Warren Jabali

Warren Jabali (born August 29, 1946, in Kansas City, Kansas) is a retired American basketball player. He played professionally in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1968 to 1975.

Introduction

Born Warren Edward Armstrong, Jabali changed his name while attending Wichita State University to reflect his African roots. The name does not have any religious connotations as it is a Swahili word for "rock." A skilled defender and rebounder and a remarkable leaper, the 6'2" Jabali could allegedly touch a basketball hoop (set ten feet above the ground) with his forehead [http://www.ethicsofchoice.com/GaWJ.html] . Since he attended a relatively small college, he did not receive much attention from the National Basketball Association (NBA), and he signed instead with the Oakland Oaks of the rival ABA. In his first season in the league, he won Rookie of the Year honors, prompting teammate Rick Barry to comment, "No doubt he's one of the best guards I've ever played with — or against" [http://www.ethicsofchoice.com/GaWJ.html] . Later that season, Jabali averaged 33.2 points against the Indiana Pacers in the ABA Finals and was named Playoffs MVP.

Full Biography

As one of the bigger guards in the American Basketball Association, Warren Jabali muscled his way through seven straight seasons of double-digit scoring, including 1968–69, when his average of 21.5 points per game earned him ABA Rookie of the Year honors. That season Jabali’s efforts helped bring an ABA Championship to the Oakland Oaks, a team that also featured Rick Barry, Larry Brown, and Doug Moe.

Jabali (then Warren Armstrong) became an instant star after coming into the league from Wichita State University. Although Barry, the Oaks’ biggest attraction, won the league scoring title in 1968–69, he was only able to play in 35 games because of a severe knee ligament injury. It was Jabali, an immediate starter, who gave Coach Alex Hannum the extra scoring punch needed in Barry’s absence.With Jabali aboard and Barry helping for part of the season, the Oaks recorded a stunning 38-game turnaround to post a league-best 60-18 record. In the playoffs they went 12-4 on the way to claiming the ABA Championship. A year later at midseason, with the team playing as the Washington Capitols, an injury sidelined Jabali. Hurt shortly after playing in his first of four ABA All-Star Games, he was carrying an average of 22.8 points per game at the time.

Jabali made a comeback, although his final five years were spent with four different teams. In his first season back, 1970–71, he saw action in 62 games with Indiana. It was with the Pacers that Jabali started pulling the trigger from three-point land; he did it 163 times that year, making 47 treys.

He had a big year with the Florida Floridians the following season, averaging 19.9 points and hitting 102 of his 286 three-point attempts, among the most in the league. When the Miami-based franchise folded, Jabali moved to Denver. During his first campaign with the Rockets, Jabali’s 16-point effort in the 1973 ABA All-Star Game keyed the West’s come-from-behind victory and earned him Most Valuable Player honors. That game is often referred to as the Jabali's Jamboree.

After one more season in Denver and another with the San Diego Conquistadors, Jabali retired in 1975, at age 28.

In his seven-year professional career, Jabali also played for the Washington Capitals, the Indiana Pacers, The Floridians, the Denver Rockets, and the San Diego Conquistadors (few ABA teams lasted very long before going bankrupt or relocating; as a result, most ABA players could spend time with many different teams in a short amount of time). While playing for the Rockets in 1973, he was named the All-Star Game MVP and was named to the All-ABA First Team after averaging 17.0 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.2 rebounds. Knee problems would soon limit his effectiveness, however, and he retired in 1975, having achieved career averages of 17.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 6.7 rebounds.

External links

* [http://basketball-reference.com/players/j/jabalwa01.html Career stats] at basketball-reference.com
* [http://www.remembertheaba.com/TributeMaterial/Jabali.html Warren Jabali] at Remember the ABA
* [http://www.hoopshype.com/articles/jabali_friedman.htm Warren Jabali in His Own Words] at HoopsHype.com