Indianapolis (Oct. 4, 2011) -- When Freddie Lewis takes the court these days, he does so as a coach and mentor to the youth of McKeesport, Pa., where he is -- or should be -- almost as big a legend as to fans of the Indiana Pacers.
His fame as the only player from McKeesport to reach the pinnacle of professional basketball, however, is lost on the youngsters, many of whom were born more than two decades after Lewis' career ended in 1977.
When he mentions the ABA, Lewis said this is the typical reaction:
"What was that? What kind of league was that?"
And so he transforms from coach to history teacher, telling them about the league that dared to challenge the NBA and produced a game as colorful as its trademark red, white and blue basketball.
"It's a little history lesson for them," Lewis said. "They go back and they Google me and pull up all the pictures and stats and stuff from when I played and they're really surprised about the things I did when I was playing."
Those accomplishments are prolific. One of the original Pacers, Lewis was a mainstay of the three ABA championship teams. A fluid, versatile guard who could do a little of everything -- most notably make big plays in the clutch -- he averaged 16.1 points, 4.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds in seven seasons with the Pacers. He was a four-time ABA All-Star and MVP of that game in 1975 while playing for the St. Louis Spirits.
His name still peppers the Pacers' record books, as he ranks in the franchise's top 10 in seasons, games, field goal attempts, free throws made (his 2,511 rank second only to Reggie Miller), free throws attempted, minutes, assists and points.
The three biggest stars of those ABA years, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown and George McGinnis all have their numbers retired by the Pacers. Though Lewis' statistics are not as gaudy, his importance to those championship teams was comparable because of his leadership -- he was the team captain throughout that era -- hustle and timely productivity.
He was the MVP of the 1972 ABA playoffs, when the Pacers won their third title. In Game 7 of the second round against Utah, he had 23 points, 12 rebounds and six assists and hit two three throws with 24 seconds left to clinch the series. In Game 5 of the ABA Finals against New York, he engineered a comeback from a 20-point deficit and his steal and free throws in the closing seconds secured a critical 100-99 victory. The Pacers then closed it out in Game 6.
"I'm very happy about the career I had in Indiana," Lewis said. "The people I met were very, very nice and I still stay in touch with a lot of them when I come back on occasions for Pacers functions. They still come down and share their wishes and they keep saying hopefully one day my jersey will be retired there because it's supposed to be there. Hopefully that might happen.
"I was one of the first Pacers signed when they formed the franchise and not only that, the things I did when I was there. I wasn't a bench player, I was a key player with the team. I'm sure each one of (his former teammates) would tell you I should have my jersey retired, also."
Born in Huntington, W.Va., where his grandmother lived next door to the mother of Hall of Fame guard Hal Greer, Lewis moved to McKeesport for his high school years, and then headed at Arizona State. His pro career started with the Cincinnati Royals of the NBA in 1966-67, where he served as Oscar Robertson's backup.
He signed with the Pacers when the franchise formed for the following season -- he led the team in scoring at 20.6 -- and stayed with the team through 1974, when he was traded to Memphis (along with Daniels in exchange for Charlie Edge and cash). He subsequently was traded to St. Louis, where he enjoyed the most productive season of his career, averaging 22.6 points and 5.5 assists and leading a young team to the playoffs and a first-round upset of the defending champion New York Nets.
When the ABA and NBA merged, Lewis returned to the Pacers for the 1976-77 season before retiring.
In the years since Lewis has kept his hand in the game. He was President, General Manager and Assistant Coach of the Pennsylvania Pit Bulls of the reformed ABA for the 2004-06 seasons. He took over ownership of the franchise and moved the renamed Pittsburgh Xplosion to the CBA from 2006-08 but dwindling attendance led to a cessation of operations before the 2008-09 season.
"It just didn't work," Lewis said. "Nobody supported it."
Now 68, fully recovered from hip replacement surgery nearly a year ago, Lewis is working for the city of McKeesport conducting camps and clinics.
"It's fun and rewarding because it just keeps your name in front of the younger kids," he said. "Of course, they weren't born when I was playing ball so they get a history lesson from me every summer."
And so those youngsters learn what Pacers fans have known for decades: that Lewis was indeed a very special player.