Semi-professional basketball league
The American Basketball Association (ABA ) is an American semi-professional men's basketball minor league that was founded in 1999.
ABA teams are based in the United States, with one traveling team from Japan. The league previously had international teams based in Canada, China and Mexico. League management infamously maintains low requirements for franchise ownership, and hundreds of ABA teams have either folded or defected to rival leagues.
The league licenses its name and use of ABA trademarks from the National Basketball Association , which absorbed the American Basketball Association (1967–1976) during the ABA–NBA merger . The Women's American Basketball Association has operated as a sister league to the ABA since 2017.
History
Launch and suspension, 1999–2002
Darryl Dawkins , head coach of the Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs during their 2000–01 season .
The league was originally co-founded by Dick Tinkham and Joe Newman in 1999 as ABA 2000 .[ 1] Tinkham had previously co-founded the Indiana Pacers in the original American Basketball Association , and Newman had been an advertising executive for the Pacers.[ 2] The National Basketball Association (NBA), owner of the ABA trademark after absorbing many of the original league's teams, sued Tinkham and Newman in December 1999.[ 3] The lawsuit was unsuccessful since the NBA had failed to actively use the ABA trademark, and the new league entered an agreement with the NBA to license the name for $50,000.[ 4]
The league began its inaugural 2000–01 season with eight teams: the Chicago Skyliners, Detroit Dogs , Indiana Legends, Kansas City Knights , Los Angeles Stars , Memphis Houn'Dawgs, San Diego Wildfire and Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs. Joe Newman founded the Indiana Legends to replace the Jacksonville Jackals, who were removed from the league after failing to secure a venue.[ 5] Mark Hamister purchased the rights to a Buffalo franchise for $75,000, but was also unable to secure a venue.[ 6] [ 7] A proposed merger with the International Basketball League fell through in December 2000, which would have allowed the inaugural season to begin with additional teams.[ 8]
To attract fans, the ABA encouraged its teams to fill rosters with former NBA players and past college basketball stars that had local ties.[ 9] [ 10] Former NBA champion and Florida native Darryl Dawkins was recruited as the first head coach of the Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs.[ 11]
The 2001–02 ABA season saw only three teams return from the inaugural season, with the Chicago Skyliners, Los Angeles Stars , Memphis Houn'Dawgs, San Diego Wildfire and Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs replaced by the Kentucky Pro Cats, Las Vegas Slam, Phoenix Eclipse and Southern California Surf.
Joe Newman folded the Indiana Legends after he was sued by eight former players in August 2002 for failing to pay their salaries.[ 12] Newman had claimed $1 million in losses over two seasons of ownership.[ 13]
The 2002–03 season was not played, as the league suspended operations for reorganization.[ 14] Jim Clark, owner of the Kansas City Knights , was named league president and COO in November 2002.[ 15]
Restructuring and defections, 2003–2005
Sun Yue , two-time ABA All-Star who played for the Beijing Aoshen Olympians from 2005 to 2008 .
The league resumed play with seven teams for the 2003–04 season . The returning Kansas City Knights were joined by the Fresno Heatwave , Jersey Squires, Las Vegas Rattlers, Juárez Gallos de Pelea , Long Beach Jam and Tijuana Dragons. Dennis Rodman brought national attention to the league when he signed with the Long Beach Jam , leading them to an ABA title in their first season.[ 16]
The 2004–05 season saw franchise fees lowered from $50,000 to $10,000, and the bond requirement removed in order to attract new teams.[ 17] Teams were subsequently organized into regional groups to facilitate interest and reduce travel costs, with 37 clubs competing that season in three divisions. The Arkansas RimRockers won the 2004–05 ABA title in their first year of play, but then left with the Long Beach Jam to join the rival NBA Development League .
The ABA welcomed the Beijing Aoshen Olympians beginning with the 2005–06 season , a club which had been banned from the Chinese Basketball League after refusing to allow star prospect Sun Yue to play for the Chinese national team . The Olympians played their home games in Maywood, California .[ 18] CCTV-5 in China broadcast the team's games, where they were watched by an average of 15 million people.[ 19]
Following the 2005–06 season in which many teams failed to complete their full schedules and became insolvent, the Charlotte Krunk , Florida Pit Bulls , Indiana Alley Cats , Pittsburgh Xplosion , San Jose Skyrockets and SoCal Legends left to join the rival Continental Basketball Association .
My idea of success and Newman's differ. I'd rather have fewer teams, that are stable and last, as opposed to having tons that continue to fold. It's not the amount of teams that a league has, it's the amount that finish.[ 20]
In preparation for the league's initial public offering (ABKB ), former NBA player John Salley was named league commissioner and Maryland Nighthawks owner Tom Doyle was named league COO in September 2006.[ 21] Cost for new franchises was subsequently raised to $20,000 for the 2006–07 season .[ 22] Sports Illustrated writer Alexander Wolff launched the Vermont Frost Heaves , regularly penning articles in the publication about his team's inaugural campaign.
John Salley and Tom Doyle attempted a boardroom coup on behalf of shareholders , with ABA's Board of Directors voting to remove Joe Newman as CEO on January 31, 2007.[ 23] Newman sued Salley and Doyle, leading to a settlement in which he kept his job and forced their resignations from the league.[ 24]
The 2006–07 season concluded with the defending champion Rochester Razorsharks withdrawing from the league after they asked to reschedule a playoff game against the Wilmington Sea Dawgs , but were denied and told to forfeit.[ 25] Following this incident, the Hammond Rollers , Jacksonville Jam , Maryland Nighthawks , Quad City Riverhawks and Wilmington Sea Dawgs joined the Razorsharks in forming the Premier Basketball League (PBL).
Following the 2007–08 season , the reigning champion Vermont Frost Heaves left for the Premier Basketball League along with the Halifax Rainmen , Manchester Millrats and Quebec Kebs .[ 26]
Quentin Townsend, owner of the Atlanta Vision , was named league President and COO in April 2008.[ 27] He was later removed from those positions after being arrested in November 2008 for defrauding investors in a scheme to acquire an NBA Development League franchise.[ 28]
CBA absorption and continued instability, 2008–2013
Chris Beard coaching the South Carolina Warriors , who finished their 2011–12 regular season undefeated.
At the start of the 2008–09 season , over 200 teams had folded since the league's inception.[ 29]
The 2008–09 season saw the Southeast Texas Mustangs franchise join the league after leaving the struggling Continental Basketball Association . The ABA attempted interleague play with the four remaining CBA teams, but their league folded mid-season.[ 30]
NBA scouts stopped attending the league's games in January 2009, citing the amount of cancelled and forfeited contests.[ 31]
Several teams folded during the 2009–10 season , including the entire Pacific Northwest Division. The San Francisco Rumble forfeited their playoff game against the Southeast Texas Mavericks , as they could not afford to travel for the contest.[ 32]
Gilas Pilipinas , the Philippine national basketball team, competed in a series of exhibitions against ABA teams including the Clayton Showtime, Los Angeles Slam, Riverside Rainmakers, San Diego Surf and the West Coast All-Stars.[ 33] This April 2010 series was referred to as the ABA Friendship Games.
Dick Packer was named league President and COO in April 2010.[ 34]
After winning their second consecutive championship in 2010–11 , the Southeast Texas Mavericks publicly opined that the ABA did not have adequate competition, and they left with intentions of joining the NBA Development League .[ 35] However, their application to join the NBA Development League was denied, and the franchise sat out the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons. Consecutive titles were won by the Jacksonville Giants in their absence, with championship wins over the previously undefeated South Carolina Warriors in 2011–12 and North Dallas Vandals in 2012–13 .[ 36] The team returned to the ABA for 2013–14 as the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks , going undefeated and winning the league title in a perfect season .[ 37]
Management change and ESPN3 deal, 2014–2016
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena , which hosted the largest crowd in ABA history on January 16, 2016.
At the conclusion of the 2013–14 season , over 350 franchises had folded since the league's inception.[ 38]
Former Arizona Scorpions owner Ron Tilley replaced Joe Newman as league President and CEO following Newman's retirement in July 2014.[ 39]
The league signed a two-year streaming deal with ESPN3 in August 2014 to broadcast regular season and playoff games beginning with the 2014–15 season .[ 40]
After completing a perfect season for the second time in 2014–15 and winning their fourth championship, the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks left the ABA to join the Premier Basketball League .[ 41]
Joe Newman returned to the role of league President and CEO beginning with the 2015–16 season .
The Jacksonville Giants drew the league's all-time record crowd of 8,987 for their 100–93 victory over the previously unbeaten Chicago Steam at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on January 16, 2016.[ 42] It had been reported the week prior that the Orlando Magic was considering adopting the Giants as their NBA Development League affiliate, although later in the year they instead moved their existing affiliate Erie BayHawks to Lakeland, Florida .[ 43] [ 44]
WABA launch and addition of play-in tournament, 2017–present
The Indiana Lyons hosting the Indiana Legends on February 24, 2024.
A sister league, the Women's American Basketball Association (WABA), was launched in 2017.[ 45] Jersey Express owner Marsha Blount was named the league's President and CEO.[ 46]
The 2017–18 season saw franchise fees lowered to $2,500.[ 47]
League co-founder Dick Tinkham died of muscular dystrophy in October 2018.[ 48]
The 2019–20 season was ended prematurely and the playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 49]
The undefeated Jacksonville Giants captured their seventh and final championship in 2020–21, concluding the team's first perfect season and third in ABA history.[ 50]
A play-in tournament was implemented beginning with the 2021–22 season to determine which teams would advance to the divisional round of the playoffs.[ 51]
Following elimination from the 2021–22 playoffs by the Steel City Yellow Jackets , the Jacksonville Giants ceased operations.[ 52]
The Burning River Buckets and Indiana Lyons were declared co-champions of the 2022–23 season after storm damage rendered the venue for their championship game unplayable.[ 53]
Rule changes
ABA official .
The league employs a number of unconventional rules that are unique to the league:[ 54]
Four-point field goal : Shots made from behind the half-court division line are credited as 4 points.
3D rule : If a team commits a backcourt violation or turns the ball over in the backcourt, any field goal scored by the opposing team on the ensuing possession shall be awarded an additional point (2-point shots are credited as 3 points, 3-point shots are credited as 4 points, 4-point half-court shots are credited as 5 points).
Basket interference rule : Once the ball hits the rim, any play for the ball by a defender will not be considered goaltending .
Sixth foul rule : A player who has committed six fouls may stay in the game, but any foul they commit after that point in time results in an uncontested free throw for the opposing team by a player of their choosing, and the opposing team also retains possession.
3–10 & Out : Overtime begins with a single 3-minute period. If the score is still tied, a second untimed overtime period shall commence, and the first team to reach 10 points wins the game.
13th man rule : Each team is allowed an additional player to dress for games beyond their normal 12-man squad. This traditionally is a role filled by celebrities and dignitaries as publicity stunts , but teams have also used the rule to strengthen their roster for important games.
Teams
Vermont Frost Heaves , winners of the 2006–07 and 2007–08 league championship.
109 teams completed at least one game during the 2023–24 season.[ 55]
The league's oldest surviving franchises are the Jersey Express (est. 2005), Georgia Gwizzlies (est. 2007), Steel City Yellow Jackets (est. 2014), and Indiana Lyons (est. 2017).
Defunct
Franchises that left the ABA but still compete elsewhere include the Detroit Panthers (Maximum Basketball League ), Motor City Cruise (NBA G League ), and Newfoundland Rogues (Basketball Super League ).
Championship results
Year
Champion
Runner-up
Result
Host arena
Host city
Game MVP
Ref
2000–01
Detroit Dogs
Chicago Skyliners
107–91
Cox Pavilion
Paradise, Nevada
Gee Gervin / Ndongo N'Diaye
[ 56]
2001–02
Kansas City Knights
Southern California Surf
118–113
Kemper Arena
Kansas City, Missouri
Pete Mickeal
[ 57]
2002–03
Not held due to league shutdown.
2003–04
Long Beach Jam
Kansas City Knights
126–123
Walter Pyramid
Long Beach, California
[ 58]
2004–05
Arkansas RimRockers
Bellevue Blackhawks
118–103
Alltel Arena
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Kareem Reid
[ 59]
2005–06
Rochester Razorsharks
SoCal Legends
117–114
Blue Cross Arena
Rochester, New York
Chris Carrawell
[ 60]
2006–07
Vermont Frost Heaves
Texas Tycoons
143–95
Barre Auditorium
Barre, Vermont
[ 61]
2007–08
Vermont Frost Heaves
San Diego Wildcats
87–84
Pavillon de la Jeunesse
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Dwuan Rice
[ 62]
2008–09
Kentucky Bisons
Maywood Buzz
127–120
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Nashville, Tennessee
Michael James
[ 63]
2009–10
Southeast Texas Mavericks
Kentucky Bisons
96–99, 104–83, 85–76
Parker Multipurpose Center
Port Arthur, Texas
Josh Pace
[ 64]
2010–11
Southeast Texas Mavericks
Gulf Coast Flash
114–97, 109–85
Nutty Jerry's Entertainment Complex
PJ Couisnard
[ 65]
2011–12
Jacksonville Giants
South Carolina Warriors
106–101, 100–91
Eckerd College
St. Petersburg, Florida
Jermaine Bell
[ 66]
2012–13
Jacksonville Giants
North Dallas Vandals
85–84, 110–109
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Jacksonville, Florida
Tony Hooper
[ 67]
2013–14
Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks
Jacksonville Giants
136–127, 105–103
Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
Shreveport, Louisiana
Ed Horton
[ 68]
2014–15
Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks
Miami Midnites
109–81, 116–91
Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
Shreveport, Louisiana
PJ Couisnard
[ 69]
2015–16
Jacksonville Giants
Windy City Groove
92–80, 93–90
Laredo Energy Arena
Laredo, Texas
Maurice Mickens
[ 70]
2016–17
Jacksonville Giants
Windy City Groove
120–102
Woodlawn High School
Baltimore, Maryland
Maurice Mickens
[ 71]
2017–18
Jacksonville Giants
Austin Bats
119–114
Lehman High School
Kyle, Texas
Bernard Nugent
[ 72]
2018–19
Jacksonville Giants
South Florida Gold
116–112
St. Louis College of Pharmacy Gymnasium
St. Louis, Missouri
Maurice Mickens
[ 73]
2019–20
Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic .
2020–21
Jacksonville Giants
Chicago Fury
111–108
James J. Eagan Center
Florissant, Missouri
Miguel Paul
[ 74]
2021–22
Steel City Yellow Jackets
Team Trouble
123–118
St. Frances Academy
Baltimore, Maryland
Steven Vorum
[ 75]
2022–23
Not held due to unplayable conditions. Burning River Buckets and Indiana Lyons declared co-champions.
2023–24
Chicago Fury
Mississippi Silverbacks
126–123 (OT)
Spring Hill College
Mobile, Alabama
[ 76]
All-Star Game results
East (6 wins)
West (4 wins)
South (2 wins)
Kansas City Knights (1 win)
Team Dr. J (1 win)
Year
Result
Host arena
Host city
Game MVP
Ref
2001
Not held.
2002
Kansas City Knights 161, ABA All-Stars 138
Kemper Arena
Kansas City, Missouri
Maurice Carter , Kansas City Knights
[ 77]
2003
Not held due to league shutdown.
2004
Not held.
2005
West 163, East 149
Las Vegas Sports Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
Lou Kelly, Las Vegas Rattlers
[ 78]
2006
East 129, West 127
BankAtlantic Center
Sunrise, Florida
Armen Gilliam , Pittsburgh Xplosion
[ 79]
2007
West 138, East 123
Halifax Metro Centre
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Billy Knight , Atlanta Vision
[ 80]
2008
East 161, West 140
Barre Auditorium
Barre, Vermont
Anthony Anderson , Manchester Millrats
[ 81]
2009
West , East
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Nashville, Tennessee
Keith Simpson, Texas Fuel
[ 82]
2010
ABA West All-Stars vs. Gilas Pilipinas
Hangar Athletic Xchange
Los Angeles, California
[ 83]
2011
East 123, West 122
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Jacksonville, Florida
Kayode Ayeni , Jersey Express
[ 84]
2012
Red vs. White vs. Blue (round-robin tournament )
Eckerd College
St. Petersburg, Florida
[ 85] [ 86]
2013
East 198, West 141
South Suburban College
South Holland, Illinois
Maurice Mickens, Memphis Bluff City Reign
2014
No reported result.
Grandview Christian School
Grandview, Missouri
2015
South 138, North 131
Kroc Center
South Bend, Indiana
[ 87]
2016
Team Dr. J 140, Team Gervin 139
St. Frances Academy
Baltimore, Maryland
Terry Hosley, DMV Warriors
[ 88]
2017
South , North
Big Ben's Home Court
Richmond, Virginia
Christopher Cromartie, South Florida Gold
2018
No reported result.
Giving Heart Community Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Antonio Reddic, Steel City Yellow Jackets
2019
No reported result.
Giving Heart Community Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2020
Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic .
2021
East 210, West 165
James J. Eagan Center
Florissant, Missouri
[ 90]
2022
East vs. West
[ 91]
2023
East 169, West 151
Jefferson College
Hillsboro, Missouri
Dominique Jones, Garden State Warriors
[ 92]
2024
West 129, East 122
Spring Hill College
Mobile, Alabama
David Jones, St. Louis Spirits
[ 93]
Notable alumni
Players
USA:
Asia:
Africa:
Americas:
Canada
Europe:
Oceania:
Coaches
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^ "RP team hopefuls open US training with win" . GMA News Online . April 27, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2023 .
^ Elliott, Jeff (February 27, 2011). "Fast-break ABA All-Star Game decided by free throws" . Florida Times-Union . Retrieved June 23, 2023 .
^ "ABA - American Basketball Association » ABA ANNOUNCES THREE ALL-STAR TEAMS FOR 2011-2012 SEASON" . abalive.com . June 14, 2012. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2023 .
^ "Three Quarters of ABA Final Four Set" . OurSports Central . March 25, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2023 .
^ Brandenburg, Scott (April 11, 2015). "West Michigan Lake Hawks coach Ron Jenkins surprise coach in ABA all-star game" . mlive . Retrieved June 24, 2023 .
^ "2016 ABA All-Star Game, Terry Hosley named MVP" . YouTube . 25 April 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2023 .
^ "2021 ABA Allstar Game: East vs. West 041521" . YouTube . 17 April 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2023 .
^ "2021-2022 ABA All-Stars Announced" . ABA Basketball . March 31, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023 .
^ "Leyton McGovern ABA All-Star Game (4qt) highlights" . YouTube . Retrieved June 24, 2023 .
^ "ABA All-Star Festivities & Championship Game" . YouTube . April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024 .
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