From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
ABA All-Time Team
Pioneer team chosen during the 30th anniversary of ABA in 1997
.jpeg)
Pioneer team chosen during the 30th anniversary of ABA in 1997
The ABA All-Time Team were chosen in 1997 on the 30th anniversary of the founding of the American Basketball Association (ABA). It comprised the 30 best and most influential players of the ABA during its ten years and nine full regular seasons of operation, with respect not only to performance at the professional level, but in consideration of sportsmanship, team leadership, and contributions to the growth of the league basketball, and irrespective of positions played. Only players who have played at least a portion of their careers in the ABA were eligible for selection, although performance in other leagues, most notably the National Basketball Association was considered. Selected and announced beside the all-time team were a most valuable player and top head coach.
The team, announced in Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 23, 1997, in conjunction with an ABA reunion, was compiled based upon unranked voting by 50 selected panelists, among whom were members of the print and broadcast news media who have reported on and announced games for the ABA, former referees (ten), former team owners (six), former league executives (including two former sports commissioners), and selected fans and statisticians; former players, even those to have held other positions within the league, were proscribed from voting.
Players
Team
First team
| * | Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player |
|---|
Of the 30 players elected to the first team, three served primarily as point guards during their ABA service, eight as shooting guards, five as small forwards, eight as power forwards, and six as centers. The franchises most represented were the Virginia Squires (having also competed as the Washington Capitals and Oakland Oaks), with eleven first team players' having played at least one game for one or more iterations of the franchise; Utah Stars (having also completed as the Los Angeles Stars and Anaheim Amigos), eight players; Indiana Pacers, seven players; San Antonio Spurs (having also competed as the Texas and Dallas Chaparrals), six players; Denver Nuggets (having also competed as the Denver Rockets), five players; and Spirits of St. Louis (having also competed as the Carolina Cougars and Houston Mavericks), five players.
Five players elected to the first team—Rick Barry, Billy Cunningham, Julius Erving, George Gervin, and Moses Malone—were named one year earlier to the NBA's 50 Greatest Players list.
| Name | Position | Team(s) played for (years) | Championships won | Award(s) won | Year of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hall of Fame | |||||
| induction | |||||
| as player | Votes | Ref. | |||
| F/C | Spirits of St. Louis (–) | None | ABA Rookie of the Year () | ||
| All-Rookie First Team () | |||||
| All-ABA Second Team () | None | 23 | |||
| F | Oakland Oaks () | ||||
| Washington Capitals () | |||||
| New York Nets (–) | 1969 | All-ABA First Team (–) | 1987 | 39 | |
| C | Utah Stars (–) | 1971 | ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1971) | ||
| All-ABA Second Team (–) | 2016 | 42 | |||
| G/F | Dallas Chaparrals (–) | ||||
| Utah Stars (–) | |||||
| Spirits of St. Louis () | 1971 | All-ABA First Team () | |||
| All-ABA Second Team () | None | 35 | |||
| F/G | Indiana Pacers (–) | ||||
| Memphis Sounds () | |||||
| Utah Stars () | 1970, 1972, 1973 | ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1970) | |||
| All-ABA First Team () | |||||
| All-ABA Second Team (, ) | 2013 | 50 | |||
| G | Los Angeles Stars () | ||||
| The Floridians (–) | |||||
| Carolina Cougars (–) | |||||
| Denver Nuggets () | |||||
| Virginia Squires () | None | All-Rookie First Team () | |||
| All-ABA First Team (, –) | |||||
| All-ABA Second Team () | None | 41 | |||
| G | Kentucky Colonels (–) | ||||
| Memphis Tams () | None | None | None | 24 | |
| F/C | Carolina Cougars (–) | None | ABA Most Valuable Player Award () | ||
| All-ABA First Team () | 1986 | 36 | |||
| G | Kentucky Colonels (–) | 1975 | All-Rookie First Team () | ||
| All-ABA Second Team (–, ) | 2015 | 50 | |||
| C | Minnesota Muskies () | ||||
| Indiana Pacers (–) | |||||
| Memphis Sounds () | 1970, 1972, 1973 | ABA Rookie of the Year () | |||
| ABA Most Valuable Player Award (, ) | |||||
| All-ABA First Team (–) | |||||
| All-ABA Second Team () | 2012 | 50 | |||
| F/G | Virginia Squires (–) | ||||
| New York Nets (–) | 1974, 1976 | ABA Most Valuable Player Award (–) | |||
| ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1974, (1976) | |||||
| All-ABA First Team (–) | |||||
| All-ABA Second Team () | |||||
| All-Rookie First Team () | |||||
| All-Defensive First Team () | 1993 | 50 | |||
| G | Minnesota Muskies () | ||||
| Miami Floridians (–) | |||||
| Utah Stars () | |||||
| Texas Chaparrals (–) | |||||
| Indiana Pacers (–) | |||||
| San Antonio Spurs () | 1973 | All-ABA First Team () | |||
| All-ABA Second Team (–) | None | 30 | |||
| G/F | Virginia Squires (–) | ||||
| San Antonio Spurs (–) | None | All-ABA Second Team (–) | 1996 | 50 | |
| C | Kentucky Colonels (–) | 1975 | Rookie of the Year () | ||
| ABA Most Valuable Player Award () | |||||
| All-ABA First Team (–) | |||||
| All-Defensive First Team (–) | |||||
| All-Rookie First Team () | |||||
| ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1975) | 2011 | 50 | |||
| F | Pittsburgh Pipers (–) | 1968 | 1968 Most Valuable Player Award | ||
| ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1968) | |||||
| First team: 1967–68, 1968–69 | |||||
| Second team: None | 1992 | 40 | |||
| C | Denver Rockets () | None | 1970 ABA Most Valuable Player Award | ||
| 1969–70 ABA Rookie of the Year | |||||
| 1970 ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award | |||||
| First team: 1969–70 | |||||
| Second team: None | 2015 | 34 | |||
| F | Kentucky Colonels (–) | ||||
| Denver Nuggets () | 1975 | 1970–71 ABA Rookie of the Year | |||
| ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award (1972) | |||||
| First team: 1971–72 | |||||
| Second team: 1970–71, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75 | 1993 | 50 | |||
| G | Oakland Oaks () | ||||
| Washington Capitals () | |||||
| Indiana Pacers () | |||||
| The Floridians () | |||||
| Denver Rockets (–) | |||||
| San Diego Conquistadors () | 1969 | ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1969) | |||
| 1968–69 ABA Rookie of the Year | |||||
| 1972–73 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player | |||||
| First team: 1972–73 | |||||
| Second team: None | None | 24 | |||
| G | New Orleans Buccaneers (–) | ||||
| Memphis Pros () | |||||
| Utah Stars (–) | None | First team: 1968–69, 1972–73, 1973–74 | |||
| Second team: None | None | 27 | |||
| G | Indiana Pacers (–) | ||||
| Memphis Sounds () | |||||
| Spirits of St. Louis () | 1970, 1972, 1973 | 1971–72 ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player | |||
| 1975 ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award | None | 38 | |||
| F | Spirits of St. Louis (–) | ||||
| Kentucky Colonels () | None | None | None | 26 | |
| C | Utah Stars () | ||||
| Spirits of St. Louis () | None | None | 2001 | 30 | |
| F | Indiana Pacers (–) | 1972, 1973 | ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1973) | ||
| 1974–75 ABA Most Valuable Player Award | |||||
| First team: 1973–74, 1974–75 | |||||
| Second team: 1972–73 | 2017 | 44 | |||
| F | New Orleans Buccaneers () | ||||
| Oakland Oaks () | |||||
| Carolina Cougars () | |||||
| Virginia Squires (–) | 1969 | First team: 1967–68 | |||
| Second team: 1968–69 | None | 35 | |||
| F | Indiana Pacers (–, –) | ||||
| Dallas Chaparrals () | |||||
| San Antonio Spurs () | 1970, 1972 | First team: None | |||
| Second team: 1969–70 | None | 35 | |||
| C | New York Nets (–) | ||||
| San Antonio Spurs () | 1974 | None | None | 30 | |
| G | Virginia Squires (–) | None | 1970–71 ABA Rookie of the Year | ||
| First team: 1970–71 | |||||
| Second team: 1971–72 | 2018 | 29 | |||
| G | Dallas Chaparrals () | ||||
| San Antonio Spurs (–) | None | First team: 1975–76 | |||
| Second team: 1974–75 | None | 30 | |||
| G | Denver Nuggets () | None | ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award (1976) | ||
| 1975–76 ABA Rookie of the Year | |||||
| First team: None | |||||
| Second team: 1975–76 | 1996 | 28 | |||
| F | Los Angeles Stars () | ||||
| Utah Stars (–) | |||||
| Virginia Squires (–) | 1971 | First team: None | |||
| Second team: 1971–72, 1973–74 | |||||
| Defensive team: 1971–72, 1973–74 | None | 32 |
Others receiving votes
Ninety-nine players received at least one vote. In addition to those who were selected, 13 players earned votes from at least 25 percent (12.5) of voters:
| Player | Position primarily played | ABA team(s) played for | All-ABA honors won | Year of Hall of Fame induction as player | Votes accrued |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Keller | PG | Indiana Pacers (1969–70—1975–76) | None | None | 21 |
| Larry Brown | Point guard | PG | New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–68) | ||
| Oakland Oaks (1968–69) | |||||
| Washington Capitals (1969–70) | |||||
| Denver Rockets (1970–71) | |||||
| Virginia Squires (1970–71—1971–1972) | First team: None | ||||
| Second team: 1967–68 | None | 19 | |||
| Bobby Jones | PF | Denver Nuggets (1974–75—1975–76) | First team: None | ||
| Second team: 1975–76 | |||||
| Defensive team: 1974–75, 1975–76 | 2019 | 19 | |||
| John Williamson | SG | New York Nets (1973–74—1975–76) | None | None | 19 |
| Red Robbins | C | New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–68—1969–70) | |||
| Utah Stars (1970–71—1971–72) | |||||
| San Diego Conquistadors (1972–73—1973–74) | |||||
| Kentucky Colonels (1973–74—1974–75) | |||||
| Virginia Squires (1974–75) | Second team: 1968–69, 1969–70 | None | 18 | ||
| Steve Jones | SF | Oakland Oaks (1967–68) | |||
| New Orleans Buccaneers (1968–69—1969–70) | |||||
| Memphis Pros (1970–71) | |||||
| Dallas Chaparrals (1971–72—1972–73) | |||||
| Carolina Cougars (1972–73—1973–1974) | |||||
| Denver Rockets (1973–74) | |||||
| Spirits of St. Louis (1974–1975) | None | None | 18 | ||
| Larry Kenon | Power forward | PF | New York Nets (1973–74—1974–75) | ||
| San Antonio Spurs (1975–76) | None | None | 17 | ||
| Ralph Simpson | SG | Denver Nuggets (1970–71—1975–76) | First team: 1975–76 | ||
| Second team: 1971–72, 1972–73 | None | 17 | |||
| John Brisker | Small forward | SF | Pittsburgh Pipers (1969–70—1971–72) | First team: None | |
| Second team: 1970–71 | None | 16 | |||
| Joe Caldwell | Shooting guard | SG | Carolina Cougars (1970–71—1973–74) | ||
| Spirits of St. Louis (1974–75) | First team: None | ||||
| Second team: 1970–71 | |||||
| Defensive team: 1972–73 | None | 16 | |||
| Billy Knight | Small forward | SF | Indiana Pacers (1974–75—1975–76) | First team: 1975–76 | |
| Second team: None | None | 16 | |||
| Caldwell Jones | C | San Diego Conquistadors (1973–74—1975–76) | |||
| Kentucky Colonels (1975–76) | |||||
| Spirits of St. Louis {1975–76) | None | None | 14 | ||
| Larry Jones | Shooting guard | SG | Denver Rockets (1967–1968—1969–70) | ||
| The Floridians (1970–71—1971–72) | |||||
| Dallas Chaparrals (1972–73) | |||||
| Utah Stars (1972–73) | First team: 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70 | None | 13 |
Most valuable player
Only four players received votes from the 50 panelists as the league's all-time most valuable player; small forward Julius Erving was the clear winner of the award.
| Player | ABA team(s) played for | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julius Erving | Virginia Squires (1971–72—1972–73) | ||
| New York Nets (1973–74—1975–76) | 46 | ||
| Mel Daniels | Minnesota Muskies (1967–68) | ||
| Indiana Pacers (1968–69—1973–74) | |||
| Memphis Sounds (1974–75) | 2 | ||
| Artis Gilmore | Kentucky Colonels (1971–72—1975–76) | 1 | |
| Connie Hawkins | Pittsburgh Pipers (1967–68—1968–69) | 1 |
Coaches
Seven coaches received votes from at least one of the 50 panelists; having claimed 34 of the available votes, Bobby "Slick" Leonard was the clear winner of the all-time best head coach award. Larry Brown, having received 16 votes for the players team, also received six votes in view of his coaching.
Each of four franchises was represented by two coaches: the Denver Nuggets (having also competed as the Denver Rockets), the Kentucky Colonels, the Memphis Sounds (having also competed as the Memphis Tams, Memphis Pros, and New Orleans Buccaneers), and the San Antonio Spurs (having also competed as the Texas and Dallas Chaparrals).
| * | Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
|---|
| Coach | ABA team(s) coached | Overall ABA regular season coaching record (winning percentage in parentheses) | League championships won as coach | League award(s) won as coach | Year of Hall of Fame induction as coach | Votes accrued |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby "Slick" Leonard | Indiana Pacers (1968–1976) | 387 wins-270 losses (.589) | 1970, 1972, 1973 | None | 2014 | 34 |
| Larry Brown | Carolina Cougars (1972–73–1973–74) | |||||
| Denver Nuggets (1974–1976) | 229 wins-107 losses (.682) | None | 1973, 1975, 1976 ABA Coach of the Year Awards | 2002 | 6 | |
| Hubie Brown | Kentucky Colonels (1974–1976) | 104 wins-64 losses (.619) | 1975 | None | None | 4 |
| Babe McCarthy | New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–68–1969–70) | |||||
| Memphis Pros (1970–71–1971–72) | ||||||
| Dallas Chaparrals (1972–73) | ||||||
| Kentucky Colonels (1973–74) | 280 wins-284 losses (.496) | None | 1974 ABA Coach of the Year Award | None | 2 | |
| Bill Sharman | Los Angeles/Utah Stars (1968–1971) | 133 wins-113 losses (.541) | 1971 | 1970 ABA Coach of the Year Award | 2004 | 2 |
| Al Bianchi | Washington Caps (1969–70) | |||||
| Virginia Squires (1970–71–1975–76) | 230 wins-281 losses (.450) | None | 1971 ABA Coach of the Year Award | None | 1 | |
| Bob Bass | Denver Rockets (1967–1969) | |||||
| The Floridians (1970–71–1971–72) | ||||||
| Memphis Tams (1972–73) | ||||||
| San Antonio Spurs (1974–1976) | 251 wins-249 losses (.502) | None | None | None | 1 |
Notes
References
- Voting undertaken by [[news media]] covering the ABA was used to compile, after each season, two teams, each comprising two [[forward (basketball). forward]]s, two [[guard (basketball). guard]]s, and one [[center (basketball). center]], with the first to be composed at the best players at their respective positions and the second to be composed of the next best players.
- Inasmuch as the selection panel comprised fifty individuals, each of whom was permitted to select, at most, thirty former players, each player was eligible to receive as many as fifty votes; Brown, Dampier, Daniels, Erving, Gervin, Gilmore, and Issel, then, were [[unanimous]] selections.
- "Marvin Barnes". Sports Reference LLC.
- "Rick Barry". Sports Reference LLC.
- "Zelmo Beaty". Sports Reference LLC.
- The Chaparrals [[sports franchise. franchise]] played as the Texas Chaparrals during the [[1970 in sports. 1970]]–[[1971 in sports. 71]] season and as the Dallas Chaparrals therebefore and thereafter.
- Boone was traded during the [[1970 in sports. 1970]]–[[1971 in sports. 71]] season; he played 42 [[regular season]] games for the Chaparrals and 44 for the Stars.
- Boone was traded during the [[1976 in sports. 1976]]–[[1977 in sports. 77]] season; he played 16 [[regular season]] games for the Stars and 62 for the Spirits
- "Ron Boone". Sports Reference LLC.
- Brown was twice traded during the [[1974 in sports. 1974]]–[[1975 in sports. 75]] season; he played 10 [[regular season]] games for the Pacers, seven games for the Sounds, and finally 39 for the Stars.
- "Roger Brown". Sports Reference LLC.
- "Mack Calvin". Sports Reference LLC.
- "Darel Carrier". Sports Reference LLC.
- "Billy Cunningham". Sports Reference LLC.
- "Louie Dampier". Sports Reference LLC.
- "Mel Daniels". Sports Reference LLC.
- "Julius Erving". Sports Reference LLC.
- Freeman was traded during the [[1970 in sports. 1970]]–[[1971 in sports. 71]] season; he played 42 [[regular season]] games for the Chaparrals and 24 for the Stars.
- "Donnie Freeman". Sports Reference LLC.
- Gervin was traded during the [[1973 in sports. 1973]]–[[1974 in sports. 74]] season; he played 49 [[regular season]] games for the Squires and 25 for the Spurs.
- "George Gervin". Sports Reference LLC.
- "Artis Gilmore". Sports Reference LLC.
- The Pipers [[sports franchise. franchise]] played as the [[Minnesota Pipers]] after the [[1967 in sports. 1967]]–[[1968 in sports. 68]] [[regular season. season]].
- Lewis was traded during the [[1974 in sports. 1974]]–[[1975 in sports. 75]] season; he played six [[regular season]] games for the Sounds and then 63 for the Spirits.
- Lucas was traded during the [[1975 in sports. 1975]]–[[1976 in sports. 76]] season; he played 28 [[regular season]] games for the Spirits and then 58 for the Colonels.
- Netolicky was traded during the [[1973 in sports. 1973]]–[[1974 in sports. 74]] season; he played 19 regular season games for the Spurs and 56 games for the Pacers.
- Brown was traded during the [[1970 in sports. 1970]]–[[1971 in sports. 71]] season; he played 29 [[regular season]] games for the Squires and 34 for the Rockets.
- Jones was traded during the [[1972 in sports. 1972]]–[[1973 in sports. 73]] season; he played 13 [[regular season]] games for the Chaparrals and 67 for the Cougars.
- Jones was traded during the [[1973 in sports. 1973]]–[[1974 in sports. 74]] season; he played 44 [[regular season]] games for the Cougars and 42 for the Rockets.
- The Pipers [[sports franchise. franchise]] operated as the [[Pittsburgh Condors]] after the [[1969 in sports. 1969]]–[[1970 in sports. 70]] season.
- The Conquistadors [[sports franchise]] operated after the [[1975 in sports. 1975]]–[[1976 in sports. 76]] season as the [[San Diego Sails]].
- Jones was traded twice during the [[1975 in sports. 1975]]–[[1976 in sports. 76]] season; he played 10 games for the Conquistadors/Sails, 15 games for the Colonels, and finally 51 games for the Spirits.
- Jones was traded during the [[1972 in sports. 1972]]–[[1973 in sports. 73]] season; he played 53 games for the Chaparrals and 53 for the Stars.
- Inasmuch as the selection panel comprised fifty individuals, each of whom was given one vote for the league's all-time [[most valuable player]], a player earning [[unanimous]] approval would have received 50 [[voting. vote]]s.
- Inasmuch as the selection panel comprised fifty individuals, each of whom was given one vote for the league's all-time best [[head coach]], a coach earning [[unanimous]] approval would have received 50 [[voting. vote]]s.
- Brown was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in [[2005 in sports. 2005]] as a contributor.
- The Stars [[sports franchise. franchise]] operated as the [[Utah Stars]] after the [[1969 in sports. 1969]]–[[1970 in sports. 70]] season.
- Sharman was also inducted into the Naismith Hall in [[1976 in sports. 1976]] as a player for his NBA career.
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about ABA All-Time Team — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report