LOADING THE ABAOne legacy. One league. One world.
1967–1976 · THE ORIGINAL ABA
THE LEAGUE THAT CHANGED THE GAME.
Nine seasons of color, freedom, innovation and stars who taught basketball to fly.
OFFICIAL IDENTITY SYSTEM
THE ORIGINAL ABA · 1967–1976FIRST COMMISSIONERGEORGE MIKAN
Basketball pioneer George Mikan served as the first commissioner of the original American Basketball Association. He helped give the new league its unmistakable identity: bold presentation, a red-white-blue basketball and a game built to challenge convention.
EXPLORE THE ORIGINAL ABA →MEET THE THREE ABA ERAS ↗
ARCHIVAL IMAGE · MANNY MILLAN / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED VIA AIR MAILTHE FACE OF THE ORIGINAL ABA
DR. J
MADE FLIGHT
A LANGUAGE.
Julius Erving was the ABA’s defining superstar: three consecutive MVP awards, two New York Nets championships and a free-throw-line dunk that turned an All-Star halftime event into basketball history.
“The ABA still lives within the NBA.”Discover the complete Dr. J story →
THE RED-WHITE-BLUE BALL
THE FIRST PRO DUNK CONTEST
PACE, SPACE & PERSONALITY
09
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS
THE ORIGINAL RUN.
From the 1968 Pittsburgh Pipers through Dr. J and the 1976 New York Nets.
1968Pittsburgh Pipers
1969Oakland Oaks
1970Indiana Pacers
1971Utah Stars
1972Indiana Pacers
1973Indiana Pacers
1974New York Nets
1975Kentucky Colonels
1976New York Nets
1976 DIDN’T END THE INFLUENCE.
The Nets, Nuggets, Pacers and Spurs entered the NBA. The original ABA’s ideas—and many of its greatest players—reshaped the modern game.
Meet the ABA Hall of FamersREADY TO PARTICIPATE?CHOOSE YOUR ABA PATH.
THE ORIGINAL ABA · 1967–1976THE LEAGUE THAT TAUGHT BASKETBALL TO FLY.
THE FACE OF THE ABA
Julius “Dr. J” Erving
3× ABA MVP · 2× champion
Image: ABA archive
THE SCORER
Rick Barry
1969 champion · Oakland Oaks
Image: ABA archive
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS
Moses Malone
Utah Stars · Spirits of St. Louis
Image: ABA archive
THE A-TRAIN
Artis Gilmore
1972 MVP · 1975 champion
Image: ABA archive
THE ANCHOR
Mel Daniels
2× MVP · 3× champion
Image: ABA archive
THE FIRST STAR
Connie Hawkins
1968 MVP · champion · Playoffs MVP
Image: ABA archive
THE CHAMPION
Zelmo Beaty
1971 champion · Playoffs MVP
Image: ABA archiveCONNIE HAWKINSROGER BROWNLOUIE DAMPIERZELMO BEATYSPENCER HAYWOODDAVID THOMPSONLARRY KENONMACK CALVIN