The ABA lived from 1967 to 1976. It was a short, chaotic, but also exuberant and fantastic era.
The management in the ABA was generally horrible, but there were some brilliant coaches and some unbelievable players.
Julius Erving was, is, and always will be the face of the ABA, but the league had some other immense talents. Guys like David Thompson, Spencer Haywood, Rick Barry (who started in the NBA but spent several years in the upstart league), Connie Hawkins, Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore, George Gervin,
and the first great three-point shooter Louie Dampier, come to mind, along with Charlie Scott and Mel Daniels.
This video looks at some of the best players in ABA history.
The league was a race between chaos and brilliance. The merger with the NBA happened in 1976, just in time, because of mismanagement and the lack of a TV contract; the ABA was on borrowed time.
It’s really too bad the league couldn’t sustain itself, but it changed basketball forever, and its legacy should not be forgotten.
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