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Former ABA players see similarities in today's pro game

INDIANAPOLIS — Basketball Hall of Famers George Gervin and George McGinnis see a lot of their old league in today's NBA.

Their former teammates notice it, too.

Five decades ago, they were the guys running the floor, embracing the 3-pointers and welcoming underclassmen. They understood the entertainment value of high-scoring games, dunk contests and halftime shows. They valued rivalries, camaraderie and the sense everyone in the sport was working toward a single goal.

Today the business model first adopted by the American Basketball Association has largely become the standard operating procedure for the world's biggest basketball league.