Salt Lake City Stars To Wear Throwback ABA Uniforms Tonight
Jan 19, 2023, 2:34 PM | Updated: Jul 12, 2023, 1:59 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The Salt Lake City Stars, the G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz are set to go retro tonight when they don throwback Utah Stars uniforms against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
As part of the “Utah Stars Night presented by Vivint,” the game will be played at Vivint Arena, home of the Jazz.
“The Utah Stars laid the foundation for Utah’s basketball identity,” Salt Lake City Stars president Jonathan Rinehart said in a release.
“For the second year in a row, we will pay homage to the great teams and players from that Utah Stars era. Our uniforms for these two games will honor and represent the team that started it all, and call attention to the achievements of those original Utah Stars, whose players included greats like Ron Boone, Moses Malone, and Zelmo Beaty.”
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Longtime Jazz broadcaster, and 1971 ABA Utah Stars Champion, Ron Boone will be in attendance to sign autographs prior to the start of Tonight’s game.
The Stars are also partnering with the Junior Jazz to host an interactive game-night experience offered to the thousands of Junior Jazz members across the state.
The Junior Jazz will offer face painting, balloon artists, bounce houses, a scavenger hunt, giveaways, and more for all those in attendance.
The Stars will offer an exclusive postgame autograph session with the team. Buster Bear, the Stars mascot will also be on hand as well.
The throwback Stars jerseys will also be worn on Saturday against the South Bay Lakers before being auctioned off.
History of the Utah Stars
The Utah Stars were in their first season in the Beehive State in the ABA when they won their lone championship. The Stars beat the Colonels in seven games with a 131-121 victory in Game 7 at the Salt Palace.
Future Hall of Famer Zelmo Beaty had 36 points and 16 rebounds in the win. Forward Willie Wise added 22 points and 20 rebounds of his own.
Jazz radio color analyst Ron Boone was also a member of the Stars championship run. Boone sat down with KSL Sports to discuss the team’s success.
“The crowd was unbelievable,” Boone stated. “You are talking about playing at the Salt Palace with 12,000 seats. The crowd was right there on top of you. It was a huge celebration.”
After the championship win, the fans hoisted Wise and Beaty.
“I remember clearly,” Wise said. “I don’t remember who hoisted me up but it was Zelmo and me, I think there was a mutual adoration with the fans.”
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
