The Ongoing Drama of the ABA/NBA Merger – Cinemacy

The 2024-2025 NBA season officially begins on Tuesday, October 22nd when the Boston Celtics take on the New York Knicks. I usually find this time incredibly exciting, when my favorite team returns to the pitch in stylish new kits and a new sense of competition. However, I have a new perspective on how the NBA operates since watching director Michael Husain reveal the organization and its dealings with a rival league from the ’70s. Spoiler alert – it’s neither pretty nor very ethical. The waiting game offers insight into the drama behind one of the world’s most popular sports.

The ABA made basketball what it is today

Through breathtaking archive footage, The waiting game begins by recounting the origins of the American Basketball Association, commonly referred to as the ABA. The ABA was founded in 1967 as a more entertaining counterpart to the NBA. The NBA had become stale and corporate, light years away from the game we know and love today. Fans were bored and quickly lost interest in the overly regimented NBA. Seeing an opportunity to revitalize fans, the ABA decided to place more emphasis on the entertainment aspect of the game. This strategy ended up changing the league’s trajectory forever.

The ABA’s creative additions included the three-point shooter, the slam dunk contest and a halftime show. In short, the ABA essentially recreated the modern game of basketball as we know it. The plan worked and the spectators filled the seats again. The ABA existed for nine years before merging with the NBA. Today there are four of the original ABA teams: the Pacers, Spurs, Nets and Nuggets.

Capitalism outside the court

The ABA became a shining example of an underdog success story. However, the good times didn’t last long. After the ABA/NBA “merger” in 1976, a complex legal battle ensued that ABA players are still grappling with today. The problem stems from a lack of resources and benefits that were guaranteed to the original ABA players but were never provided. Like many jobs, players in the NBA receive benefits such as retirement and health care. However, when the merger occurred and ABA players joined the NBA, these benefits did not carry over. Perhaps most grotesquely, the ABA players who made basketball – arguably – a multi-billion dollar industry never received any financial reward. Like textbook capitalism, these actors benefited almost nothing from the growth and prosperity of the product they essentially created.

This is where the film’s beacon comes into play, the small nonprofit Dropping Dimes Foundation. The foundation recognized the injustice and took it upon themselves to fight the NBA for fair treatment of ABA players. The film documents the countless hours we spent speaking with former players to get a sense of their disappointment with the league. Their hard work paid off in 2022 when the NBA Board of Governors reached a historic agreement. They agreed to pay $24.5 million to former ABA players. Unfortunately, many players are still waiting for their rights.

A mix of historical and investigative journalism

It will have its world premiere at the 2024 Heartland Film Festival. The waiting game is a powerful documentary that re-exposes the dark backstory of one of the world’s most popular sports organizations. It’s a fascinating look at the metamorphosis of basketball over the years. The film is also aimed at fans who enjoy investigative journalistic documentaries, particularly in the David vs. Goliath style. Interviews with renowned personalities such as sports commentator Bob Costas, basketball icon Julius “Dr. J” Erving and six-time All-Star ABA player James Jones bring urgency and credibility to this largely unknown story.

Take away

The waiting game reflects the ongoing fight for recognition, dignity and justice for former ABA players. “How could the boys who played such a crucial role in the development of the billion-dollar modern game of basketball be in a place where they couldn’t buy medicine or pay rent?” is director Michael Husain’s pointed question. Whether you are a fan or critic of the NBA or not, The waiting game is a must.