Mel Daniels Itching for Shot at NBA Stars, 1971

[In late 1967, about two weeks into his rookie season, Mel Daniels and his Minnesota Muskies were in Teaneck National Guard Armory to face the New Jersey Americans. A young reporter named Ira Berkow ambled over to Daniels and asked, “What do you think of playing in the ABA?”

The ABA was brand-spanking-new, and Daniels was the only NBA first-round draft c…