Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James are not the only two players to produce zaftig playoff numbers: 45 points, 15 rebounds and five (or six) assists.
On May 19, 1970, I’ll have you know, in Game 4 of the ABA Finals between the eventual champion Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Stars, Roger Brown of Indy accumulated 53, 13 and six with barracuda Willie Wise (trying) to guard him. It’s a league record co-owned by Rick Barry.
While on the subject, Connie Hawkins refuses to be interviewed for a near-completed documentary (Indy’s Ted Green) on the deceased Brown, whose family totally supports the commendable project, and he refuses to explain why.
Supposedly, it’s not about wanting to be compensated, though two former Boys High players, one a teammate of Hawkins, demanded just that and went mum when Green didn’t come across.
Fine, let’s give The Hawk the benefit of the doubt. So then what’s causing him to man down? What problem, what grudge can he possibly be holding against his boyhood and adult friend 15 years after Brown’s death on March 4, 1997?
I find it utterly amazing Hawkins, who has asked for help and accepted handouts countless times, doesn’t have the decency to do the right thing.
Meanwhile, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Cosby, Julius Erving, George Gervin, Mel Daniels, Larry Brown, Donnie Walsh and innumerable others made the time to honor Brown’s accomplishments and memory.
It makes me glad Jim Chones never returned my signed hardcover of “Foul.”