# ABA All-Time Team

The ABA All-Time Team were chosen in 1997 on the 30th anniversary of the founding of the American Basketball Association (ABA). It comprised the 30 best and most influential players of the ABA during its ten years and nine full regular seasons of operation, with respect not only to performance at the professional level, but in consideration of sportsmanship, team leadership, and contributions to the growth of the league basketball, and irrespective of positions played. Only players who have played at least a portion of their careers in the ABA were eligible for selection, although performance in other leagues, most notably the National Basketball Association was considered. Selected and announced beside the all-time team were a most valuable player and top head coach.
The team, announced in Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 23, 1997, in conjunction with an ABA reunion, was compiled based upon unranked voting by 50 selected panelists, among whom were members of the print and broadcast news media who have reported on and announced games for the ABA, former referees (ten), former team owners (six), former league executives (including two former sports commissioners), and selected fans and statisticians; former players, even those to have held other positions within the league, were proscribed from voting.

## Players
### Team
#### First team

| * | Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player |
Of the 30 players elected to the first team, three served primarily as point guards during their ABA service, eight as shooting guards, five as small forwards, eight as power forwards, and six as centers. The franchises most represented were the Virginia Squires (having also competed as the Washington Capitals and Oakland Oaks), with eleven first team players' having played at least one game for one or more iterations of the franchise; Utah Stars (having also completed as the Los Angeles Stars and Anaheim Amigos), eight players; Indiana Pacers, seven players; San Antonio Spurs (having also competed as the Texas and Dallas Chaparrals), six players; Denver Nuggets (having also competed as the Denver Rockets), five players; and Spirits of St. Louis (having also competed as the Carolina Cougars and Houston Mavericks), five players.
Five players elected to the first team—Rick Barry, Billy Cunningham, Julius Erving, George Gervin, and Moses Malone—were named one year earlier to the NBA's 50 Greatest Players list.
| Name | Position | Team(s) played for (years) | Championships won | Award(s) won | Year of Hall of Fame induction as player | Votes |
| Marvin Barnes | F/C | Spirits of St. Louis (1974–1976) | None | ABA Rookie of the Year (1975) All-Rookie First Team (1975) All-ABA Second Team (1975) | None | 23 |
| Rick Barry | F | Oakland Oaks (1968–1969) Washington Capitals (1969–1970) New York Nets (1970–1972) | 1969 | All-ABA First Team (1969–1972) | 1987 | 39 |
| Zelmo Beaty | C | Utah Stars (1970–1974) | 1971 | ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1971) All-ABA Second Team (1971–1972) | 2016 | 42 |
| Ron Boone | G/F | Dallas Chaparrals (1968–1971) Utah Stars (1970–1975) Spirits of St. Louis (1975–1976) | 1971 | All-ABA First Team (1975) All-ABA Second Team (1974) | None | 35 |
| Roger Brown | F/G | Indiana Pacers (1967–1975) Memphis Sounds (1974–1975) Utah Stars (1974–1975) | 1970, 1972, 1973 | ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1970) All-ABA First Team (1971) All-ABA Second Team (1968, 1970) | 2013 | 50 |
| Mack Calvin | G | Los Angeles Stars (1969–1970) The Floridians (1970–1972) Carolina Cougars (1972–1974) Denver Nuggets (1974–1975) Virginia Squires (1975–1976) | None | All-Rookie First Team (1970) All-ABA First Team (1971, 1974–1975) All-ABA Second Team (1973) | None | 41 |
| Darel Carrier | G | Kentucky Colonels (1967–1972) Memphis Tams (1972–1973) | None | None | None | 24 |
| Billy Cunningham | F/C | Carolina Cougars (1972–1974) | None | ABA Most Valuable Player Award (1973) All-ABA First Team (1973) | 1986 | 36 |
| Louie Dampier | G | Kentucky Colonels (1967–1976) | 1975 | All-Rookie First Team (1968) All-ABA Second Team (1967–1970, 1974) | 2015 | 50 |
| Mel Daniels | C | Minnesota Muskies (1967–1968) Indiana Pacers (1968–1974) Memphis Sounds (1974–1975) | 1970, 1972, 1973 | ABA Rookie of the Year (1968) ABA Most Valuable Player Award (1969, 1971) All-ABA First Team (1968–1971) All-ABA Second Team (1973) | 2012 | 50 |
| Julius Erving | F/G | Virginia Squires (1971–1973) New York Nets (1973–1976) | 1974, 1976 | ABA Most Valuable Player Award (1974–1976) ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1974, (1976) All-ABA First Team (1973–1976) All-ABA Second Team (1972) All-Rookie First Team (1972) All-Defensive First Team (1976) | 1993 | 50 |
| Donnie Freeman | G | Minnesota Muskies (1967–1968) Miami Floridians (1968–1970) Utah Stars (1970–1971) Texas Chaparrals (1970–1972) Indiana Pacers (1972–1974) San Antonio Spurs (1974–1975) | 1973 | All-ABA First Team (1972) All-ABA Second Team (1969–1971) | None | 30 |
| George Gervin | G/F | Virginia Squires (1972–1974) San Antonio Spurs (1973–1976) | None | All-ABA Second Team (1975–1976) | 1996 | 50 |
| Artis Gilmore | C | Kentucky Colonels (1971–1976) | 1975 | Rookie of the Year (1972) ABA Most Valuable Player Award (1972) All-ABA First Team (1972–1976) All-Defensive First Team (1973–1976) All-Rookie First Team (1972) ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1975) | 2011 | 50 |
| Connie Hawkins | Forward | Pittsburgh Pipers (1967–1969) | 1968 | 1968 Most Valuable Player Award ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1968) First team: 1967–68, 1968–69 Second team: None | 1992 | 40 |
| Spencer Haywood | C | Denver Rockets (1969–1970) | None | 1970 ABA Most Valuable Player Award 1969–70 ABA Rookie of the Year 1970 ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award First team: 1969–70 Second team: None | 2015 | 34 |
| Dan Issel | F | Kentucky Colonels (1970–1975) Denver Nuggets (1975–1976) | 1975 | 1970–71 ABA Rookie of the Year ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award (1972) First team: 1971–72 Second team: 1970–71, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75 | 1993 | 50 |
| Warren Jabali | G | Oakland Oaks (1968–1969) Washington Capitals (1969–1970) Indiana Pacers (1970–1971) The Floridians (1971–1972) Denver Rockets (1972–1974) San Diego Conquistadors (1974–1975) | 1969 | ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1969) 1968–69 ABA Rookie of the Year 1972–73 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player First team: 1972–73 Second team: None | None | 24 |
| Jimmy Jones | G | New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–1970) Memphis Pros (1970–1971) Utah Stars (1971–1974) | None | First team: 1968–69, 1972–73, 1973–74 Second team: None | None | 27 |
| Freddie Lewis | G | Indiana Pacers (1967–1974) Memphis Sounds (1974–1975) Spirits of St. Louis (1975–1976) | 1970, 1972, 1973 | 1971–72 ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player 1975 ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award | None | 38 |
| Maurice Lucas | F | Spirits of St. Louis (1974–1976) Kentucky Colonels (1975–1976) | None | None | None | 26 |
| Moses Malone | C | Utah Stars (1974–1975) Spirits of St. Louis (1975–1976) | None | None | 2001 | 30 |
| George McGinnis | F | Indiana Pacers (1971–1975) | 1972, 1973 | ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (1973) 1974–75 ABA Most Valuable Player Award First team: 1973–74, 1974–75 Second team: 1972–73 | 2017 | 44 |
| Doug Moe | F | New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–1968) Oakland Oaks (1968–1969) Carolina Cougars (1969–1970) Virginia Squires (1970–1972) | 1969 | First team: 1967–68 Second team: 1968–69 | None | 35 |
| Bob Netolicky | F | Indiana Pacers (1967–1972, 1973–1976) Dallas Chaparrals (1972–1973) San Antonio Spurs (1973–1974) | 1970, 1972 | First team: None Second team: 1969–70 | None | 35 |
| Billy Paultz | C | New York Nets (1970–1975) San Antonio Spurs (1975–1976) | 1974 | None | None | 30 |
| Charlie Scott | G | Virginia Squires (1970–1972) | None | 1970–71 ABA Rookie of the Year First team: 1970–71 Second team: 1971–72 | 2018 | 29 |
| James Silas | G | Dallas Chaparrals (1972–1973) San Antonio Spurs (1973–1976) | None | First team: 1975–76 Second team: 1974–75 | None | 30 |
| David Thompson | G | Denver Nuggets (1975–1976) | None | ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award (1976) 1975–76 ABA Rookie of the Year First team: None Second team: 1975–76 | 1996 | 28 |
| Willie Wise | F | Los Angeles Stars (1969–1970) Utah Stars (1970–1974) Virginia Squires (1974–1976) | 1971 | First team: None Second team: 1971–72, 1973–74 Defensive team: 1971–72, 1973–74 | None | 32 |

#### Others receiving votes

Ninety-nine players received at least one vote. In addition to those who were selected, 13 players earned votes from at least 25 percent (12.5) of voters:
| Player | Position primarily played | ABA team(s) played for | All-ABA honors won | Year of Hall of Fame induction as player | Votes accrued |
| Billy Keller | PG | Indiana Pacers (1969–70—1975–76) | None | None | 21 |
| Larry Brown | PG | New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–68) Oakland Oaks (1968–69) Washington Capitals (1969–70) Denver Rockets (1970–71) Virginia Squires (1970–71—1971–1972) | First team: None Second team: 1967–68 | None | 19 |
| Bobby Jones | PF | Denver Nuggets (1974–75—1975–76) | First team: None Second team: 1975–76 Defensive team: 1974–75, 1975–76 | 2019 | 19 |
| John Williamson | SG | New York Nets (1973–74—1975–76) | None | None | 19 |
| Red Robbins | C | New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–68—1969–70) Utah Stars (1970–71—1971–72) San Diego Conquistadors (1972–73—1973–74) Kentucky Colonels (1973–74—1974–75) Virginia Squires (1974–75) | Second team: 1968–69, 1969–70 | None | 18 |
| Steve Jones | SF | Oakland Oaks (1967–68) New Orleans Buccaneers (1968–69—1969–70) Memphis Pros (1970–71) Dallas Chaparrals (1971–72—1972–73) Carolina Cougars (1972–73—1973–1974) Denver Rockets (1973–74) Spirits of St. Louis (1974–1975) | None | None | 18 |
| Larry Kenon | PF | New York Nets (1973–74—1974–75) San Antonio Spurs (1975–76) | None | None | 17 |
| Ralph Simpson | SG | Denver Nuggets (1970–71—1975–76) | First team: 1975–76 Second team: 1971–72, 1972–73 | None | 17 |
| John Brisker | SF | Pittsburgh Pipers (1969–70—1971–72) | First team: None Second team: 1970–71 | None | 16 |
| Joe Caldwell | SG | Carolina Cougars (1970–71—1973–74) Spirits of St. Louis (1974–75) | First team: None Second team: 1970–71 Defensive team: 1972–73 | None | 16 |
| Billy Knight | SF | Indiana Pacers (1974–75—1975–76) | First team: 1975–76 Second team: None | None | 16 |
| Caldwell Jones | C | San Diego Conquistadors (1973–74—1975–76) Kentucky Colonels (1975–76) Spirits of St. Louis {1975–76) | None | None | 14 |
| Larry Jones | SG | Denver Rockets (1967–1968—1969–70) The Floridians (1970–71—1971–72) Dallas Chaparrals (1972–73) Utah Stars (1972–73) | First team: 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70 | None | 13 |

### Most valuable player

Only four players received votes from the 50 panelists as the league's all-time most valuable player; small forward Julius Erving was the clear winner of the award.
| Player | ABA team(s) played for | Votes accrued |
| Julius Erving | Virginia Squires (1971–72—1972–73) New York Nets (1973–74—1975–76) | 46 |
| Mel Daniels | Minnesota Muskies (1967–68) Indiana Pacers (1968–69—1973–74) Memphis Sounds (1974–75) | 2 |
| Artis Gilmore | Kentucky Colonels (1971–72—1975–76) | 1 |
| Connie Hawkins | Pittsburgh Pipers (1967–68—1968–69) | 1 |

## Coaches

Seven coaches received votes from at least one of the 50 panelists; having claimed 34 of the available votes, Bobby "Slick" Leonard was the clear winner of the all-time best head coach award. Larry Brown, having received 16 votes for the players team, also received six votes in view of his coaching.
Each of four franchises was represented by two coaches: the Denver Nuggets (having also competed as the Denver Rockets), the Kentucky Colonels, the Memphis Sounds (having also competed as the Memphis Tams, Memphis Pros, and New Orleans Buccaneers), and the San Antonio Spurs (having also competed as the Texas and Dallas Chaparrals).
| * | Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| Coach | ABA team(s) coached | Overall ABA regular season coaching record (winning percentage in parentheses) | League championships won as coach | League award(s) won as coach | Year of Hall of Fame induction as coach | Votes accrued |
| Bobby "Slick" Leonard | Indiana Pacers (1968–1976) | 387 wins-270 losses (.589) | 1970, 1972, 1973 | None | 2014 | 34 |
| Larry Brown | Carolina Cougars (1972–73–1973–74) Denver Nuggets (1974–1976) | 229 wins-107 losses (.682) | None | 1973, 1975, 1976 ABA Coach of the Year Awards | 2002 | 6 |
| Hubie Brown | Kentucky Colonels (1974–1976) | 104 wins-64 losses (.619) | 1975 | None | None | 4 |
| Babe McCarthy | New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–68–1969–70) Memphis Pros (1970–71–1971–72) Dallas Chaparrals (1972–73) Kentucky Colonels (1973–74) | 280 wins-284 losses (.496) | None | 1974 ABA Coach of the Year Award | None | 2 |
| Bill Sharman | Los Angeles/Utah Stars (1968–1971) | 133 wins-113 losses (.541) | 1971 | 1970 ABA Coach of the Year Award | 2004 | 2 |
| Al Bianchi | Washington Caps (1969–70) Virginia Squires (1970–71–1975–76) | 230 wins-281 losses (.450) | None | 1971 ABA Coach of the Year Award | None | 1 |
| Bob Bass | Denver Rockets (1967–1969) The Floridians (1970–71–1971–72) Memphis Tams (1972–73) San Antonio Spurs (1974–1976) | 251 wins-249 losses (.502) | None | None | None | 1 |