Spencer Haywood back in the ABA
Published on May 14, 2004 under American Basketball Association (ABA)
Reno Rockers News Release
Spencer Haywood, the former ABA and NBA all-star and future Hall of Famer is Head Coach and General Manager of Player Development for the new ABA Reno Rockers professional basketball team announces Rockers president Sean Higgins. Haywood is responsible for coaching duties and overall player development for the new team including scouting, recruiting, and player advancement.
Higgins says, "Spencer Haywood is a great asset to our club and to the league. The players will love his work ethic. We're happy to have one of pro basketball's pathfinders and high achievers on our executive team!" In addition to Haywood's basketball experience, "his community and business experience will be a great addition to the organization. With the fast-paced, high scoring style of play in the ABA, our players will have one of the best as their coach."
Haywood says he's very excited about coming back in the ABA and that, "We plan on winning it all [ABA Championship]. We'll bring in the right players to produce high-quality exciting ball. Our goal is to become the best ABA franchise. His philosophy on player development, "is that fundamentals will take you so many places that talent will never take you."
Higgins continues, "Haywood being a former ABA and NBA all-star known for his high flying rebounding and scoring talents including that undefendable turnaround jumper will bring an insight to his players that will result in highly competitive, thrilling ABA style basketball that will be an adventure for our fans."
Notably, Spencer Haywood blazed the trail for today's underclassmen to play professional basketball in the NBA. In the ABA, he was a member of many all-star teams, averaged 29.99 PPG and 19.49 RPG with the Denver Rockets in 1970. In his first year with the ABA he was named the league's Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player. After many high-performance years in the ABA, Haywood moved to the NBA spending five years with Seattle Supersonics, played for the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, made four NBA All-Star Teams, two All-NBA First Teams and two All-NBA Second Teams.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
American Basketball Association Stories from May 14, 2004
- Spencer Haywood back in the ABA - Reno Rockers
- Carolina Thunder announces head coach - Charlotte Krunk
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
