American sports

American Basketball Association

The original ABA was founded in 1967, competing with the more established, rival 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 a merger might provide.

The ABA distinguished itself from its older counterpart with a more wide-open style of offensive play as well as differences in rules (a 30-second shot clock as opposed to the NBA's 24, use of a 3-point basket, etc.) Also, the ABA used a colorful red, white and blue ball instead of the NBA's 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.

List of ABA teams

• Anaheim Amigos
• Baltimore Claws/Hustlers (never actually played a regular season game)
• Carolina Cougars
• Dallas Chaparrals
• Denver Nuggets
• Denver Rockets
• The Floridians
• Houston Mavericks
• Indiana Pacers
• Kentucky Colonels
• Las Vegas Rattlers
• Los Angeles Stars
• Memphis Pros
• Memphis Sounds
• Memphis Tams
• Miami Floridians
• Minnesota Muskies
• Minnesota Pipers
• New Jersey Americans
• New Orleans Buccaneers
• New York Nets
• Oakland Oaks
• Pittsburgh Condors
• Pittsburgh Pipers
• San Antonio Spurs
• San Diego Conquistadors
• San Diego Sails
• Spirits of St. Louis
• Texas Chaparrals
• Utah Stars
• Virginia Squires
• Washington Caps

Great players of the ABA: Julius Erving (otherwise known as Dr. J) of the New York Nets and Virginia Squires, Rick Barry (Oakland Oaks), Connie Hawkins (Pittsburgh Pipers), David Thompson (Denver Nuggets, scored 75 points in a game), George "Ice Man" Gervin (San Antonio Spurs), George McGinnis (Indiana Pacers), Artis Gilmore, Moses Malone (played in NBA until the 90's)

ABA Championship Series results

• 1967-1968 - Pittsburgh Pipers defeated New Orleans Buccaneers, 4 games to 3.
• 1968-1969 - Oakland Oaks defeated Indiana Pacers, 4 games to 1.
• 1969-1970 - Indiana Pacers defeated Los Angeles Stars, 4 games to 2.
• 1970-1971 - Utah Stars defeated Kentucky Colonels, 4 games to 3.
• 1971-1972 - Indiana Pacers defeated New York Nets, 4 games to 2.
• 1972-1973 - Indiana Pacers defeated Kentucky Colonels, 4 games to 3.
• 1973-1974 - New York Nets defeated Utah Stars, 4 games to 1.
• 1974-1975 - Kentucky Colonels defeated Indiana Pacers, 4 games to 1.
• 1975-1976 - New York Nets defeated Denver Nuggets, 4 games to 2.