At 10 p.m. on a Saturday night, Spencer Haywood is leading what could possibly be the world’s tallest version of the Electric Slide on the dance floor at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in New Orleans. As the band plays, Haywood is demonstrating the moves that made him a two-time First Team All-NBA player. Tonight is the gala for the Legends of Basketball conference, and over 150 of Haywood’s fraternity members from the NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters are here from the National Basketball Retired Players Association to celebrate.
When the song ends, Haywood wipes his brow. “Hoo-wee! Haven’t done that in a minute,” he says. From there, Haywood is called into the lobby, where all the former members of the ABA attending the conference have gathered to take a photo. “Moses,” Haywood shouts at Moses Malone with arms wide open. “Where’s the love?”
Sights that would make a basketball fan’s lifetime happen seemingly regularly here at the conference—an annual gathering for the union to discuss new programs, initiatives and networking opportunities available to the retired players. In addition, many of the members made appearances in the New Orleans community during the weekend. The NBRPA teamed up with the NBA and the league’s Players’ Association to raise $30,000 to help rebuild the outdoor basketball courts in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. They also put on a free basketball clinic for at-risk youth during the weekend.
Despite all the charitable works and the overwhelming energy the former players bring to the community, the weekend still remains a great bonding experience for players from every generation to gather, share stories about the game back in the day, life as it stands now for retired players and what each of them can do in conjunction with the union to continue to build their own brand as members of one of the world’s most exclusive clubs.
“Isn’t it glorious?” Haywood asks us, waving his hand toward the crowd of his brethren. “Where else would anyone want to be?”
