Index
Page numbers in italics refer to illustrations.
ABA (American Basketball Association), 11, 25–26, 166, 224; ABA-NBA merger, 2, 11, 27, 39–40, 44, 83, 167, 187. See also specific teams
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem (formerly, Lew Alcindor), 35, 38, 95, 98, 108, 118, 188, 199; in high school basketball, 24, 82, 181; Knicks’ offers for, 25, 28–29, 83, 186; in Los Angeles, 25, 43, 83, 95, 98, 113, 186, 189, 230; in Milwaukee, 15, 20, 25, 224
African Americans. See Black culture; race
Aguirre, Mark, 139, 199, 201, 219
Ahearn, Charlie, 117, 179, 180
Allen, Woody, 9, 51, 116, 136, 177
Allentown (Pennsylvania) Jets, 88
All-Star Weekend, 199–201, 238
American Basketball Association. See ABA
Anthony, Carmelo, 237
Archibald, Tiny, 88, 104, 119, 135, 181
Asofsky, Stanley, 70
Atlanta Hawks, 63, 118–19, 166, 175, 193, 226–27
Attles, Al, 226
Auerbach, Red, 97, 186, 210–11
authenticity: of hip-hop, 79–81, 149, 151–52, 170, 238; in sneaker culture, 108
Back-In-Your-Face Guide to Pick-Up Basketball, 108
Baker League, 253n12
Ballard, Greg, 153
Baltimore Bullets, 11
Bambaataa, Afrika, 42, 50, 79–80, 106, 118, 123–25, 149–50, 247n45; “Planet Rock,” 125, 179
Bannister, Ken, 223
Barkley, Charles, 96, 214–15, 219
Barnes, Marvin, 224
Barnett, Dick, 107
Barnett, Jim, 19–20, 22, 33, 39, 124
baseball, 14, 57, 61, 109, 133, 188
basketball: as avenue of advancement for Black men, 4, 89, 200–201 (see also racial makeup of NBA); connections between hip-hop and, 3–4, 6, 42–43, 81–82, 106–8, 116–18, 179, 180, 200–201, 237–40; invention of, 26, 81–82; jazz and, 117. See also ABA (American Basketball Association); college basketball; high school basketball; NBA (National Basketball Association); playground basketball
Basketball Association of America (BAA), 112
Basketball Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial: coaches in, 9, 185; players in, 4–5, 9, 12, 96, 98, 104, 185, 187
B-boy/B-girl dancing (breaking), 40–43, 49–50, 81, 105–8, 149, 151, 204–6, 205, 248n83. See also dance battles
Beame, Abe, 3, 14, 17, 31, 54–55, 60–61, 147, 239
Beard, Butch, 39, 44, 48, 51, 73–74, 78, 92, 94, 103, 119, 131–32, 157, 169
Beat Street, 150
Behagen, Ron, 23
Benson, Kent, 53
Big East Conference, 163, 180–82
Bird, Larry, 83–84, 100, 109, 115, 118–19, 129, 134–35, 150, 168, 176, 186, 199, 201, 206–7, 210–11, 222
Black culture, 3–4, 6, 82, 117, 123, 150, 199–201, 213, 239–40. See also basketball; hip-hop
Black Enterprise magazine, 141
Black Power movement, 40
Blake, Marty, 84
Blauschild, Frankie, 160
Blauschild, Keith, 19
Blondie, 238; “Rapture,” 123–24
Blow, Kurtis, 106, 123, 144, 150; “Basketball,” 200; “Christmas Rappin’,” 219
Body Rock, 150
Boogie Down Productions, 149
Boston Celtics, 14–15, 19, 23, 57, 93, 119–20, 126–27, 138, 145, 153, 161, 171, 186, 189, 209, 215, 230, 242n31, 255n93; McAdoo in, 97–99, 101, 127; playoff series with Knicks (1984), 206–11. See also Bird, Larry
Bowie, Sam, 214
Bradley, Bill, 2, 5, 12, 35–36, 43, 44, 47–48, 92, 126, 161, 185
breakdancing. See B-boy/B-girl dancing
Breakin’ (1984), 205
Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984), 205
Brickowski, Frank, 139
Bridgeman, Junior, 244n83
Bronx. See South Bronx
Bronx County Courthouse, 155
Brooklyn, 4, 16, 55, 88–89, 111, 238
Brown, Hubie, 25; as Atlanta Hawks coach, 63; DeBusschere and, 168, 192, 264n14; as New York Knicks head coach, 6, 69, 166–78, 171, 173–74, 182–85, 187, 190–93, 197–98, 201–2, 207–8, 210–12, 214, 216–17, 221, 223, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 265n45
Brown, James, 41, 49, 105, 118
Brown, John Y., 97
Brown, Larry, 156, 182–83, 192
Bryant, Joe, 75
Buffalo Braves, 19, 22, 43–47, 59, 138
Burden, Ticky, 27, 44, 47, 51, 65
Burke, Mike, 9, 21–22, 25, 28–29, 31, 38, 53, 63–64, 71, 83–85, 91, 96–98, 112, 114, 127–28; background, 5–6; Gulf & Western and, 68; hired as Knicks president, 24; retirement, 148
Buss, Jerry, 132
Carter, Butch, 234
Carter, Jimmy, 56, 56–57, 77, 109, 132, 149, 158
Cartwright, Bill, 112, 114, 118–19, 121, 128, 130, 132, 134–37, 142, 146, 152, 168, 176–77, 184, 186, 197, 201, 204, 207, 209, 212, 214–17, 223, 231–35; All-Star games, 118; drafted by Knicks, 99–101, 122; Ewing and, 231–32; on racism, 110; Topps card, 146
Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), 181
Chamberlain, Wilt, 2, 28–29, 46, 51, 87, 198
Cheeks, Maurice, 184
Chenier, Phil, 23
Chicago Bulls, 5, 13, 18, 99, 135–38, 141, 145, 161, 166, 214, 217, 219, 221, 224, 235
Chicago Stags, 22
civil rights movement, 35, 45, 132
Cleamons, Jim, 22, 64, 67, 71, 76, 78, 93–94, 114–15
Cleveland Cavaliers, 18–19, 22–23, 63–64, 66, 68, 74–75, 78, 94, 104–5, 119, 128, 133–35, 138–42, 175, 188, 197, 221
clubs, 72–73, 76, 123–25, 130, 149
cocaine, 3, 5, 96, 144, 156, 158, 178, 194
Colangelo, Jerry, 163
Cold Crush Brothers, 40, 117, 126, 179, 180
collective bargaining agreements, 140, 188–89
college basketball, 18, 35, 159–60, 180–81, 196–97. See also NBA draft; NCAA
Collins, Doug, 75
compensation, 40, 64, 78, 82, 101, 145, 164, 189, 255n93
Continental Basketball Association, 166
Cook, Darwin, 183
Cooper, Michael, 259n11
Copeland, Hollis, 110, 112, 119
Cosell, Howard, 57
Costello, Larry, 166
COVID-19 pandemic, 156
Cowens, Dave, 14–15, 23, 46, 52, 97, 119
crack epidemic, 3, 6–7, 96, 159
crime, 3, 69–70, 147–48, 155, 165–66, 195
Cross-Bronx Expressway, 15–16, 56, 147
Crum, Denny, 169
Cummings, Pat, 214–17, 219, 223, 229
Cummings, Terry, 169
Dallas Mavericks, 125, 127, 133, 198–99, 214–15, 219
dance battles, 42–43, 49–50, 53, 149, 151. See also B-boy/B-girl dancing
Dandridge, Bob, 64
Debbie D (MC), 41
DeBusschere, Dave, 28, 163, 202; at 1985 draft lottery, 224–27; Hubie Brown and, 168, 192, 264n14; as Knicks general manager, 1, 10, 166–70, 175–76, 186, 193, 214–15, 232, 234, 264n14; as Knicks player, 2, 8–12, 14–15, 17, 24, 29, 32, 37, 75, 95, 185
deejays, 41–43, 56–58, 107, 123, 149. See also hip-hop
Demic, Larry, 99, 112, 113, 120, 136
Democratic National Convention, 148–49
Denver Nuggets, 40, 71, 82–85, 91, 129, 131, 140, 156, 194, 235
Detroit Pistons, 13–14, 24, 103, 133, 139, 152–53, 201–4, 211, 214–16, 255n93
Diff’rent Strokes, 105
DiGregorio, Ernie, 46
Disc AZ, 155
Disco Demolition Night (Chicago), 261n27
Disco Wiz, DJ (Luis Cedeño), 16, 41–43, 79, 107
Donovan, Eddie, 22, 25, 28–29, 31, 63–64, 83–85, 91, 100, 103, 128, 131, 137, 153, 159, 161, 234–35
downrock, 49–50, 105, 204, 248n84
Downtown Records, 49
draft. See NBA draft
drug use: by Knicks players, 3, 5, 67, 96, 144, 156–57, 159, 172, 183, 193–94; NBA policy against, 5, 194, 239. See also cocaine; crack epidemic
Dumars, Joe, 201
Dynamic Rockers, 49
Eastwood Rockers, 205
Edwards, Franklin, 185
electro-funk, 125
Elliot, Missy, 179
Embry, Wayne, 167
Entertainer’s Basketball Classic (EBC) streetball tournament, 106, 238
Ernst and Whitney, 225, 227–28
Erving, Julius “Dr. J.,” 11, 25, 39–40, 45, 75, 87–88, 94, 103, 106, 120–21, 181, 183–85, 199–200, 215, 219
ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network), 134
Evans, Howie, 110
Ewing, Patrick, 1–2, 160, 204, 225–40, 232
Ex-Vandals, 41
fans (of New York Knicks), 3, 10–11, 13–14, 66, 96, 109–10, 152, 175, 185, 207–8, 216, 236–37
FBI investigations, 154
Fernsten, Eric, 201
fights (on-court during NBA games), 91, 119–20, 129–30, 208, 209, 233
Fitzsimmons, Cotton, 167, 191–92
Five Star Basketball camps, 169–70
Flashdance (1983), 205
Fogle, Larry, 27
Ford, Phil, 83
Fratello, Mike, 169
Frazier, Walt, 2, 4–5, 9, 11–13, 15, 18–19, 22–24, 26, 28, 32–33, 36, 38–39, 41, 43, 47–48, 50–52, 54, 58–59, 61–64, 66, 73–74, 86, 102, 108, 131, 167, 169, 185; in Cleveland, 63–64, 66, 78, 92, 114–15; photos of, 44, 62
free agency, 39–40, 64, 78, 82, 101, 145, 164, 188–89, 255n93; Knicks and, 2–3, 82–85, 185–86, 223, 239; Robertson lawsuit and, 27–28, 64; salaries and, 88, 139–41, 222; salary cap and, 189, 230–31
Frosty Freeze, 125
Furlow, Terry, 158
Futura 2000 (graffiti artist), 156
gambling, 154
Garfinkel, Howard, 169
Garnett, Bill, 169
Gavitt, Dave, 163
Gaye, Marvin, 199
Generation X, 150
Gianelli, John, 18, 29, 33, 36, 45, 59, 167
Gilmore, Artis, 135–36, 145, 186, 197
Glenn, Mike, 11, 54, 73, 86–87, 91–94, 98, 110, 115, 128, 131, 135–36, 144, 193, 214; basketball camp for hearing-impaired started by, 127, 193
Golden State Warriors, 24, 64, 119, 126–27, 172–74, 178, 190, 226, 234, 237, 255n93
Gondrezick, Glen, 71, 74, 102–3
graffiti, 16–17, 32, 41, 58, 78, 81, 111; as album cover art, 155–56; NYC anti-graffiti efforts, 17, 147–48, 151
Grandmaster Caz, 53, 79, 179, 180, 213
Grandmaster Flash, 42, 49, 79–80, 106, 144, 172, 179
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, 55; “The Message,” 170–72, 179
Grand Wizzard Theodore, 42, 118
Gray, Paradise, 147
Gross, Jane, 19
Grunfeld, Ernie, 170, 177, 183, 196–97, 201, 206, 217, 223
Guerin, Richie, 220
Harlem, 38, 55, 116, 118. See also Rucker Park
Harper, Derek, 187
Haywood, Spencer, 3–5, 8–9, 29, 30, 34–37, 43, 48, 52, 58, 67–68, 71, 73–76, 84–85, 92–93, 95–96, 100–101, 145, 153, 157, 159, 167; marriage, 38–39; photograph of, 30
Henderson, Gerald, 209
Hewig, John, 160–61, 166, 168, 192, 210–11, 264n14
high school basketball, 24, 82, 180–81. See also playground basketball
Hill, Bob, 235
Hillman, Darnell, 200
hip-hop, 6, 48–50, 56–57, 72, 79–81, 89, 105–8, 117, 123, 147, 149, 151–52, 155–56, 170–72, 200–201, 238; breaking and (see B-boy/B-girl dancing; dance battles); connections between basketball and, 3–4, 6, 42–43, 81–82, 106–8, 116–18, 179–80, 180, 200–201, 237–40; emergence of, 4, 40–43, 56–57, 239; mainstream consumption of, 6, 79–81, 116–17, 123–25, 149–52, 239; origin of term, 106; sneaker culture and, 108 (see also sneakers); white consumption of, 123–25, 150–52; youth culture and, 117, 150–51. See also deejays; rap music
Hollywood, DJ, 106
Holzman, Red: as Knicks coach (1967–77), 6, 12–13, 18, 20, 22–24, 33, 37, 44, 48, 50–52, 58, 61, 64, 71; as Knicks coach (1978–82), 92–96, 101, 103–4, 114, 120–21, 127, 131, 134, 137–39, 141, 144–45, 149, 152–53, 155, 157, 160–61, 163, 166, 175, 185
Houston Rockets, 19, 22, 24, 30, 32, 89–91, 114, 129, 134, 157, 187, 199, 214, 217, 221, 224, 231
Howard, Ken, 136
Hunts Point-Crotona Park East, 57
Huston, Geoff, 112
Ice-T, 205
Iman (Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid), 38–39, 95, 157
Incredible Bongo Band, “Apache,” 49, 80
Indiana Pacers, 9, 25, 40, 83, 114, 140, 176–77, 187, 217–19, 221–22, 226, 228, 233–34
In-Your-Face Basketball Book, 81, 88, 107–8
Irish, Ned, 21, 24, 160, 173, 181
Irvine, George, 219
Iverson, Allen, 238
Jackson, Mark, 236
Jackson, Phil, 83, 92, 185; coaching career, 5, 131, 166; as Knicks player, 9, 15, 28–29, 37, 39, 52, 63–65, 74
Jazzy Jay, 42
The Jeffersons, 105
Johnson, Dennis, 135, 162, 206
Johnson, George, 220
Johnson, Magic, 51, 82, 96, 99, 109, 115, 118, 130–31, 134–35, 150, 168, 176, 187, 195, 224, 230
Johnson, Vinnie, 214
Jones, Dwight, 30
Jones, Sam, 162
Jordan, Michael, 159, 204, 217, 219, 225, 230
Judkins, Jeff, 119
Justine’s (club), 130
Kansas City Kings (formerly, Kansas City–Omaha Kings), 23, 65, 83, 128, 138, 140, 142, 222, 226
Kauffman, Bob, 46
Kennedy, Kevin, 127
Kenon, Larry, 135
King, Bernard, 5, 53, 73, 89, 170, 172–75, 177–78, 183, 190, 197–203, 206–12, 217–19, 218, 220–22, 229, 237; injuries, 176, 184, 201, 219, 221–23, 231, 234–37; photo of, 218; traded to Knicks, 172–73, 190
Kirkland, Pee Wee, 88
Knickerbockers (Knicks). See New York Knicks
Knight, Toby, 65, 71, 74, 92, 94, 96, 98, 114, 119–21, 128, 137, 185
Knowings, Herman, 87
Koch, Ed, 3, 6, 61, 69, 77, 147, 195, 236, 239
Kool Herc, DJ (Clive Campbell), 41–43, 79–80, 105–6, 117, 149; Merry-Go-Round technique, 41, 49, 53
Krumpe, Jack, 103, 148, 167, 188, 228
Kunnert, Kevin, 30
Kupchak, Mitch, 138
LaGuardia Community College, 67
Layton, Mo, 44
Lee, Spike, 10, 13, 29, 51, 110, 156, 228
Le Jardin (club), 72
Lennon, John, 134
Levane, Fuzzy, 37
Lewis, Freddie, 9
Lindsay, John, 10–11, 17, 31, 61, 147
Lois, George, 11
Los Angeles Clippers, 226, 228, 236
Los Angeles Lakers, 2, 5, 25, 28, 36, 43, 52, 63–64, 82–83, 95–96, 98, 129, 132, 134, 140, 162, 166, 168–69, 185–86, 189, 211, 224, 230. See also Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem; Johnson, Magic
Lowell, Mel, 24, 68–70, 104, 178, 215
Lucas, Jerry, 9, 12, 15, 17, 24, 29, 46, 152, 154, 185
Lucas, Maurice, 145–47, 161, 163–64, 168–69, 190
Luna, Eddie, 49
Madison Square Garden, 2, 9, 24, 32–33, 43, 47–48, 51, 65–66, 68–70, 89, 93, 99, 109, 114, 120, 132–33, 135–36, 148–49, 152–54, 161, 174, 177, 180, 192, 208, 215; building history, 21–22; Suite 200 (luxury box), 70. See also fans
Madison Square Garden (MSG) Network, 133–34
Mahorn, Rick, 201
Malone, Brendan, 235
Malone, Jeff, 187
Malone, Moses, 114, 141, 183–86, 215, 219
Mancuso, David, 72
Mangurian, Harry, 97
Manigault, Earl, 87
Maravich, Pete, 51, 120–21, 129, 176, 197, 200
Martin, LaRue, 46
Maxwell, Cornbread, 186, 206–11
McAdoo, Bob, 4, 19, 30, 44, 52, 59, 64–65, 68, 74–78, 83–85, 87, 91, 94, 96, 255n93; background, 45–46; personal life, 71–73; signed to the Knicks, 45, 47–48, 95; traded to Boston, 97–99, 101, 127
McCarthy, Babe, 166
McGinnis, George, 25, 27–29, 36, 75, 91, 187
McHale, Kevin, 98, 126–27, 186, 189, 206–11, 227, 234, 255n93
McIntyre, Brian, 225
McMillian, Jim, 44, 46, 67, 92–93
MCs, 53, 106, 123. See also rap music
MC Shan, 149
Meadowlands Sports Complex, 53, 69, 144, 192
media, 52, 57–58, 94–95, 104–5, 109–10; female reporters in locker rooms, 19. See also specific newspapers and reporters
Meriweather, Joe C., 95, 100–101, 122, 128, 142
Merry-Go-Round (DJ technique), 41, 49, 53
Meyers, Dave, 244n83
Midnight Cowboy (1970), 77
Mikan, Terry, 18
Milwaukee Bucks, 15, 25, 53, 63–64, 67, 104, 129, 166–67, 174, 185, 223–24
Milwaukee Hawks, 37
Minneapolis Lakers, 18
Mitchell, Mike, 135
Moe, Doug, 192
Molinas, Jack, 118
Moniz, Joe, 154
Monroe, Earl, 2, 9, 19, 22–23, 28, 33, 36, 38, 43, 48, 50–52, 58–59, 63, 65, 67, 76, 78, 83, 92–94, 98–99, 119–20, 124, 167, 185, 253n12; background, 11–12; end of career, 115–16, 125; music business and hip-hop, 39, 73, 116–18, 179, 200; nicknames, 4, 11, 50, 106, 115, 253n12
Mount Vernon, New York, 54, 87, 181, 214, 239
Mr. Wiggles (B-boy dancer), 40–41
Mullin, Chris, 180–81, 224, 226, 237
music television programs, 143–44, 200
Mutombo, Dikembe, 225
NBA (National Basketball Association), 3, 22, 25, 28, 39–40, 46, 53, 83–84, 105, 114, 132–34, 140, 183, 187–88, 206, 224; anti-drug policy, 5, 194, 239; commissioners (see O’Brien, Larry; Stern, David); draft (see NBA draft); expansion, 125, 127, 133; free agency and (see free agency); merger with ABA, 2, 11, 27, 39–40, 44, 83, 167, 187; on-court fights, 91, 119–20, 129–30, 208, 209, 233; parity in, 133, 189; player salaries, 3, 52, 130–31, 139–41, 144, 188, 270n7; race and, 117, 150–51 (see also racial makeup of NBA); salary cap, 140, 189, 214–15, 217, 230–31. See also specific teams
NBA draft, 1–2, 25–27, 53–54, 59, 83–84, 99, 101, 122, 125–27, 138–39, 142, 168–69, 186–87, 190, 212, 214, 224–30, 244n83
NBA Players’ Association (NBPA), 140
NCAA, 82, 84, 86, 99, 159, 161, 181–82, 196, 202, 224–25. See also college basketball
Nelson, Don, 237
New Jersey Nets, 5, 53, 57, 68, 99, 120, 131, 136, 139, 144–45, 152–54, 156, 164, 178, 182–83, 189, 192–93, 215, 220–21. See also New York Nets
Newlin, Mike, 144–45, 152, 154, 156, 170, 193
New Orleans Jazz, 51–52, 64, 68, 82, 93, 95, 99
New Rock Steady Crew, 151
“New York, New York” (song), 60, 239
New York City: blackout of 1977, 3, 43, 54–57, 195; Black population, 111, 148; crime and safety, 3, 55–58, 69–70, 155, 165–66, 195; economic conditions, 3, 10, 31–32, 147, 195, 239; mayoral elections, 60–61, 147, 236 (see also individual mayors); nightlife, 4, 72–73, 76, 123–25, 130, 149; sanitation problems, 17, 31, 155. See also Brooklyn; Harlem; Madison Square Garden; playground basketball; Queens; South Bronx; Times Square
New York Giants, 109, 136, 192
New York Knicks: all-Black squad, 3, 6, 102–5, 109–12, 114, 119, 121, 126, 129, 145, 239; city life and, 72–73, 85–86; coaches, 5–6, 12, 89–93, 202 (see also Brown, Hubie; Holzman, Red; Reed, Willis); defense, 61, 177, 197; draft picks (see NBA draft); executives, 5–6, 103 (see also Burke, Mike; Cohen, Alan; DeBusschere, Dave; Donovan, Eddie; Werblin, Sonny); fans of (see fans); Knickerbocker logo, 112; NBA title wins (championships), 2, 9–11, 29, 41, 65, 82; ownership of, 68–70; practice schedules and locations, 66–67, 163, 174; season ticket sales, 28, 35, 43, 228; team colors, 112; training camps, 54, 64, 85, 128, 234–35; travel conditions, 70–71. See also Madison Square Garden; individual players
New York Nets, 11, 39–40, 53, 82, 167. See also New Jersey Nets
New York Rangers, 68–70, 89, 136, 192
New York Yankees, 6, 21, 57, 61, 127, 147
NFL (National Football League), 71, 187–88
Nichols, James, 74
NIT (National Invitational Tournament), 82, 84, 181
North American Soccer League (NASL), 34
Nuriddin, Jalal, 53
O’Brien, Larry, 26–28, 39, 53, 82, 105, 140, 169, 187–89; replaced as NBA commissioner, 194, 199
Olajuwon, Akeem (later, Hakeem), 159, 214, 217, 224, 231
Old Timers’ Game, 200
Parish, Robert, 98, 119, 126–27, 186, 206, 234, 255n93
Paulk, Charlie, 104
Paxson, John, 215
PHASE 2 (graffiti artist), 17, 155
Philadelphia 76ers (Sixers), 22, 25, 27, 36, 48, 50, 68, 74–76, 91, 94, 103, 109, 120, 133–34, 141, 173–74, 177, 183–85, 189, 201, 215, 219, 221, 224
Phoenix Suns, 18, 67, 161–62, 169, 175, 189–90, 193, 200, 206, 224
Pippen, Scottie, 235
Pitino, Rick, 169, 198, 202, 207, 214, 216, 222, 235–36
Plato’s Retreat (club), 73
playground basketball, 43, 81, 87–89, 107, 180, 181, 253n12; courts, 4, 107–8; hip-hop and, 42–43, 81–82, 106–8, 179 (see also dance battles; hip-hop). See also Rucker Park
Portland Trail Blazers, 18, 52, 83, 139, 145, 174, 181, 214, 224
Power Memorial Academy, 24, 82, 181
Pretty Pearl Records, 116
Pryor, Richard, 158
Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL), 181
Queensbridge, 149
race: cross-racial interaction, 123–25, 150–52; NBA and, 117, 150–51 (see also racial makeup of NBA). See also Black culture
racial makeup of NBA: attendance levels and, 132–33; Knicks’ all-Black squad, 3, 6, 102–5, 109–12, 114, 119, 121, 126, 129, 145, 239; white players, 47, 102–5, 109–11, 126, 129, 194
racial tensions and racism, 3, 105, 109–12, 148, 165–66, 195; white flight, 3, 31, 40, 56
Rapaport, Michael, 2
rap music, 53, 106, 238–39; about basketball, 79, 123, 200; by basketball players, 238; commercial success of, 6, 79–81, 116–17, 150–51; as counterculture, 150–51; creation of, 4 (see also South Bronx); on pop charts, 116–17; by white rappers, 151–52, 238. See also hip-hop
Reagan, Ronald, 3, 5, 69, 105, 109, 149, 158–59, 172, 195–96, 200
Reed, Willis, 2, 9, 12, 15, 32, 46, 50, 67–68, 73, 75, 83–84, 95, 100, 125, 167, 185, 198, 200; as Knicks coach, 48, 52, 63–64, 66–68, 71, 73–74, 76–78, 89–94, 90, 101, 104, 166, 254n51; retirement from playing, 17, 24, 29, 43
reserve clause, 28
Reverse Spin Entertainment, 116
Reynolds, Jeannie, 49
Richardson, Clint, 184
Richardson, Micheal Ray, 4–5, 73, 85–87, 92–95, 110, 112, 113, 114–15, 119–22, 128, 130, 134–37, 142, 144–45, 146, 152–54, 161, 163–64, 167–68, 200, 233; drafted to Knicks, 83–84, 101; drug use, 3, 5, 144, 156–57, 159, 172, 183, 193–94; in Golden State, 173–75, 190; in New Jersey Nets, 182–83, 193, 215, 220; Topps card, 146
Riley, Pat, 239
Robinson, Cliff, 215
Robinson, Sylvia, 79
Robinson, Truck, 64, 169, 175–77, 190, 196–97, 201, 212, 216–17, 229
Robisch, Dave, 129
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 170
Rock Steady Crew, 205
Rodgers, Bill, 109
Rolls-Royce backcourt, 5, 12, 18, 36
Rubin, Rick, 151
Rucker Park, 4, 81; hip-hop and, 106–7; professional basketball players at, 87–89; streetball tournaments, 87–88, 106–7, 238
Run-DMC, 49, 87, 117–18, 123, 151, 213, 219, 237–38, 262n31
Russell, Bill, 18, 29, 46, 67, 233
Russell, Campy, 128–30, 132, 134, 138, 142, 145, 152, 162–63, 169, 185
salary cap, 140, 189, 214–15, 217, 230–31
Salvatore, Bennett, 233
Sampson, Ralph, 187, 196, 199, 217, 221, 226, 231
San Antonio Spurs, 40, 43, 197, 215
San Diego Clippers, 22, 84, 131, 133–34, 169, 224
San Diego Conquistadors, 28
Sanford and Son, 105
Saturday Night Fever (1977), 4, 72
Saturday Night Live, 36
Saunders, Mike, 54, 66–67, 70, 86, 98, 103, 112, 115, 155, 197, 222
Schulman, Sam, 29, 104, 159, 188
Scott, Jack, 84
Scott, Norman, 154, 184, 202, 216–17, 222–23, 231, 234
Scott, Ray, 11
Seattle SuperSonics, 23–24, 29, 64, 73–74, 84–85, 99, 101, 104, 129, 132–33, 159, 174, 188–89, 226
Sharman, Bill, 200
Shelton, Lonnie, 44, 51, 59, 67, 75–77, 83, 101
Sikma, Jack, 104, 129, 186, 189
Simmons, Russell, 118, 123, 151
Simon, Herb, 226
Simon, Joe, 116
Simon, Paul, 36
Slam Dunk Contest, 200
Slaughter, Fred, 141
Smith, Kevin and Kieth Smith, 49
Smith, Randy, 45–46, 138–39, 145, 152, 170, 193
sneakers, 107–8, 150; Adidas, 108, 150, 231, 238; Puma, 62–63, 108. See also Adidas; Puma
Son of Sam (David Berkowitz), 61
South Bronx: blackout looting (1977), 3, 55–58, 195; boundaries of, 249n121; hip-hop and rap music in, 4, 6, 40–43, 53, 126, 149, 179, 180, 238–39 (see also hip-hop); immigrants in, 40–41; poverty and urban decay, 3, 16, 40, 55–58, 61, 77, 147, 170–72, 195. See also gangs; graffiti
Sparrow, Rory, 110, 136, 176–77, 179–80, 182–83, 185–86, 189, 198, 201, 203, 212, 229, 233, 257n40, 259n11
Speakes, Larry, 195
Spice Nice, 42
Starski, Lovebug, 106
Steinbrenner, George, 6, 21, 26, 89
Stepien, Ted, 104–5, 139–40, 188
Sterling, Donald, 224
Stern, David, 1, 187–88, 194, 199, 224–27, 231, 232
street life, 88–89. See also deejays; gangs; graffiti; hip-hop; playground basketball
Stuyvesant Town Courts, 107
Sugarhill Gang, 79–81, 101, 106, 108, 116–17, 123, 125, 149–51, 170, 179
Sweitzer, Dana, 234
TAKI 183 (graffiti artist), 16–17
Taylor, Vince, 175
territorial rights, 39–40, 53, 83, 224
Thomas, Isiah, 139, 201–4, 216
Thompson, David, 82–83, 91, 131, 156–57
Thompson, LaSalle, 169
Thompson, Mychal, 83
three-pointers, 46, 51, 115, 134, 163, 182, 203–4, 208, 228
Times Square, 3, 77–78, 195, 239
Tomjanovich, Rudy, 19, 89–91, 129
Toney, Andrew, 184
Trac 2 (of Star Child la Rock Crew), 50
Tripucka, Kelly, 201, 204, 216
Tucker, Trent, 169–70, 171, 175, 177, 190, 199, 201, 207, 220, 222, 233
Turner, Ted, 63
Universal Zulu Nation, 42, 247n45
Upsala College, 234
urban crisis, 3, 16, 40, 55–58, 61, 77, 147, 170–72. See also New York City; South Bronx
Van Gundy, Jeff, 239
Vaughan, David, 27
Vecsey, Peter, 3, 109–11, 129–30, 138, 227
Vincent, Jay, 198
Walk, Neal, 19–20, 22, 29, 33, 36, 39, 224
Walker, Darrell, 187, 189, 193, 196–97, 199, 201–4, 208, 212, 229, 233, 235, 265n45
Walker, Jimmy, 162
Walker, Kenny, 235
Walton, Bill, 18, 20, 52, 84, 96, 129, 224
Washington Bullets, 23, 64–65, 76, 96, 99, 115, 120, 152–54, 174–75, 196–97, 215, 237
Washington Wizards, 170
Webster, Marvin, 84–85, 92, 100–101, 115, 120, 129–31, 137, 142, 152–53, 156, 162, 164, 168, 177, 182, 185–86, 189–90, 201, 212, 216; Topps card, 146
Weiss, Bob, 198
Werblin, Sonny, 5, 53, 68–70, 82–83, 85, 89–93, 97–98, 103–4, 114, 132, 139–41, 148, 153, 155, 159–61, 166, 172, 176, 186, 188, 199
Westphal, Paul, 129, 159, 161–64, 168, 175–77, 185, 189–90, 193
Whipper Whip, 80
White, Jo Jo, 23
white basketball players. See racial makeup of NBA
white flight. See racial tensions and racism
Wiggins, Keith “Cowboy,” 106
Wilkes, Jamaal, 64
Wilkins, Dominique, 169
Wilkins, Eddie Lee, 216, 220, 222
Williams, Gus, 64, 137, 141, 181
Williams, Ray, 65, 67, 71, 73–74, 86–87, 92–94, 101, 110, 112, 113, 115, 119, 121, 128–30, 134, 136–41, 144, 167–68, 177, 181, 193, 201, 207–8, 212; in Boston, 213; drafted to Knicks, 54, 63, 78; in Kansas City, 183, 193; in New Jersey Nets, 144, 164, 193; retirement, 213–14; return to Knicks, 193
Williams, Sly, 99, 112, 128, 130, 134, 137, 152, 154–56, 162, 175, 185–86, 193
Wingo, Harthorne, 36, 88, 106, 238
youth culture, 40, 52–53; graffiti and, 17 (see also graffiti); hip-hop and, 117, 150–51 (see also hip-hop). See also playground basketball
Zulu Kings, 50
Zulu Nation. See Universal Zulu Nation