Dr. J, George Karl, and Bob Costas: The Fight for the Soul of Basketball: Soul Power

The NBA as we know it today—the three-pointers, the high-flying dunks, the fashion, and the “flow”—didn’t start in the NBA. It started in the ABA.

In this exclusive panel, basketball legends Julius “Dr. J” Erving, George Karl, and legendary broadcaster Bob Costas join filmmaker Kenan K. Holley to discuss the wild, soulful, and often precarious history of the American Basketball Association. From stories of bouncing paychecks and locker room brotherhood to the time Bob Costas almost lost his job over a hilarious on-air slip-up, this is a deep dive into the “last truly legendary league.”

Discover how a league that lasted only nine years managed to take over the world of basketball by force.

The world premiere screening of Prime Video’s Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association took place on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at the Regal Union Square in New York City.

After the screening of the first episode, a panel discussion occurred, which featured:

Julius Erving, AKA Dr. J, Executive Producer
George Karl, Former ABA Player & NBA Coach, and Executive Producer
Kenan Kamwana Holley, director
Bob Costas, Former ABA announcer and interview subject

Soul Power is the definitive story—and first docuseries—of the American Basketball Association. The series chronicles the 1967 launch of the enterprising league and explores how a collection of franchises—the majority of which relocated or folded—challenged the NBA on and off the court for nine riveting seasons, and examines thelasting impact of the ABA on the sport of basketball, including the introduction of the 3-point shot; the All-Star Game slam dunk competition; the addition of former ABA franchises like the Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs to the NBA; empowering women to play a more substantial role in the business of sports; and the rise to fame of superstar players and pro hoops contributors like Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Spencer Haywood, George Gervin, Rick Barry, and George Karl. 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the ABA’s merger with the NBA.

Presented by Prime Video Sports, Soul Power is executive produced by Common, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Todd Lieberman of Hidden Pictures, George Karl and Brett Goldberg of Truth+Media, and Kenan Kamwana Holley of Holley Films, with support from Scott Tarter, Founder and CEO of Lana Sports and Co-Founder and CEO of the Dropping Dimes Foundation, which has helped provide for the financial and health needs of retired ABA players over the past decade. The docuseries is a co-production from Prime Video Sports, Truth+Media, Hidden Pictures, and Holley Films.

Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association premieres February 12 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

0:00 — Researching the NBA vs. ABA during COVID

0:26 — Proof the ABA was better: The 75-71 exhibition record

0:51 — Why filmmaker Kenan K. Holley wanted to tell the “real story”

1:41 — Breaking racial lines: The 50/50 locker room culture

2:36 — Bill Russell’s famous quote on basketball quotas

3:00 — Afro competitions and the fashion of the ABA

4:14 — Is the ABA the “last truly legendary league”?

5:31 — Julius Erving on being the best rookie and Artis Gilmore

6:20 — Dr. J on playing in the shadow of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

7:33 — The “Red Auerbach Syndrome” and global basketball

9:20 — The shift to international talent in the modern NBA

10:41 — “I know ball”: Validating the ABA’s talent against NBA giants

11:29 — The wild stories of the Spirits of St. Louis & Marvin Barnes

12:50 — The “Time Machine” story: Why Marvin Barnes wouldn’t fly

14:32 — The final game in ABA history: Dr. J vs. David Thompson

14:58 — George Gervin: The “Iceman” and top 5 scorer of all time

17:19 — The “Unknown Legends”: Jimmy Jones and James Silas

18:48 — The ABA fraternity: Brotherhood over media credibility

21:41 — Why the ABA looms larger in their hearts 50 years later

22:55 — Bob Costas’ hilarious on-air “mistake” at age 22

25:57 — Hanging by a thread: Stories of bouncing checks and hotel keys

27:09 — Final word: “The NBA had to become the ABA to survive”

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Dr. J, George Karl, and Bob Costas: The Fight for the Soul of Basketball: Soul Power