|
For information about the ABA that began in 2000 see American Basketball Association (21st century). The American Basketball Association (ABA) was founded in 1967, and eventually merged, in part, with the National Basketball Association.
History The original ABA was founded in 1967, competing with the well-established National Basketball Association, until reaching an agreement of merger in 1976. Ultimately, four ABA teams were absorbed into the older league: the New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs. Two other clubs, the Kentucky Colonels and the Spirits of St. Louis were disbanded upon the merger. A third, the Virginia Squires, had folded less than a month earlier, missing out on the opportunities that a merger might have provided. The ABA distinguished itself from its older counterpart with a more wide-open, flashy style of offensive play, as well as differences in rules (a 30-second shot clock–as opposed to the NBA's 24-second clock–and use of a three-point field goal arc). Also, the ABA used a colorful red, white and blue ball, instead of the NBA's traditional brown ball. The freewheeling style of the ABA eventually caught on with fans, but the lack of a national television contract and protracted financial losses would spell doom for the ABA as an independent circuit. In its last year of existence, (1976), the ABA pioneered the now-popular slam dunk contest at its all-star game in Denver. NBA great George Mikan was the first commissioner of the ABA, where he introduced both the 3-point line and the league's trademark red, white and blue basketball. List of ABA teams Highlighted franchises are ABA members absorbed by the NBA. Arrows indicate location of franchise city shifts. Prominent players of the ABA ABA Championship series results See also List of defunct sports leagues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
| |