown leading the way with 28 points, the Bucs bounced back to even the series with a 109-100 win in Game 2. As the series shifted to New Orleans' Loyola Field House, the Buccaneers continued to play well, as Robbins led all scorers with 30 points as the Bucs to the lead in the series with a 109-101 win. Game 4 saw Connie Hawkins take over as he scored 47 points as Pittsburgh won in overtime 106-105 to even the series.
Back in Pittsburgh for Game 5, the Pipers got bad news, as Connie Hawkins could not play as the Bucs won 111-108 to take the series lead again. Hawkins returned in Game 6 in New Orleans and scored 41 points as the Pipers won 118-111 to send the series to a decisive seventh game. Game 7 in Pittsburgh had the Buccaneers doing all they could to stop Connie Hawkins, holding the Pipers star to 20 points. The Hawk would contribute in other ways with 13 boards, while Charles Williams scored 35 points to lead Pittsburgh to a 122-113 victory.