Helena Frye
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed in 1966-67 when the NBA had only 10 teams. The ABA adopted a more “unscripted” and “wide-open” style of play, with less physical defence and more running. The ABA also introduced the three-point shot and the slam dunk contest. The official ball of the ABA was red, white, and blue, in contrast to the NBA's traditional orange ball. The colourful ball was chosen by commissioner George Mikan, who felt the brown leather basketball was too difficult to see from far away.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colors | Red, white and blue |
| Diameter | 29.5" |
| Material | Composite leather |
| Endorsed by | Julius Erving, Rick Barry, George "Ice" Gervin, Spencer Haywood, Dan Issel, George McGinnis, Louie Dampier, Bobby Jones, Larry Brown, Charlie Scott, Bobby Leonard |
| Manufactured by | Rawlings |
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What You'll Learn
The ABA's red, white, and blue basketballs
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed in the mid-1960s, at a time when the NBA was slow to expand and the price for an NBA expansion team was high. The ABA was an attempt to challenge the NBA's position as the basketball league, and it adopted a more wide-open, flashy, and improvisational style of play.
One of the most distinctive features of the ABA was its use of a red, white, and blue basketball, which stood out from the NBA's traditional orange ball. The idea for the colorful ball came from George Mikan, a Hall-of-Fame player who had become commissioner of the new league. Mikan felt that the brown leather basketball used in the NBA was too difficult to see from far away from the court, and he wanted a ball that would stand out and unify players. The red, white, and blue colors were chosen to create an American-themed ball.
The ABA's basketballs were made of real leather and produced by Rawlings. They were carefully crafted to ensure the highest quality and construction. The balls could be authenticated by the Commissioner's signature under the ABA logo. The use of these colorful balls became a symbol of the freedom of expression, flair, and style that the ABA brought to professional basketball.
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The balls were made from real leather
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was established in 1967 by Gary Davidson, an attorney, and Dennis Murphy, a marketing executive, both from Southern California. The league was formed to compete with the existing pro league, the NBA, which only had 10 teams in its 1966-67 season. The ABA debuted with 11 teams.
The ABA basketballs were made from real leather and produced by Rawlings. They were red, white, and blue, and this iconic design has been brought back by Lana Sports, who make the balls from quality composite leather. The balls are full-sized at 29.5 inches and are endorsed by legendary ABA Hall of Famers such as Julius Erving, Rick Barry, and George "Ice" Gervin.
The real leather ABA balls made by Rawlings can be dated and authenticated by the Commissioner's signature under the ABA logo. These balls are incredibly expensive today, with a mint-condition Rawlings ABA ball with Dave DeBusschere's signature selling for $2,500 at the ABA Reunion auction in 1997.
The colorful ABA balls stood in stark contrast to the traditional brown balls used previously, and they became symbolic of the renegade professional league. The red, white, and blue colors of the balls were chosen by the nearsighted commissioner, NBA legend George Mikan, who struggled to see the drab brown balls in the dimly lit arenas where ABA teams often played.
The ABA was known for its rebellious spirit and its impact on the game of basketball was significant, despite its short existence. The league pioneered the three-point shot, the slam dunk contest, and the All-Stars game. The style of play was described as more "unscripted" and "frantic," with less physical defenses compared to the NBA. The ABA also contributed to the culture of the game, with players sporting Afros and handlebar mustaches, reflecting the excess of the disco era.
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The balls were 29.5 in size
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed in 1966-67, when the NBA had only 10 teams. The ABA was created to challenge the NBA's position as the basketball league. The balls used in the ABA were 29.5 inches in size and were made of real leather by Rawlings. They were red, white, and blue, in contrast to the traditional brown balls used in basketball.
The colourful balls were ordered by the nearsighted commissioner, NBA legend George Mikan, who struggled to see the traditional basketball in dimly lit arenas. The red, white, and blue balls were also used to honour the legacy of the ABA, which was known for its rebellious spirit and its adoption of rules that discouraged effort on defence.
The ABA was known for its more unscripted style of basketball, with running, wide-open offences and less physical defences. The league also pioneered the three-point shot, the slam dunk contest, and the All-Stars game. The three-point shot, in particular, was seen as a world-is-ending rule change by the NBA, which later adopted it.
The ABA's balls were auctioned off at the ABA Reunion in August 1997, with a mint Rawlings ABA ball with Dave DeBusschere's signature selling for $2,500. The ABA's balls, with their rotating tricolors, have become symbols of the league's impact on basketball and its free-flowing, improvisational style of play.
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The balls were made by Rawlings
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed in the mid-1960s, at a time when the NBA was slow to expand and the price for an NBA expansion team was high. The ABA was short-lived, but it had a lasting impact on basketball.
The ABA adopted a distinct style of play, with a three-point shot, slam dunk contests, and a more \"unscripted\" and \"free-flowing\" style of play. The league also embraced a colourful and rebellious spirit, reflected in the players' off-court apparel and the colourful basketballs they used.
The basketballs used in the ABA were a departure from the traditional brown balls, featuring a tricolour design of red, white, and blue. These balls were made by Rawlings, a company that has been manufacturing sports equipment for decades. Rawlings has been the official and exclusive supplier of baseballs for Major League Baseball for over 25 years, and they brought their expertise to the production of ABA basketballs as well.
Rawlings ABA basketballs were meticulously crafted, featuring a unique 10-panel ball design. This design provided players with an improved feel for the seams and better control and rotation during gameplay. The balls measured 29.5 inches, the official size for basketballs, and were made of real leather. To authenticate their origin, the basketballs featured the Commissioner's signature under the ABA logo.
Today, these Rawlings ABA basketballs are highly sought-after collectibles. At the ABA Reunion auction in August 1997, a mint-condition Rawlings ABA ball with Dave DeBusschere's signature sold for $2,500. Even game-used balls in less-than-perfect condition have fetched prices upwards of $1,000, demonstrating the value and significance attached to these colourful relics of the ABA's rebellious spirit.
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The balls were endorsed by ABA Hall of Famers
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed in the mid-1960s when the NBA had only 10 teams in its 1966-67 season. The ABA adopted a distinct style of play, with a more \"unscripted\" and \"frantic, streetwise\" approach that emphasized entertainment.
The ABA also introduced several innovations, including the three-point shot, the slam dunk contest, and the All-Stars game. The league was also known for its colourful basketballs, which featured a combination of red, white, and blue. These vibrant balls stood out from the traditional brown balls used in other leagues and became a symbol of the ABA's rebellious spirit.
The original ABA basketballs were made of real leather and produced by Rawlings. They were auctioned off at the ABA Reunion in August 1997, with a mint-condition ball going for $2,500. Today, you can find replicas of the original ABA basketballs online, featuring the iconic red, white, and blue design.
These replica balls are endorsed by legendary ABA Hall of Famers, including Julius Erving, Rick Barry, George “Ice” Gervin, Spencer Haywood, Dan Issel, George McGinnis, Louie Dampier, Bobby Jones, Larry Brown, Charlie Scott, and Bobby Leonard. By purchasing these balls, customers can not only relive the nostalgia of the ABA's past but also contribute to a worthy cause. A portion of each sale is donated to the Dropping Dimes Foundation, which provides financial and medical assistance to former ABA players in need.
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Frequently asked questions
The basketballs used in the American Basketball Association (ABA) were red, white, and blue. This was a departure from the NBA's traditional orange ball.
The use of a red, white, and blue ball was the idea of George Mikan, a Hall-of-Fame player who became the commissioner of the new league. Mikan felt that the brown leather basketball was too difficult to see from far away from the court. He wanted a ball that would stand out but also unify, and an American-themed ball became the choice.
The original ABA basketballs were made of real leather and manufactured by Rawlings. The balls could be authenticated by the Commissioner's signature under the ABA logo. Today, the balls are made of quality composite leather.
