Unlike the previous year’s midseason showcase, Warren, perhaps distracted by the pregame deliberation, shot a dismal 3-for-15 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3-point range for the West. After the contest, the four-time All-Star was banished from the league, and no one picked up his contract for nine months. Deemed as revolutionary and militant, Jabali expressed his thoughts on the moniker at the time, “You have to understand the term militancy. When whites got together and demanded freedom and rights, they called it self-determination. When we get together, they call it radicalism or militancy. All we’re doing is asking for equality. Most players [regardless of skin tone] get along well now,” said Jabali. “‘Of course, when seven or eight players on a team are Black, the white players are more or less forced to relate to us. They get used to associating with Blacks, and some of the barriers are broken down.’ When it comes to playing winning basketball, Jabali leaves his political and social causes at home. Ask anyone in the league. Jabali, pound for pound, is the best backcourt technician in the ABA. His teammates say he has an uncanny ability to sense player positions on the court and is constantly making impossible passes to open man.” [1]
Unyielding regarding his precepts, Warren made a move. One publication printed that the ABA establishment had “grown weary of Jabali’s [so-called] ‘Muslim’ views.” Although by this juncture he had been to the continent of Africa a few times, particularly Ghana and Tanzania, he surprised many by making “The Motherland” his new home.
“To earn income, he moved to Dar es Salam to coach basketball at the request of the Tanzanian government. Initially enthusiastic about making a difference in bridging the cultural gap, Jabali soon realized that most Africans [that he encountered in the area] considered African Americans to be of an inferior status. Thus, promoting repatriation to the motherland was not their priority; after observing the effects of colonization, which included tribal, apartheid, and strife among the Indigenous peoples, he concluded that America, despite overt practices of racial discrimination, social injustice, and economic inequities was a better place for African-Americans to fight for civil rights and to pursue their dreams.” [1]
Lee Davis vividly recalled, “When [Jabali] returned from Tanzania, we had mutual friends in San Diego, an older Black couple, and we often conversed there. The best conversations, however, were on the road. He and I talked quite a bit. When he got blackballed from the league, there were people he figured would help him, but they didn’t. He went to Tanzania. Now, Warren always wore Dashikis; he thought he could go to Tanzania and be identified as an ‘African Brother who had returned home.’ He moved his whole family over there but soon discovered a problem. He wasn’t looked upon favorably. In the area where he lived, Warren was considered an outsider. In fact, the locals considered him a ‘lower class’ outsider. He was often told that he was ‘not up on our level.’”
Jabali–disillusioned–soon returned to the United States. San Diego (ABA) eventually signed him.
“We’re talking about a gentleman who was exceptionally well-read and an intellectual,” said Davis. “Jabali read everything that he could get his hands on. He was a huge fan of Marcus Garvey. On road trips, he would educate me often. I would say to myself that this guy is not the guy who is out there on the court acting crazy.” A highbrow scholar, Davis, an economics alum from North Carolina Central University who did well in the financial industry after retirement, stated, “Jabali may have been the most intellectual guy in the league. This guy was brilliant but didn’t correctly use what he had learned.”
Regarding intimidation and his physicality, Jabali simply told Davis, “‘You test folks. If you can get your opponent to the point where they’re so concerned about what you’re going to do and reluctant to play their game, you’ve got them. It makes life easier for you on the court. Guys are scared of you and hesitate before they make a move. They won’t drive [to the hoop] because they want to see if you’re around first.’”
As for the Jarvis scuffle: “Jim Jarvis, I didn’t mean to hurt him that bad. That was just the rage inside of me. I’ve changed a lot since then and wouldn’t think of doing that stuff. Then I was a powder keg, waiting to explode constantly,” Jabali confessed to Davis.
“Like I said, Warren was smart,” remarked Davis.” He didn’t have to do any of the crazy stuff. He knew the game of basketball. He understood everything, and he was just that good. Warren was so strong and big, at 6’3”, and he dunked on seven-footers often. And no one wanted to deal with the 225 pounds of muscle about to land on them.”
GAME ON & ON & ON
Years before the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets battled one another in three overtimes (December 13, 1983), a similar thing happened in the ABA. On February 14, 1975, the San Diego Q’s and the defending champion New York Nets were locked up in a slugfest at the San Diego Sports Arena, ending after four overtimes. On that day, All-ABA (and All-World) forward Julius Erving went berserk. He scored 63 points and snared 23 boards for the Nets. However, guard Warren Jabali, known for his ability to play in the backcourt and clamp down on more prominent players in the frontcourt, saved the day. Erving’s statistics belie what truly happened late in the contest. When the Q’s switched Jabali to cover him, the “Doc,” although still a significant factor, was slowed tremendously by the powerful guard. The Q’s won.
“The final score was 176–166, at the time the highest scoring game in the history of pro basketball. In the last 12 minutes of the game, with Jabali guarding him, Dr. J. [managed only] a meaningless dunk shot in the final seconds with the game out of reach. Warren scored 19 of his 23 points at the end of regulation and in overtime. [1]
Some of the more notable participants and their point totals in the marathon–witnessed by a sparse crowd of 2,916–are listed: Brian Taylor (26), Billy Paultz (19), Bill Melchionni (19), Bo Lamar (45), Travis Grant (30), Lee Davis (25), Jabali (22).
Two nights later, the Q’s again won in overtime, this time versus the (eventual ABA champion) Kentucky Colonels. Warren again shone with 16 points and seven assists. Although unable to summon his marvelous skills at will, the veteran still had it. During his apex, an Ebony magazine writer chronicled Jabali as “one of the ‘super baddest’ stars in pro basketball; but injuries have hobbled him; [if healthy] he’s good for 25 points and 15 rebounds a game!” [5]
THUG LIFE
In pro basketball, particularly the ABA, when the subject of tough guys is raised, three names are inescapably cited: John Brisker, Wendell Ladner and Jabali.
Yet, they fall into different brackets. Brisker was a bona fide tough guy–while formidable pugilistically—he was known for brandishing his pistol whenever the occasion arose. Ladner, equally paroxysmal and willing to mix it up with anybody, was seen as more of a lovable, naïve country boy who just played the game of basketball with a certain edge as an enforcer. Jabali–manufactured like an NFL linebacker–spent most of his career tainted after the incident during his rookie season. No one, including Brisker, messed with Jabali.
Miami Floridians PR Director Rudy Martske: “He was just sinister. I said [to then head coach Bob Bass], ‘I know we got him for [a second-round pick], but you know what kind of guy he is.’ When he showed up for the first practice, he was heavily into the ‘Muslim thing,’ his hair was all braided up. I went up to him and introduced myself. He just looked at me. Wouldn’t say a word. I don’t think he ever said a word to me. He just gave you that look like he might strangle you or something. I just backed away, nodded, and that was it. [2] For Martske and others of his ilk, Jabali’s cornrows and braids–worn periodically to enhance his well-groomed Afro–were too urban. In the not-too-distant future, the star guard would become an unfathomable asset to the franchise and city.
Warren had hands. He didn’t store a firearm in his duffel bag, scuffle with the cops (Brisker), or undercut teammates during intrasquad scrimmages (early Ladner). He merely played hard. More importantly, while with the Floridians for the 1971-72 season, the man feared by so many was the consummate teammate, averaging 19.9 points, eight rebounds, and six assists per game. In addition, he was named an All-Star alongside fellow guard Mack Calvin.
Former coach Al Bianchi: “ I coached Jabali in Washington (1969-70), and I never really knew what was going on in his head, but I didn’t care either. And I know that he did some dumb stuff early in his career, but I didn’t worry about that. All I know is that when they put on the shorts and sneakers and threw up the ball, the man played. He may have been the toughest competitor I was ever around in a lifetime of basketball. At forward, he was 6 foot 2. Imagine that, a 6-foot-2 forward! He would out-rebound and outscore guys a half-foot taller. I have nothing but good memories about this guy because he played so damn hard for me.” [2]
