 | |
| Formerly | ABA 2000 |
|---|---|
| Sport | Basketball |
| Founded | 1999; 26 years ago (1999) |
| First season | 2000–01 |
| CEO | Joe Newman |
| Motto | More than just a game |
| Countries | United States |
| Headquarters | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Most recent champion | Chicago Fury (2025) |
| Most titles | Jacksonville Giants (7) |
| Broadcasters | ABAGALE andSFBN |
| Official website | ABA Basketball |
TheAmerican Basketball Association (ABA) is an Americansemi-professional men'sbasketballminor 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 theNational Basketball Association, which absorbed theAmerican Basketball Association (1967–1976) during theABA–NBA merger. TheWomen's American Basketball Association has operated as a sister league to the ABA since 2017.
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The league was originally co-founded byDick Tinkham and Joe Newman in 1999 asABA 2000.[1] Tinkham had previously co-founded theIndiana Pacers in the originalAmerican Basketball Association, and Newman had been an advertising executive for the Pacers.[2] TheNational 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 inaugural2000–01 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 theInternational 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 pastcollege basketball stars that had local ties.[9][10] Former NBA champion and Florida nativeDarryl Dawkins was recruited as the first head coach of the Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs.[11]
The2001–02 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 theKansas City Knights, was named league president andCOO in November 2002.[15]
The league resumed play with seven teams for the2003–04 season. The returningKansas City Knights were joined by theFresno 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 theLong Beach Jam, leading them to an ABA title in their first season.[16]
The2004–05 season saw franchise fees lowered from $50,000 to $10,000, and thebond 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. TheArkansas RimRockers won the2004–05 ABA title in their first year of play, but then left with theLong Beach Jam to join the rivalNBA Development League.
The ABA welcomed theBeijing Aoshen Olympians beginning with the2005–06 season, a club which had been banned from theChinese Basketball League after refusing to allow star prospectSun Yue to play for theChinese national team. The Olympians played their home games inMaywood, California.[18]CCTV-5 inChina broadcast the team's games, where they were watched by an average of 15 million people.[19]
Following the2005–06 season in which many teams failed to complete their full schedules and became insolvent, theCharlotte Krunk,Florida Pit Bulls,Indiana Alley Cats,Pittsburgh Xplosion,San Jose Skyrockets andSoCal Legends left to join the rivalContinental 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'sinitial public offering (ABKB), former NBA playerJohn Salley was named league commissioner andMaryland Nighthawks owner Tom Doyle was named leagueCOO in September 2006.[21] Cost for new franchises was subsequently raised to $20,000 for the2006–07 season.[22]Sports Illustrated writerAlexander Wolff launched theVermont Frost Heaves, regularly penning articles in the publication about his team's inaugural campaign.
John Salley and Tom Doyle attempted aboardroom coup on behalf ofshareholders, 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]
The2006–07 season concluded with the defending championRochester Razorsharks withdrawing from the league after they asked to reschedule a playoff game against theWilmington Sea Dawgs, but were denied and told to forfeit.[25] Following this incident, theHammond Rollers,Jacksonville Jam,Maryland Nighthawks,Quad City Riverhawks andWilmington Sea Dawgs joined the Razorsharks in forming thePremier Basketball League (PBL).
Following the2007–08 season, the reigning championVermont Frost Heaves left for thePremier Basketball League along with theHalifax Rainmen,Manchester Millrats andQuebec Kebs.[26]
Quentin Townsend, owner of theAtlanta Vision, was named league President andCOO 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 anNBA Development League franchise.[28]
At the start of the2008–09 season, over 200 teams had folded since the league's inception.[29]
The2008–09 season saw theSoutheast Texas Mustangs franchise join the league after leaving the strugglingContinental Basketball Association. The ABA attemptedinterleague 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 the2009–10 season, including the entire Pacific Northwest Division. The San Francisco Rumble forfeited their playoff game against theSoutheast 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 andCOO in April 2010.[34]
After winning their second consecutive championship in2010–11, theSoutheast Texas Mavericks publicly opined that the ABA did not have adequate competition, and they left with intentions of joining theNBA Development League.[35] However, their application to join the NBA Development League was denied, and the franchise sat out the2011–12 and2012–13 seasons. Consecutive titles were won by theJacksonville Giants in their absence, with championship wins over the previously undefeatedSouth Carolina Warriors in2011–12 and North Dallas Vandals in2012–13.[36] The team returned to the ABA for2013–14 as theShreveport-Bossier Mavericks, going undefeated and winning the league title in aperfect season.[37]
At the conclusion of the2013–14 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 withESPN3 in August 2014 to broadcast regular season and playoff games beginning with the2014–15 season.[40]
After completing aperfect season for the second time in2014–15 and winning their fourth championship, theShreveport-Bossier Mavericks left the ABA to join thePremier Basketball League.[41]
Joe Newman returned to the role of league President and CEO beginning with the2015–16 season.
TheJacksonville Giants drew the league's all-time record crowd of 8,987 for their 100–93 victory over the previously unbeatenChicago Steam atJacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on January 16, 2016.[42] It had been reported the week prior that theOrlando Magic was considering adopting the Giants as theirNBA Development League affiliate, although later in the year they instead moved their existing affiliateErie BayHawks toLakeland, Florida.[43][44]
A sister league, theWomen'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-founderDick Tinkham died ofmuscular dystrophy in October 2018.[48]
The 2019–20 season was ended prematurely and the playoffs cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[49]
The undefeatedJacksonville Giants captured their seventh and final championship in 2020–21, concluding the team's firstperfect season and third in ABA history.[50]
Aplay-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 theSteel City Yellow Jackets, theJacksonville Giants ceased operations.[52]
TheBurning River Buckets andIndiana Lyons were declared co-champions of the 2022–23 season after storm damage rendered the venue for their championship game unplayable.[53]
The first ABA Draft in 2000 was of 12 rounds: the first 6 rounds were reserved for rookies and first-year players, while the clubs could draft veterans in the final 6 rounds.[54] Therefore, big names were drafted by ABA teams.Dennis Rodman andTim Hardaway were drafted as veterans byChicago Skyliners (they both played later for ABA teams).A.C. Green, who recently had been waived byLos Angeles Lakers, was selected byLos Angeles Stars, whileDominique Wilkins was drafted by Anaheim Roadrunners.Los Angeles Stars also pickedEd O'Bannon andTyus Edney (1999 Euroleague champion) who had won the 1995 NCAA championship as UCLA players.[55]
Eddie House of Arizona State was the overall first pick,[56] followed byScoonie Penn of Ohio State, while former ormer Michigan starsJimmy King andMaceo Baston were also drafted.
Upon the league's inception in 2000, each franchise had a limit of 10 players with the salary cap being of $900,000.[57] An ABA average player was paid around $60,000 in 2000. Thus, the league was the second-highest spender in salaries only behindNBA, surpassing established leagues likeUSBL andCBA. In 2007, it dropped to $120,000 (about $10,000 per player for a 12-player roster) according to Joe Newman.
The league employs a number of unconventional rules that are unique to the league:[58]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(April 2025) |
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123 teams completed at least one game during the 2024–25 season.[59]
The league's oldest surviving franchises are theJersey Express (est. 2005),Georgia Gwizzlies (est. 2007),Steel City Yellow Jackets (est. 2014), andIndiana Lyons (est. 2017).
Franchises that left the ABA but still compete elsewhere include theDetroit Panthers (Maximum Basketball League),Motor City Cruise (NBA G League),Newfoundland Rogues (Basketball Super League), and Rochester Kingz (The Basketball League).
| East (6 wins) | West (4 wins) | South (2 wins) | Kansas City Knights (1 win) | Team Dr. J (1 win) |
|---|
Source:usbasket.com
| Year | Player | Team | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Pete Mickeal | Kansas City Knights | Forward |  United States |
| 2003–04 | Joe Crispin | Kansas City Knights | Forward | United States |
| 2004–05 | Kareem Reid | Arkansas RimRockers | Guard | United States |
| 2005–06 | Chris Carrawell | Rochester Razorsharks | Guard | United States |
| 2006–07 | - | - | - | - |
| 2007–08 | - | - | - | - |
| 2008–09 | Boris Siakanm/ Deron Rutledge | Kentucky Bisons/Southeast Texas Mustangs | Forward/Center | United States |
| 2009–10 | Josh Pace/Jermaine Blackburn | Southeast Texas Mavericks | Center/Forward | United States |
| 2010–11 | Odell Bradley | Southeast Texas Mavericks | Guard | United States |
| 2011–12 | Jermaine “Slim” Bell | Jacksonville Giants | Forward | United States |
| 2012–13 | Jermaine “Slim” Bell | Jacksonville Giants | Forward | United States |
| Year | Player | Team | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | Gee Gervin / Ndongo N'Diaye | Chicago Skyliners | Guard/Center | United States |
| 2001–02 | Pete Mickeal | Kansas City Knights | Forward | United States |
| 2003–04 | Joe Crispin | Kansas City Knights | Forward | United States |
| 2004–05 | Kareem Reid | Arkansas RimRockers | Guard | United States |
| 2005–06 | Chris Carrawell | Rochester Razorsharks | Guard | United States |
| 2006–07 | - | - | - | - |
| 2007–08 | Dwuan Rice | Vermont Frost Heaves | Guard | United States |
| 2008–09 | Michael James | Kentucky Bisons | Guard | United States |
| 2009–10 | Josh Pace | Southeast Texas Mavericks | Center | United States |
| 2010–11 | P.J. Couisnard[99] | Southeast Texas Mavericks | Forward | United States |
| 2011–12 | Jermaine “Slim” Bell | Jacksonville Giants | Forward | United States |
| 2012–13 | Jermaine “Slim” Bell | Jacksonville Giants | Forward | United States |
| * | Elected to theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
USA:
Jean-Paul AfifHameed AliMalik AllenAnthony AndersonHarold ArceneauxKayode AyeniToby BaileyAntwain BarbourMatt BarnesTurner BattleCorey BeckCharlie BellBenoit BenjaminCorey BenjaminJason BennettTravarus BennettEmmanuel BibbJermaine BlackburnShad BlairDavid BoothJeff BoscheeBryan BraceyNick BradfordOdell BradleyTorraye BraggsScott BrooksDamone BrownKezo BrownQuinnel BrownSirValiant BrownTroy BrownKenny BrunnerAntonio BurksCardell ButlerKevin ButlerGeno CarlisleAntoine CarrAquille CarrChris CarrawellZahir CarringtonMaurice CarterParrish CasebierChris CayoleCedric CeballosAmir CelestinBrian ChaseRobert CheeksEric ChenowithKeith ClossWilliam ColemanDeAngelo CollinsDallas ComegysDylon CormierSchea CottonModie CoxJoe CremoJoe CrispinEric CrookshankJason CroweRamel CurryGlen DandridgeLloyd DanielsBen DavisKelvin DavisRobert DayTodd DayDerrick DialByron DinkinsNate DriggersQuran DuBoisDekabriean EldridgeEd Elisma
Carlos EscaleraTony FarmerMarcus FeaginTaurian FontenetteKevin FreemanJarrid FryeWill FunnCorey GainesChris GarnerKenny GasanaEddie GillArmen GilliamAnthony GoldwirePaul GrantCortez GrovesKyle GuptonChris HaganDarrin HancockTim Hardaway *Trenton HassellJuaquin HawkinsRodney HawkinsAndrew HaylesCurtis HaywoodEsian HendersonSean HigginsDametri HillJeremiah HillRico HillChris HinesRandy HolcombJerry HolmanShaheen HollowayDerek HoodJamar HowardRick HughesJohnathan IvyEdward "Cookie" JarvisKeith JensenAshante JohnsonDerMarr JohnsonMatt JohnsonCharles JonesDominique JonesDontae' JonesKenny JonesReggie JordanMark KarcherJimmy KingJulian KingLorenzo KingBilly KnightChristian LaettnerTrajan LangdonJack LeasureTyrone LevettGeno LewisSteve LoganJustin LoveSam MackGordon MaloneDarrick MartinDan McClintockJelani McCoyJavon McCreaJeremy McNeilPete MickealAnthony MillerOliver MillerPercy MillerWillie MitchellJamario MoonChris MorrisIsaiah MorrisLawrence MotenByron MoutonEric MurdockTyrone NesbyTyler NewtonEd O'BannonDoug OvertonJosh PaceGerald PaddioJannero PargoRoyce ParranAnthony PelleMike PenberthyDarren PhillipChris PorterRashaad PowellJames ReavesKhalid ReevesKareem ReidEric RileyJohn RobersonLawrence RobertsStanley RobertsRyan RobertsonJames RobinsonMike RobinsonDennis Rodman *René RougeauTrevor RuffinJaRon RushKareem RushBryon RussellMark SanfordJason SasserAkeem ScottDeRonn ScottShea SealsClayton ShieldsPaul ShirleyTroy SimonsDuane SimpkinsLazarus SimsReggie SlaterDoug SmithEddie SmithTony SmithPierre SowIsaac SpencerCurtis StaplesPerry Stevenson Anthony StewardJohn StricklandJayceon TaylorDoug ThomasJamel ThomasTorey ThomasScotty ThurmanClay TuckerJoah TuckerNick VanderLaanDavid VanterpoolFred VinsonJermaine WalkerMatt WalshRex WaltersJerod WardReginald WarrenJameel WatkinsSylvania WatkinsC. J. WebsterTony WeedenDominick WelchBubba WellsRobert WhaleyDeJuan WheatTyson WheelerDavin WhiteLou WhiteDonald WhitesideBrandon WilliamsJason WilliamsJerry WilliamsLarry WilliamsRichie WilliamsTim WinnTerrence WoodyardDamian WoolfolkMetta World PeaceGalen YoungAsia:
Matt Freije
Chen Hsin-an
Mark Magsumbol
Sun Mingming
Guy ParselanyYoav Saffar
Behdad SamiAvery Scharer
Ha Seung-jinLee Seung-jun
Yuta TabuseSun YueAfrica:
Americas:
Canada
Jermaine AndersonManix AuriantalKelvin dela PeñaRobbie SihotaChristian UpshawDwight WaltonHoward WashingtonEurope:
Oceania:
USA:
Jean-Paul AfifNate Archibald *Isaac AustinRod BakerBill BaynoChris BeardScott BrooksJoe BryantWallace BryantPaul ButoracJason CaffeyDon CaseyEarl CuretonDarryl DawkinsTerry DehereBob Donewald Jr.Acie EarlCorey GainesRyan GalloGeorge Gervin *Greg GrahamGary GrantLitterial GreenRon GreeneTim Hardaway *Antonio HarveySean HigginsBob HoffmanDennis HopsonRichard JacobAntoine JoubertKevin KeathleyBruce KreutzerCliff LevingstonFreddie LewisKyle MacySergio McClainAshley McElhineyJoey MeyerBarry MiglioriniDeLisha Milton-JonesJohnny MooreRon MooreRichard MortonHernando PlanellsKevin PritchardJerry ReynoldsTrevor RuffinTwiggy SandersKelvin ScarboroughClayton ShieldsBob SundvoldDane SuttleLaSalle ThompsonRay TolbertJan van Breda KolffWill VoigtTirame WalkerTeresa Weatherspoon *Scott WedmanPaul WestheadKevin WhittedJerry WilliamsKenny WilliamsOrlando WoolridgeGalen YoungPatrick ZipfelAsia:
Americas:
| National team | Player | Period | Appearances | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Christian Laettner | 1990-92 | 37 | 1992 Olympic winner |
| USA | Tim Hardaway | 1999-00 | 18 | 2999 Olympic winner |
| USA | Jimmy King | 1998 | 9 | World Cup 1998 |
| USA | Armen Gilliam | 1986 | 8 | |
| USA | Antoine Carr | 1982 | 9 | |
| USA | Charlie Bell | 2005 | 10 | |
| USA | Blandon Ferguson | 2001 | AmeriCup 2001 | |
| USA | Reggie Jordan | 1993-97 | AmeriCup 1993 | |
| USA | Byron Houston | 1999 | 5 | |
| USA | Jerry Holman | 2001 | AmeriCup 2001 |
