American Basketball Association 1973-74
The 1973-74 ABA season was the seventh season of the American Basketball Association . The season began on October 10, 1973. Ten teams took part in the game. Each team played 84 games. The four best in each division qualified for the playoffs. On May 10, 1974, the season ended with the ABA Championship. The New York Nets defeated the Utah Stars in the finals , becoming ABA champions for the first time.
Season Notes
- The Dallas Chaparrals were "leased" prior to the start of the season and moved to San Antonio, where they were first renamed the San Antonio Gunslingers and eventually the San Antonio Spurs .
- The San Diego Conquistadors signed the legend Wilt Chamberlain as player-coach. By a court order he was not allowed to play.
- The ABA teams won 16 of the 24 friendly matches against NBA teams prior to the season.
- The ABA All-Star Game took place on January 30, 1974. The hosts were the Virginia Squires .
- Before the end of the season, the league took over the business of the Memphis Tams .
- In a playoff for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Division, the San Diego Conquistadors defeated the Denver Nuggets 131-111.
Awards
- ABA Most Valuable Player: Julius Erving (New York)
- ABA Rookie of the Year: Swen Nater (San Antonio)
- ABA Coach of the Year: Babe McCarthy (Kentucky) and Joe Mullaney (Utah)
- ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: Artis Gilmore (Kentucky)
- ABA Executive of the Year: Jack Ankerson , San Antonio
ABA All-League Team
Item | First team | Second team |
---|---|---|
F. | George McGinnis , Indiana | Willie Wise , Utah |
F. | Julius Erving, New York | Dan Issel , Kentucky |
C. | Artis Gilmore, Kentucky | Swen Nater, San Antonio |
G | Jimmy Jones , Utah | Ron Boone , Utah |
G | Mack Calvin , Carolina | Louie Dampier , Kentucky |
Final results
S = wins, N = defeats, PCT = percentage of wins, P = deficit on division leaders
The placements in the seed lists of the respective division playoffs are listed in brackets.
Eastern Division | |||||
# | team | S. | N | PCT | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York Nets (1) | 55 | 29 | .655 | - |
2 | Kentucky Colonels (2) | 53 | 21st | .631 | 2 |
3 | Carolina Cougars (3) | 47 | 37 | .560 | 8th |
4th | Virginia Squires (4) | 28 | 56 | .333 | 27 |
5 | Memphis Tams | 21st | 63 | .250 | 34 |
Western Division | |||||
# | team | S. | N | PCT | P |
1 | Utah Stars (1) | 51 | 33 | .607 | - |
2 | Indiana Pacers (2) | 46 | 38 | .548 | 5 |
3 | San Antonio Spurs (3) | 45 | 39 | .536 | 6th |
4th | Denver Rockets | 37 | 47 | .440 | 14th |
5 | San Diego Conquistadors (4) | 37 | 47 | .440 | 14th |
Playoffs 1974
The play-off rounds were played in the best-of-seven format.
Division semifinal | Division Final | ABA Championship | |||||||||||
E1 | New York Nets | 4th | |||||||||||
E4 | Virginia Squires | 1 | |||||||||||
E1 | New York Nets | 4th | |||||||||||
E2 | Kentucky Colonels | 0 | |||||||||||
E3 | Carolina Cougars | 0 | |||||||||||
E2 | Kentucky Colonels | 4th | |||||||||||
E1 | New York Nets | 4th | |||||||||||
W1 | Utah stars | 1 | |||||||||||
W2 | Indiana Pacers | 4th | |||||||||||
W3 | San Antonio Spurs | 3 | |||||||||||
W2 | Indiana Pacers | 3 | |||||||||||
W1 | Utah stars | 4th | |||||||||||
W4 | San Diego Conquistadors | 2 | |||||||||||
W1 | Utah stars | 4th |
ABA Finals 1974
game | date | Home team | Away team | Result | was standing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | April, 30th | new York | Utah | 89:85 | 1-0 |
2 | May 4th | new York | Utah | 118: 94 | 2-0 |
3 | May 6th | Utah | new York | 100: 103 (nV) | 0: 3 |
4th | 8th of May | Utah | new York | 97:89 | 1: 3 |
5 | 10th of May | new York | Utah | 111: 100 | 4: 1 |
- Julius Erving of the New York Nets has been named Most Valuable Player of the ABA Finals.