American Basketball Association 1975-76
The 1975/76 ABA season was the ninth and final season of the American Basketball Association . The ABA cut the shot clock's time from 30 seconds to 24 seconds to match the National Basketball Association . The season began on October 24, 1975. 9 teams took part in the game, of which only 7 finished the season. Each team played 84 games. The four best qualified for the playoffs. On May 13, 1976 the season ended with the ABA Championship. The New York Nets defeated the Denver Nuggets in the finals and were thus champions of the ABA for the second time.
Awards
- ABA Most Valuable Player: Julius Erving (New York)
- ABA Rookie of the Year: David Thompson (Denver)
- ABA Coach of the Year: Larry Brown (Denver)
- ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: David Thompson (Denver)
- ABA Executive of the Year: Carl Scheer , Denver
- ABA Finals Most Valuable Player: Julius Erving (New York)
- ABA All-League First Team
| position | player | society |
|---|---|---|
| Guard | Ralph Simpson | Denver nuggets |
| Guard | James Silas | San Antonio Spurs |
| Forward | Billy Knight | Indiana Pacers |
| Forward | Julius Erving | New York Nets |
| center | Artis Gilmore | Kentucky Colonels |
- ABA All-League Second Team
| position | player | society |
|---|---|---|
| Guard | Don Buse | Indiana Pacers |
| Guard | George Gervin | San Antonio Spurs |
| Forward | David Thompson | Denver nuggets |
| Forward | Bobby Jones | Denver nuggets |
| center | Dan Issel | Denver nuggets |
Season Notes
- The Memphis Sounds moved to Baltimore , Maryland and played as the Baltimore Claws there . After three preparatory games, these were dissolved because they could not pay bills.
- The San Diego Conquistadors have been replaced by the San Diego Sails .
- During the season, the Utah Stars and the San Diego Sails suspended the game.
- The Virginia Squires were disbanded immediately upon completion of the regular season.
- In the 1976 ABA All-Star Game, the Denver Nuggets won 144-138 against the All-Stars.
- The ABA All-Star Game 1976 saw the first slam dunk contest .
Final results
| team | G | V | %. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver nuggets | 60 | 24 | .714 | - |
| New York Nets C | 55 | 29 | .655 | 5 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 50 | 34 | .595 | 10 |
| Kentucky Colonels | 46 | 38 | .548 | 14th |
| Indiana Pacers | 39 | 45 | .464 | 21st |
| Spirits of St. Louis | 35 | 49 | .417 | 25th |
| Virginia Squires | 15th | 68 | .181 | 44 |
| San Diego Sails | 3 | 8th | .273 | - |
| Utah stars | 4th | 12 | .250 | - |
| Baltimore Claws | 0 | 0 | .000 | - |
C - ABA Champions
ABA Finals 1976
| game | date | Home team | Away team | Result | was standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st of May | new York | Denver | 120: 118 | 1-0 |
| 2 | May 4th | new York | Denver | 121: 127 | 1: 1 |
| 3 | May 6th | Denver | new York | 111: 117 | 1: 2 |
| 4th | 8th of May | Denver | new York | 112: 121 | 1: 3 |
| 5 | May 11th | new York | Denver | 110: 118 | 3: 2 |
| 6th | May 13th | Denver | new York | 106: 112 | 2: 4 |
- Julius Erving of the New York Nets has been named Most Valuable Player of the ABA Finals.