American Basketball Association
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The American Basketball Association (ABA) refers to two distinct professional basketball leagues. The first ABA was founded in 1967 and eventually merged with the National Basketball Association. The new ABA was founded in 1999 and is currently in a period of expansion.
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Original ABA
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
- 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
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.
The New ABA (2000-2002, 2003-present)
A new American Basketball Association was formed in the late 1999 and played from 2000 to 2002. The league suspended operations after the 2002 season, but resumed play in 2003-2004.
The league undertook a new business model upon its return, resulting in an ambitious expansion program beginning with its 2004-2005 season. Virtually anyone willing to pay the league's expansion fee ($ 10,000 or $ 20,000, depending on when you "applied") was awarded an ABA franchise.
The expansion has had chaotic results, with many teams failing to meet its financial obligations and folding during the course of the season, others being forced to cancel games and curtail their schedules, and the playoff format being revised several times because teams that qualified were failing to appear for games. Despite these problems, a new round of expansion for 2005-2006 has gone on, with over 30 new teams planned for the season.
ABA Teams For 2004-2005 Season
Red Division
- Bellevue Blackhawks
- Central Dawgs
- Calgary Drillers
- Long Beach Jam
- Las Vegas Rattlers
- Los Angeles Stars
- Ontario Warriors
- Orange County Buzz
- Portland Reign
- Tijuana Dragons
White Division
- Arkansas RimRockers
- Cincinnati Monarchs
- Colorado Storm
- Detroit Wheels
- Hermosillo Seris
- Kansas City Knights
- Kentucky Colonels
- Louisiana Cajun Pelicans
- New Jersey SkyCats
- St. Louis Flight
- Texas Tycoons
Blue Division
- Atlanta Vision
- Boston Frenzy
- Carolina Thunder
- Harlem Strong Dogs
- Maryland Nighthawks
- Mississippi Stingers
- Pennsylvania Pit Bulls
- Philadelphia Fusion
- Reigning Knights of Georgia
2005-2006 Expansion
- Arizona Rhinos
- Bellingham Slam
- Brooklyn Heat
- Buffalo Rapids
- California Eagles
- California Terminators
- Chattanoooga Steamers
- Columbus Mustangs
- Edmonton Cheetahs
- Gallup Talons
- Hawaii Mega Force
- Indianapolis Alley Cats
- Lake Charles Hurricanes
- Minneapolis/Saint Paul Slamma Jammas
- New Mexico Style
- New Orleans Blues
- Newark Express
- North Carolina Renegades
- Northest Pennsylvania Breakers
- Ohio Avaiators
- Pensacola Aviators
- Queens Kings
- Raleigh Renagades
- Reno Rockers
- River City Ballers
- Rochester Razorsharks
- San Antonio Stallions
- San Francisco Pilots
- San Jose Skyrockets
- Strong Island Sound
- Tampa Bay Tornados
- Toledo Ice
- Valley Legends
Defunct ABA teams
- Chicago Skyliners
- Chicago Soldiers
- Detroit Dogs
- Fresno Heatwave
- Indiana Legends
- Jacksonville Wave
- Juarez Gallos
- Kentucky Pro Cats
- Las Vegas Slam
- Los Angeles Stars
- Memphis Houn'Dawgs
- Nashville Rhythm
- Oklahoma City Ballhawgs
- Phoenix Eclipse
- San Diego Wildfire
- Southern California Surf
- Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs
- Utah Snowbears
ABA Championship Series results
- 2000-2001 - Detroit Dogs 107-91 Chicago Skyliners
- 2001-2002 - Kansas City Knights 118-113 Southern California Surf
- 2002-2003 - No season played
- 2003-2004 - Long Beach Jam 126-123 Kansas City Knights
- 2004-2005 - Arkansas RimRockers 118-103 Bellevue Blackhawks
External links
- http://www.abalive.com - Official website of the American Basketball Association
- http://www.remembertheaba.com
- http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ABABasketball/ Largest ABA Group on the Planet
See also: List of defunct sports leagues, List of developmental and minor sports leaguesde:American Basketball Association fr:American Basketball Association it:American Basketball Association