Deseret News archives +: Utah Stars delivered a championship on this day in 1971
Beaty, Boone, Wise and more helped the Stars capture ABA title at the Salt Palace.
The front page of the Deseret News sports section on May 19, 1971, as players and fans reveled in the Utah Stars' ABA championship. Editor’s note: This story was originally published on May 18, 2025. A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On May 18, 1971, Utahns were treated to their first professional championship when the Utah Stars defeated the Kentucky Colonels in the seventh game of the American Basketball Association championship series at the Salt Palace. Ah, the ABA. The red, white and blue basketball.
The zany promotions. The 3-pointers. The Salt Palace.
Some fans even remember the the Utah jingle: “Here come the Stars, here come the Stars. ” For the 30th anniversary of the Stars’ ABA title, the Deseret News game story that appeared May 19, 1971, written by Dan Pattison, was reprinted. Here is part of that story.