Lee Winfield’s teammates can still remember him coming to their homes in his Volkswagen van. It was the signal of the start of another trip for the Buffalo Braves in the early 1970s, back when N.B.A. players flew with the general public, washed their own uniforms and endured bone-crushing schedules.
Before the Braves hit the road, Winfield, a point guard, would traverse the city to collect teammates as he drove to the airport. The Braves often flew Allegheny Airlines, a regional carrier that the players referred to as “Agony Airlines.” They folded their large frames into coach seats, which was the only option since there was no first class.