The Legacy of the Pittsburgh Pipers
By Mark Powell
In the heat of the Civil Rights Movement and hippy culture of the late 60’s came Pittsburgh’s sole moment on top of the basketball world.
The Pittsburgh Pipers, led by future Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins, won the first ABA Championship over the New Orleans Buccaneers in the summer of 1968, winning the series 4-3. Hawkins is one of the more underrated players of his era, winning MVP his first season in the league.
However, the championship isn’t the only story about the Pipers’ rise and fall in Pittsburgh, as controversy often swirled around the franchise, including the very court they played on.
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