The Brooklyn Nets could be in for more ABA-related fun during the 2026-27 season. A week ago, the team announced plans to celebrate the franchise’s 60th anniversary with an “ABA Night” on November 18. This week, a Sacramento Kings fan account on X discovered the NBA filed to trademark the term “ABA CHALLENGE SERIES” and an accompanying wordmark in late June. The USPTO also has it listed as “live” and “pending.‘’
As mentioned, the Nets are already shed some light on their ABA roots this season. On “ABA Night” they’ll give away a Julius Erving bobblehead giveaway. Peter Vecsey also reported that all living players and coaches from the each title-winning team will be in attendance.
There’s been no word from the league or the Nets on whether or not there’s more to the scheduled “ABA Night,” although the “challenge series” verbiage indicates there could be something larger in the works.
The Nets are one of four NBA teams to have originated in the ABA, the other being the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs. To our knowledge, they’ve yet to announce anything formally related to a the trademark filling either.
