1970s: The NBA vs. the ABA

The American Basketball Association also succeeded in signing a number of major stars, including Julius Erving, in part because it allowed teams to sign college undergraduates. The NBA expanded rapidly during this period, one purpose being to tie up the most viable cities. From 1966 to 1974, the NBA grew from nine franchises to 18; the New Orleans Jazz (now in Utah) came aboard in 1974. Then, following the 1976 season, the leagues reached a settlement that provided for the addition of four ABA franchises to the NBA, raising the number of franchises in the league at that time to 22. The franchises were the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and New York Nets. Some of the biggest stars of this era were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Barry, Dave Cowens, Julius Erving, Walt Frazier, Artis Gilmore, George Gervin, Dan Issel and Pete Maravich.

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Sports

[REpsycho]

the aba was the shit, basketball at its finest!

[psugeog11]

Different ABA.

[cochranexyz]

Back when they wore shorts, not skirts.

[35kenon]

@PeekaPeep that was a good team,wish they would have come into the nba. that spurs team was nice also(Paultz,Gervin and my man Larry kenon)all of which played for the nets(best uniforms also)

[ABACarolinaCheetahs]

The ABA is back..check us out if you are in North Carolina. "MORE THAN JUST A GAME"

[FRSFreeStateNow]

The NBA needed the ABA to understand that there were other great players and markets out there for them.

[PeekaPeep]

Funny, I think the best team of that decade in either league was actually the ABA's Kentucky Colonels (with one of the all-time great frontcourt tandems in Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel). Made the playoffs all five seasons Gilmore was with them, including two Finals appearances in '73 and '75 winning the latter due to improved team defense. Makes me wish they had a Word Series-type finals for the best teams in both leagues to see which one was truly top dog...

[havingfun1968]

God I LOVED the ABA... You could go buy a ticket that day for the game, and sit two rows behind the bench.... I LOVED IT!!!!

[dsonbass]

ABA = And1's Granddady !!

[essertpitay]

Basketball with style.