Hampton Roads holds a special place in George Garvin's heart.
After all, that was where he started.
Garvin, who earned the nickname “Iceman” for his cool demeanor on the court, played for the Pontiac Chaparrals of the Continental Basketball Association when he was vice president of basketball operations for the Virginia Squires. It caught the attention of Johnny Carr. Kerr then called his friend Earl Foreman, owner of the Squires.
“He called Earl and said, 'We really need to get this kid checked out,'” Garvin recalled. “I was probably an average of 35 years old and I was playing big games when Johnny was around. Lo and behold, Earl flew me in to watch me. Coach Al Bianchi And they let me take the shot. I took it multiple times and they signed it on the spot. Probably the best time in ABA and NBA history to take a shot for a contract. I guess I was the only one who hit it.”
The rest was history as Garvin became one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.
But none of that would have happened if he hadn't come to Hampton Roads.
“If there is no beginning, there is no end,” he said last week. “That's how it all started for me. I'm really grateful.”
That's why Garvin will be back in Hampton Roads next week when he pays homage to the Virginia Squires at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. Garvin will be joined by many other Squires greats, including Julius “Dr.” J” Irving, Charlie Scott, Jim Eakins.
Just as PIT launched the careers of players like Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, Tim Hardaway and Jimmy Butler, Squires launched the careers of many others.
Eakins can't wait to get back. Known as “Jumbo,” he hasn't returned since the Squires' reunion in 2014.
He finished his career as the Squires' all-time leading scorer and rebounder with 6,162 points and 4,268 rebounds.
“I'm excited to be able to interact with the fans as well as the players I played with,” Ekins said of his return this week. He said, “It's always fun to walk down memory lane.''
Eakins knows that many doubted his ability as a professional basketball player, but Foreman and Squires gave him that chance.
“I'm grateful that a big, slow white kid was able to survive long enough when it was expected he wasn't good enough to play professional baseball,” he said. “I grew to love Virginia. And just because I moved away doesn't mean I lost my love for Virginia.”
Charlie Scott, who played for the Squires from 1970-72, said he hasn't returned to Hampton Roads since playing here. But he said he couldn't pass up this opportunity to come back and pay tribute to Foreman and Bianchi.
“The Virginia Squires were a very important team in the ABA. Look at the players who played for them, and guys like Larry Brown and Doug Moe,” he said, ranking second on the franchise with 4,800 points. said Scott, who was the scorer. “This island has a great tradition that people shouldn't forget. I think the ABA had a huge impact on basketball, and I think the Virginia Squires had a group of players that had a huge impact.”
Foreman, who gave Hampton Roads its only taste of major professional sports, died in 2017. His wife Phyllis also passed away in 2020. Their son Scott will also be in town for the reunion.
Scott, 63, has fond memories of the Squires, including when Irving came to live with the family for a short time.
“When he left the house, I would walk around the house in his sneakers,” he said with a laugh.
He said coming back to the reunion gives him a chance to reflect on his parents.
“I think this was the most fun thing my dad ever did,” he said. “He had a dream here.”
Charles Hatcher was instrumental in putting together the Squires' final reunion. He's excited about this too.
“This is the last time the entire city will have a chance to thank them,” he said. “And it's a great opportunity to say 'well done' to one of the greatest sports executives in the history of sports (Foreman).”
Garvin agreed.
“He was the first person to give me the chance to go pro and I'm grateful for that,” he said. “I couldn't get into the NBA because there were no hardships in the NBA at that time. I'm so grateful that there was another professional league in the ABA, where my professional career began.”
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com