The
American Basketball Association consisted of two distinct professional
basketball leagues.
The original ABA was founded in
1967, competing with the more established, rival
National Basketball Association until reaching an agreement of merger in
1976. Ultimately four ABA teams were absorbed into the older league: the
New York Nets,
Denver Nuggets,
Indiana Pacers, and
San Antonio Spurs. Two other clubs, the
Kentucky Colonels and the
Spirits of St. Louis[?] were disbanded upon the merger. A third, the
Virginia Squires[?], had folded less than a month earlier, missing out on the opportunities a merger might provide.
The ABA distinguished itself from its older counterpart with a more wide-open style of offensive play as well as differences in rules (a 30-second shot clock as opposed to the NBA's 24, use of a 3-point basket, etc.) The free wheeling style of the ABA eventually caught on with fans, but the lack of a national television contract and protracted financial losses would spell doom for the ABA as an independent circuit.
A new
American Basketball Association was formed in the late
1990s and played from
2000 to
2002. The league suspended operations after the
2002 season, but is attempting to return for a
2003-
2004 season.
- Anaheim Road Runners (2000-01 season)
- Jacksonville Jackals (2000-01 season)
- New York Express (2000-01 season)
- Pittsburgh Patriots (2002-03 season)
See also: List of defunct sports leagues