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‘Soul Power: Legend of the ABA’ is all set to stream on Prime Video — here’s why basketball fans can’t miss it

Directed by Yeman Kamwana Holley, Prime Video's 'Soul Power' is the perfect reminder of how the rebellious ABA nearly took Down the NBA

When we talk about basketball leagues, the NBA (National Basketball Association) is the first name that comes to mind. But there was another influential league that few people know much about, the ABA (American Basketball Association). Prime Video's sports docuseries 'Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association' chronicles the rise and glory of this once-famous league, which introduced game-changing innovations such as the three-point shot and the iconic red, white, and blue basketball. Through interviews and testimonials from giants of the basketball world, the docuseries clearly establishes how the ABA emerged as a major rival and posed a serious threat to the NBA before their merger in 1976.

The series consists of 4 episodes; each brings chronicles the key moments that shaped the ABA's rise and influence. With an average runtime of 55 minutes, the episodes make effective use of time to establish the league's lasting impact, taking insight from bigwigs such as Dr J (Julius Erving), Common, Bob Costas, George Gervin, Rick Barry, and Larry Brown. Director Yeman Kamwana Holley deserves praise for balancing the ABA's success with its eventual downfall. Rather than portraying the league as a faded one, Holley's direction celebrates its legacy by thoughtfully exploring both its revolutionary achievements and its internal flaws. 

More than a traditional docuseries, the narrative of the series also flows effortlessly, with each detail showcasing how the ABA's meteoric rise sent ripples throughout the sports industry. The narrative of the series also sharply positions the ABA as a catalyst for change in professional basketball, introducing innovations that were once revolutionary and are now often taken for granted. The fact that the series is also produced by George Karl, the legendary coach who also played in the ABA, makes it more endearing and, in fact, nostalgic.

As the saying goes, great success brings great responsibility. The series showcases how the league thrived, but behind the scenes had a different story to tell as overspending and poor financial decisions began to mount. The final episode of the series depicts the harsh financial reality facing the ABA. What was once viewed as a brave, culture-shifting league ultimately found itself on the brink of collapse due to unstable finances. Amid this turmoil, the league made a bold and courageous decision to merge with its rival, the NBA, highlighting the importance of survival over pride.

For some viewers, this may look like failure, but the series beautifully shatters that notion by showing how the ABA's ideas, style, and spirit ultimately reshaped modern basketball and lived on long after the league itself disappeared. The docuseries will surely be loved by basketball lovers and acts as a love letter to the ABA that not only challenged the established norms but also reshaped the game of basketball as we see it today.