ABA CHAMPIONS WORKING HARD TO REPEAT.

By Thomas Leturgey

Ace Pippens was happy. Moments earlier, his American Basketball Association (ABA) defending National Champions, the Steel City Yellow Jackets, bested the New Jersey Knights by an incredible 200-89 score. The game wasn’t really that close.

Despite the Founder, Owner and Head Coach’s post-game glee, it’s been a trying season for the Yellow Jackets.

Last April, the Yellow Jackets shocked many in the ABA when they defeated Team Trouble 123-118 at the ABA finals in Baltimore. The charge was seen as “Unfinished Business” for Pippens and two of his captains: Antonio Reddic, Sr. and Gilmore Cummings. The Yellow Jacket O.G.’s had been together since the franchise’s birth in 2014. Beginning in Year One, they had come so close, so many times. Individually, Reddic and Cummings both began to wonder about their collective basketball legacy. That was enough motivation for all three veterans to push like never before.

After winning the title, Pippens and Assistant Coach Clyde Manns shared an emotional and inspiring moment. Manns pulled Pippens up from his wheelchair for a tearful embrace. Manns had promised his longtime friend to make that happen if they ever won the big game. And for Pippens, who was paralyzed from the waist down by gunfire during a domestic incident 29 years ago, the win was vindication for a lifetime filled with sports and coaching.

Last May, Pittsburgh City officials quickly arranged a championship parade and citywide proclamation. Pittsburgh’s 61st Mayor, Ed Gainey, was in office for just five months when he pridefully led (with a megaphone in hand) the newest inductee into the “City of Champions” from outside City Hall to a popular Market Square celebration.

Pippens had achieved the pinnacle, and boasted a 129-33 career coaching record that he didn’t initially recognize. Add in this year’s 10-2 record (as of February 13), and his 139-35 ( and .794 winning percentage) has to be among the best in the ABA’s 23-year-existence.

The current pre-season Power Rankings featured the National Champions in the #1 slot. That meant that other teams were gunning to topple defending champions. That’s exactly what the Yellow Jackets had done. The schedule featured new foes, and a trip to Baltimore (where the Yellow Jackets had never defeated the Hawks), but its Charm City counterparts weren’t on Pittsburgh’s home calendar.

Fast forward to November 5. More than last year, the team is constantly evolving, especially with personnel. Assistant Coach Manns was the first to leave the club, when a position opened in the NBA. A few contributing players weren’t retained, but the core was to be intact, even though three leaders were somewhat banged up.

In the championship season, the team was strong with outstanding shooting from all over the court. First-team AllStar Reddic was just as strong outside the three-point line as he was with the giants down under the net. At 6’3”, Reddic was up against larger forwards and centers in the paint. His quick reflexes, uncanny jumping ability, long arms and exceptional hands fared well on the rebounding front, but he also found himself crashing to the hardwood more than he, or anyone, would like.

The grinding took its toll. At the beginning of the season, the usually-durable Reddic was unable to play. His constant, earnest verve finally caught up to the Yellow Jackets’ all-time leading scorer.

Like Reddic, Gilmore Cummings was eager to defend the city’s latest professional sports crown. As smooth-assilk shooter from beyond the three-point line as anyone in the ABA, Cummings also entered the season banged up. And when he did make it back, the arching threes didn’t fall for the team’s second alltime leading point producer. One could tell that he wasn’t yet playing at 100%, and a subsequent leg injury quickly sidelined him again. Then, when Cummings returned from therapy and ready to play. In limited time against the

Central Pennsylvania Kings, he was involved in a scrum, fell and cracked his head hard on the floor.

Reddic and Cummings had success with a third team captain, Claude Scott, Jr. A rebound-hunting forward, Scott could also post 30plus on the scoreboard from time-to-time. He played an important role in the Yellow Jackets’ championship run. And like his “older brothers,” Scott started the 2022-2023 campaign on the injured list. Not one to miss a beat, Scott helped from the bench as a de facto coach. Once he did return Scott produced at an exceptional rate.

Healthy for much of the season was the not-so-secret weapon, “Agent Zero,” Kenny Holmes. Holmes, once a former shooting guard for the Yellow Jackets, played a majority of the 2021-2022 season in Newfoundland, but returned to Pittsburgh just in time for the stretch run. His Canadian employer was temporarily shuddered when COVID forced a league-wide stoppage in play late in their season. Holmes’ presence, and customary 40-points off the bench earned him Most Valuable Player recognition during the championship tournament.

Holmes started this season in Black and Gold and picked up right where he left off, the sixth man off the pine at A Giving Heart Community Center in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood and other ABA road stops. A cool character away from the court, Holmes was all business for four quarters every game. Just when an opponent thought they knew what was going on with Pippen’s starting five,

Holmes calmly came in and scored from anywhere, and seemingly at will.

Pippens promised a faster, full-court press game at the beginning of the season. The swarming 94-foot defense caught some of the opposition off guard. This is especially where twins, James and Timothy Jackson excelled.

The 25-year-olds highlight the “untold stories” of the last two seasons. The guards are resilient and competitive. And while both players have the talent to take over any offense themselves, they are even better when they are on the lookout for each other. Some players may take a hurried shot, but the Jacksons selflessly fire a pass to the other, in hopes of an easier three-pointer or lay up. They both have become initiators of the ABA’s “3D” plays. The February 4 game against the New Jersey Knights almost instantly got out-of-hand when the Yellow Jackets forced, and completed 3D opportunities in the earliest moments.

It was the first time since the Yellow Jackets’ debut in which the team has scored more than 200 twice in one season. On December 10, the Yellow Jackets defeated a depleted Bridgeport Bombers squad, 213-65.

The very next week, a trip to Baltimore toppled the Yellow Jackets from the #1 spot in the Power Rankings with a 147-130. On January 28, a game Central Pennsylvania Kings team came to town with something to prove. They upset the Yellow Jackets 130-119. Reddic, Holmes and center Artis Cleveland were absent from the team and Cummings spent the next week in concussion protocol. Reddic couldn’t believe what he saw.

The decisive win couldn’t have come at a better time for the club. Holmes, who had been rumored to return to the Newfoundland club (because of a contractual obligation), wasn’t called for the preseason. A few weeks later–one of the league’s most prominent Most Valuable Player candidates–was summoned and returned 2,069 miles to the north.

In November, East Detroit native Artis Cleveland signed with the Yellow Jackets. A 7’ center, Cleveland, who like Pippens was called “Ace” by his friends, made an immediate impact with outstretched arms for rebounds the team wouldn’t have grabbed last year. While not a scoring machine, Cleveland did add some offense, especially when Reddic had not yet returned.

During his time on the injured list, Claude Scott often guided Cleveland with positioning and foot work advice. By his own admission, Cleveland hadn’t had the chance to get accustomed to the ABA’s quicker style, which included many more chances for rebounds and a flourishing sky hook. But by late January, Cleveland was announced to have signed a training camp invitation in the Midwest and was, at least temporarily, gone. He remains on the official team roster, and he could be used down the playoff stretch.

At one glimmering moment this season, the Yellow Jackets had a full-bodied defense at center and strong forward. Dominick McClung, at 6’7’, has shored up a position that waned at times last year. Not a flashy player, McClung simply outlasts others for boards, and he has a good sense to get the ball out to other players.

Brandon Burnett, a veteran of international games, continues to work as hard as anyone to improve. At 6’9”, Burnett is an imposing figure, but while he has found success in other leagues, he hasn’t reached his full potential yet in the ABA. It’s not for the lack of trying. Burnett constantly motivates himself to perform better whenever he’s on the court.

In recent weeks, 6’9’’ forward/ center Justin Hamilton has returned to the team. Real life got in the way for Hamilton leading into the season, but he came back to the Steel City and his teammates. He’s played sparingly, but especially with the absence of Cleveland, he will be utilized fully.

The Yellow Jackets remain very strong at the guard position. Brandon Johnson continues to lead. Another newcomer, Ryan Montoya, has only gotten better with time. Add in Amaru Caldwell and VaShawn Howard and the Yellow Jackets look promising in the back court for years to come.

Pippens believes that his club will contend the rest of the season, and make it to the prestigious Elite 8, scheduled for Atlanta in mid-April. He hopes to retain the ABA National Championship, but he also realizes that the league has never been stronger. And he’s happy about that.

The Burning River Buckets won the ABA North Central Regional Championship during their first season and have been doing fantastic ever since. They have also advanced to the Final 8 in the ABA. To see what else the Team is up to visit burningbuckets.com or follow them @burningbuckets on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Established in 2018, The Indiana Lyons don’t know what it’s like to have a losing record. They have had a winning season ever since their inception. The Lyons were the ABA North Central Regional Champions in 2021, The ABA Final Eight in 2021 and the ABA Midwest Region Finalist in 2021 – 2022 season. To learn more about the Lyon’s, visit IndianaLyons.com or check them out on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

The Alamo City All-Stars are a majority Military owned and operated team. Based out of San Antonio, TX the AllStars are the 2019 San Antonio Pro Am Champs and the 2020 South Central Regional Champions. Coached by The San Antonio Spurs legend Johnny “00” Moore, the All-Stars are also 4-time ABA vs. Military game “Military City” winners. Visit www.AlamoCityAllStarsTeam.com to learn more about the team.

The Southwest Desertcats launched their program during Covid but that didn’t stop them from becoming a Nationally Power Ranked team. This year the Desertcats are currently #10 and have teetered in the 1st and 2nd spots in the Pacific South. The Desertcats coach, Jesus Aragon has been named the ABATV coach of the year. To get to know more about the Desertcats visit their website at www.swdeserthoops.

With a name like Team Trouble , it’s no wonder they were last season’s runners-up to Steel City and had backto-back Final 8 appearances as well as being back-to-back Pacific North Division Champions. Learn more about Team Trouble go to their website at Teamtrouble209.org or follow them on Instagram @teamtrouble209