Amanda Knapp
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major professional basketball league that operated for nine seasons from 1967 to 1976. The league started with 11 teams and introduced a red, white, and blue basketball for its games. This was in contrast to the traditional orange basketball used by the more established National Basketball Association (NBA), with which the ABA was in direct competition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1967-1968 |
| No. of Teams | 11 |
| Eastern Division Teams | Pittsburgh Pipers, Minnesota Muskies, Indiana Pacers, Kentucky Colonels, New Jersey Americans |
| Western Division Teams | New Orleans Buccaneers, Dallas Chaparrals, Denver Rockets, Houston Mavericks, Anaheim Amigos, Oakland Oaks |
| Inaugural Game | Oakland Oaks vs Anaheim Amigos |
| Inaugural Game Score | 134-129 |
| Inaugural Game Date | October 13, 1967 |
| Inaugural Draft First Pick | Jimmy Walker |
| Most Valuable Player | Connie Hawkins |
| Basketball Colors | Red, White, Blue |
| Primary Color | Red |
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What You'll Learn
The first ABA season
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was founded in 1967 by Dennis Murphy, former mayor of Buena Park, California, and Gary Davidson, an attorney from Orange County, California. George Mikan, a former National Basketball Association (NBA) star, was named the league's first commissioner. The ABA was challenging the NBA and introduced several new features to distinguish itself, including a red, white and blue basketball, an alternative to the NBA's traditional orange ball.
The ABA introduced a 30-second shot clock, as opposed to the NBA's 24 seconds, and the three-point shot. The league also featured a distinctive red, white, and blue official ball, which Mikan described as "a patriotic ball."
The first ABA All-Star game was played in Indianapolis on January 9, 1968, between the East and West divisions. The East, coached by Jim Pollard of the Minnesota Muskies, won 126-120. Larry Brown of the New Orleans Buccaneers was named the game's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
The Pittsburgh Pipers and New Orleans Buccaneers finished the regular season as the top seeds in their respective divisions. On March 24, 1968, Connie Hawkins of the Pittsburgh Pipers was awarded the ABA's first MVP award, leading the league in scoring with 26.9 points per game. The Pittsburgh Pipers and New Orleans Buccaneers advanced to the league championship after winning their divisional playoff rounds.
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Red, white and blue ball
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major professional basketball league that operated for nine seasons from 1967 to 1976. The ABA was the second of two leagues established in the 1960s, the other being the American Basketball League (ABL).
The 1967–68 ABA season was the first season for the American Basketball Association. The league introduced a red, white and blue basketball, a stark contrast to the traditional orange basketball used by the NBA. The Oakland Oaks and the Anaheim Amigos played the inaugural game on October 13, 1967, with Oakland defeating Anaheim 134-129.
The ABA's red, white and blue ball was designed with premium composite leather and was suitable for indoor and outdoor use. The ball was officially licensed by both the NBA and ABA and was endorsed by several ABA Hall of Famers, including Julius Erving, Rick Barry, and George “Ice” Gervin.
In addition to the unique basketball, the ABA introduced several other innovations to the game. These included a 30-second shot clock, as opposed to the NBA's 24-second clock, and the three-point shot. The league also featured an all-star game, held in Indianapolis on January 9, 1968, which was nationally televised and had an attendance of 10,872 fans.
By the end of the 1975–76 season, the ABA was down to seven teams, and it eventually merged with the NBA in 1976. Four teams from the ABA joined the NBA: the Pacers, Nuggets, Spurs, and Nets.
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11 teams
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was founded in 1967 by Dennis Murphy, former mayor of Buena Park, California, and Gary Davidson, an attorney from Orange County, California. The ABA was a direct competitor to the more established National Basketball Association (NBA).
The ABA had 11 teams in its first season, divided into two divisions: the Eastern Division and the Western Division. The Eastern Division comprised the Pittsburgh Pipers, Minnesota Muskies, Indiana Pacers, Kentucky Colonels, and New Jersey Americans. The Western Division included the New Orleans Buccaneers, Dallas Chaparrals, Denver Rockets, Houston Mavericks, Anaheim Amigos, and Oakland Oaks.
The inaugural game of the ABA took place on October 13, 1967, between the Anaheim Amigos and the Oakland Oaks, with the Oaks winning 134-129. The ABA introduced a unique style of play with a 30-second shot clock, a three-point shot, and a colourful red, white, and blue ball instead of the traditional orange ball used in the NBA.
The ABA provided a freewheeling and flashy alternative to the NBA, with a more wide-open style of offensive play. It attracted fans with its showy and pure playground-style basketball, trash-talking, and fights on the court. The league also had unique halftime entertainment, such as the Dunk Contest, which showcased the style and excitement of the players.
Despite its popularity, the ABA struggled with financial losses due to the lack of a national television contract and low ticket sales. By 1976, the league was down to nine teams, and it ultimately merged with the NBA that year. Four ABA teams were absorbed into the NBA: the Nets, Nuggets, Spurs, and Pacers. The Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis were disbanded, and the Virginia Squires folded just before the merger.
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30-second shot clock
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major professional basketball league that operated for nine seasons from 1967 to 1976. The ABA introduced a 30-second shot clock during its inaugural 1967–68 season. This was longer than the 24-second shot clock used by the NBA.
The ABA was the more successful of the two rival leagues challenging the NBA in the 1960s. It was founded by Dennis Murphy, former mayor of Buena Park, California, and Gary Davidson, an attorney from Orange County, California. George Mikan, a former NBA star, was named the league's first commissioner. Mikan is credited with introducing the three-point shot and the 30-second shot clock to the ABA.
The 30-second shot clock was intended to improve the pace of play and reduce inaction. In addition to the shorter shot clock, the restricted-area arc was extended from 3 feet to 4 feet. Teams were also given one fewer team timeout in the second half, and officials focused on quickly resuming play after timeouts.
The 30-second shot clock has been a topic of debate in basketball, with some coaches and players expressing a preference for it over the 24-second shot clock used in the NBA and FIBA. Proponents of the 30-second shot clock argue that it allows for more offensive variety and prevents stalling by teams with a lead. However, others suggest that a shorter shot clock would bring college basketball in line with professional leagues and improve the flow of the game by encouraging faster transitions and reducing the number of low-quality possessions.
In 2015, the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee approved a package of proposals that included reducing the shot clock to 30 seconds, down from the previous duration of 35 seconds. This change aimed to strike a better balance between offense and defense and reduce the physicality of the sport.
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First commissioner
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was founded in 1967 by Dennis Murphy, former mayor of Buena Park, California, and Gary Davidson, an attorney from Orange County, California. The ABA's first commissioner was George Mikan, a former National Basketball Association (NBA) star best known for his career with the Minneapolis Lakers.
Mikan agreed to be commissioner on January 31, 1967, two days before a press conference, where he stated that the ABA would not poach players from the NBA, although the New York Times later reported that tentative offers had been made to Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain. Mikan also introduced the three-point line and the league's trademark red, white, and blue basketball.
The ABA's inaugural game took place on October 13, 1967, between the Oakland Oaks and the Anaheim Amigos, with the Oaks winning 134-129. The league began with 11 teams, including the Pittsburgh Pipers, Minnesota Muskies, Indiana Pacers, Kentucky Colonels, and New Jersey Americans in the Eastern Division, and the New Orleans Buccaneers, Dallas Chaparrals, Denver Rockets, Houston Mavericks, and Oakland Oaks in the Western Division.
The ABA introduced a number of rule changes, including a 30-second shot clock instead of the NBA's 24-second timer, and it also had a more wide-open, flashy style of offensive play. The league nurtured the careers of players like Julius ("Dr. J") Erving, Connie Hawkins, and David Thompson.
The ABA ceased to exist in 1976 following a merger with the NBA. Four ABA teams were absorbed into the NBA: the New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs.
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Frequently asked questions
The American Basketball Association (ABA) basketball in 1967 was red, white, and blue.
The ABA basketball's colors were chosen to distinguish it from the NBA's traditional orange basketball. Celtics coach Red Auerbach commented that the ABA basketball belonged on the nose of a circus seal.
The ABA's official colors from its inaugural season in 1967 through 1975-1976 were red, white, and blue, with red being the primary color.
