American Basketball Association

A basketball league that existed from 1967 through 1976 until eventually merging with the National Basketball Association or NBA. The American Basketball Association is where the three point shot and slam dunk contest began. Dr. J, Moses Malone, Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel and other great players played in the ABA for teams such as the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, New York Nets, Kentucky Colonels, Virginia Squires, Utah Stars, Spirits of St. Louis, San Diego Conquistadors, Oakland Oaks and others. The afro hairstyle was very common in the ABA. The ABA used a red, white and blue ball. Teams from the ABA and NBA played several games against each other and the ABA teams usually won those games. The ABA ceased to exist when it merged with the NBA in 1976.