Only The Ball Was Brown ®️

My name is Steve Holroyd. Labor lawyer by day, hoops historian in my free time “What’s with that handle,” you ask? Well, not what you think. Read here: www.facebook.com/share/19WWsC... Check out our YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCWaSI

This Sacramento Kings legend learned today that his AAFC stats now count in NFL records He’d like to see his NBL stats (and the stats of ABA players) count in the NBA #HoopsHistory

Fear not…the NBA will not do the same for NBL or ABA

Second half of the 1929-30 American Basketball League season finds everyone gunning for the champs #HoopsHistory

We’re not talking enough about how hard Musk flopped here

I remember hearing a rumor that Melo was always kinda pissed he couldn't do this. Maybe it was a blessing and it saved him from doing Palm'd jab-steps into hilarious turnovers.

Syracuse All-Americans center Chuck Gillium doing something not many could do in 1929 #HoopsHistory

Congratulations on an incredible shot you have won a terrible punishment

Sad but true “Checks and balances” aren’t self-enforcing…they require people to agree to play along In theory, two branches should restrain the third…but our legislature has checked out So you have a Constitutional crisis Which will require military intervention

The New York Times is in denial about its own role in 2024.

Who can name this little 🥨 maker from the 1929-30 ABL season? #HoopsHistory

Epic American Basketball League history from Chistmas 1929 Hit ALT for the caption #HoopsHistory

Trunks and socks: blue and white Jersey: white with a red rose Player: Joe Lapchick Team: Cleveland Rosenblums Year: 1929-30 #HoopsHistory

The 1926 Chicago Bruins Jimmy Campbell was from Camden, NJ You get one guess what his nickname was #HoopsHistory

Me in the National Security Team group chat

As per Ernie D, he only wore this game in two exhibitions before Buffalo switched to their iconic powder blues #NBA #HoopsHistory

As per the Indianapolis Olympians discussion youtu.be/yMDnHwBQeSo?...

Some people know that Senator John Y. Brown, Jr. owned the Kentucky Colonels, Buffalo Braves But who can name the US President who was a general manager for a pro hoops team? #HoopsHistory

This is, in fact, a pretty accurate depiction of Davey Banks, who was built like a fire hydrant but was still able to finish at the top of the American Basketball League scoring board every year (from November 1929) #HoopsHistory

Listen now!

Having won the 1929 ABL title, the Cleveland Rosenblums adopted new uniforms that employed a rose (“in bloom”) instead of the owner’s name Blue and white trunks and socks and the red rose made for an attractive combo #HoopsHistory

Today I got to the opening of the penultimate ABL season in my book draft, so enjoy this footage from the opener, the only existing footage from the league #HoopsHistory youtu.be/zUkeRcKvw78?...

Tired of #NBA players making shot after shot? Take a look at the shooting percentages during the 1929 American Basketball League finals #HoopsHistory

Only one #USMNT player in history has also played major league professional basketball. Who can name him? First correct answer gets a No-Prize #HoopsHistory

Kelly McBride was bounced from the team the year it debuted in the American Basketball League, but his photo provides a good colorization of the Cleveland Rosenblums uniform #HoopsHistory

The American Basketball League’s greatest defender Played with Cleveland Rosenblums, Chicago Bruins, Rochester Centrals, and Paterson Crescents Who ya got? #HoopsHistory

This wonderful colorization by @bsmile.bsky.social features Original Celtics great Johnny Beckman in 1921, standing with some baseball player with a barnstorming team 😉 Beckman would star in the ABL with the Celtics, Baltimore, Detroit, Chicago, Rochester, Cleveland, and Ft. Wayne #HoopsHistory

In the ABL of the 1920s, basketball experts appreciated the science of the "freeze," while the casual fan was just bored #HoopsHistory

In the 1920s, the ball had to clear the basket before the final whistle to count You can imagine the hilarity that ensued when a bucket was waived off #HoopsHistory

Pre-season NBA/ABA hoops in Artis’ rookie year but before the Colonels unveiled their new uniforms #NBA #HoopsHistory

In 1928, Nat Holman and Davey Banks put together an all-Jewish team for the American Basketball League—the New York Hakoahs #HoopsHistory

It’s not often you see a Chicago Zephyrs jersey. Even Tommy Heinsohn seems impressed. The Zephyrs are still in the #NBA today Who knows as what team? #HoopsHistory

When giants walked the earth

Oscar Robertson didn’t do “load management” #NBA #HoopsHistory

The “NY Rens applied to be in ABL” is a hoax But, in Dec 1928, another Black Five was thinking of applying…but it never happened Who knows why? #HoopsHistory

In 2004 the NY Liberty played 6 games at Radio City Music Hall because MSG was being used for the Republican National Convention A return to pro hoops early roots in dance halls and ballrooms No “cages” used, though #WNBA #HoopsHistory

Bill Walton blocks Jeff Ruland in ‘83 NBA action Both men probably had season-ending injuries on the play…ironically while iron-man Randy Smith looks on #NBA #HoopsHistory

Sure, we can talk about the ‘67 Sixers or ‘86 Celtics or ‘92 Bulls great teams But then there is the ‘28 New York Celtics: An .816 winning pct (40-9) Won the ABL title Team made up entirely of the First Team all-stars #HoopsHistory

Here’s the real Dream Team 1960 Olympics #NBA #HoopsHistory

The pride of the old Eastern Basketball League

I see your four Hall of Famers and raise you one. From Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1970, here are Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Lew Alcindor, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor in a preseason game at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The Bucks won 118-96.

The greatest per capita photo in #NBA history #HoopsHistory

This is not the flex the #NBA thinks it is

As coming out of college to play pro was not yet a thing, the 1927 Chicago Bruins program felt the need to list the opponents' nationalities And misspell Lapchick

The @kywnewsradio.bsky.social news guy just stumbled during his fire risk reporting, thinking “brush” was a typo and actually saying “I’ve seen that word before” What is going on with our schools??

Ernie D is telling the ref that Dave Wohl is chewing gum but didn’t bring enough for everyone else #NBA #HoopsHistory

I bet @librarybob.bsky.social wants to know just what is going on in October 1928? #HoopsHistory

Even when rocking out I’m repping #HoopsHistory 😂