ABA vs. NBA Exhibition Game History: A Detailed Look at a Forgotten Rivalry

From 1971 to 1975, the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) engaged in a series of exhibition games that offered fans rare and highly anticipated head-to-head matchups between the rival leagues. While these games didn’t count in either league’s regular-season standings, they carried significant meaning for players, fans, and league executives, as bragging rights and league credibility were on the line. These exhibitions became unofficial battlegrounds that foreshadowed the eventual ABA-NBA merger in 1976.

Here’s a detailed year-by-year breakdown of these interleague exhibitions and the outcomes that helped shift perceptions of the ABA:

1971 Preseason: NBA Dominance

• Record: NBA 13 – ABA 4

This marked the first time ABA and NBA teams officially met on the court. While the ABA hoped to prove itself a legitimate competitor, the NBA’s deeper rosters and defensive tenacity generally prevailed.

Notable Games:

• Milwaukee Bucks 106, Dallas Chaparrals 103 – Reigning NBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated.

• Indiana Pacers 118, Milwaukee Bucks 115 – The Pacers delivered the ABA’s biggest win behind Mel Daniels and Roger Brown.

Despite some close contests, the NBA held a commanding edge and used the early results to reinforce its superiority in the media.

1972 Preseason: Signs of Parity Emerge

• Record: NBA 32 – ABA 17

The volume of games increased dramatically in 1972, and the ABA began making a stronger case for its legitimacy. Although the NBA still won nearly two-thirds of the matchups, several standout ABA victories shifted public perception.

Highlights:

• Kentucky Colonels 110, New York Knicks 102 – Artis Gilmore outplayed NBA legend Willis Reed.

• Utah Stars 120, Chicago Bulls 106 – Zelmo Beaty led a statement win for the ABA’s Stars.

• Indiana Pacers 109, Atlanta Hawks 100 – The Pacers began to cement their reputation as ABA’s standard bearer.

These results sparked debate among fans and sportswriters over the actual talent gap between the leagues.

1973 Preseason: ABA Rallies

• Record: ABA 15 – NBA 10

This was the turning point year. For the first time, the ABA won a majority of the interleague games, and the margin wasn’t close. Their teams showcased speed, shooting, and creative playmaking that often overwhelmed slower, more structured NBA squads.

Key Victories:

• San Antonio Spurs 109, Atlanta Hawks 100 – James Silas outdueled Lou Hudson.

• Utah Stars 111, Philadelphia 76ers 96 – One of several blowouts that year.

• Kentucky Colonels 114, New York Knicks 101 – Gilmore again shined against NBA bigs.

By the end of the preseason, it was becoming harder for NBA defenders to dismiss the ABA as a mere gimmick league.

1974 Preseason: ABA Gains Respect

• Record: ABA 16 – NBA 7

The ABA repeated their success from the prior year, going 16–7 again and reinforcing the idea that their league was now on par—or in some cases, better—than the NBA in pure talent.

Signature Wins:

• New York Nets 119, Washington Bullets 107 – Julius Erving dazzled with 36 points and spectacular dunks.

• Indiana Pacers 118, Golden State Warriors 112 – Slick Leonard’s squad continued their exhibition dominance.

• Kentucky Colonels 116, Detroit Pistons 108 – Dan Issel and Gilmore overwhelmed Detroit’s front line.

The growing confidence among ABA players was evident, and even skeptical NBA coaches began acknowledging their rival league’s quality.

1975 Preseason: The Final Blow

• Record: ABA 31 – NBA 17

The 1975 exhibition slate featured the most games and proved to be a resounding statement in the ABA’s favor. The Nets, Colonels, Nuggets, and Spurs rolled through NBA opposition with high-flying offenses and physicality.

Top Moments:

• New York Nets 122, Washington Bullets 114 – Another virtuoso performance by Dr. J.

• Kentucky Colonels 118, Chicago Bulls 100 – The Colonels stomped the Bulls with Gilmore dominating.

• Denver Nuggets 118, Seattle SuperSonics 113 – David Thompson and Bobby Jones showed NBA fans what was to come.

The cumulative effect of these exhibitions forced many in the NBA to admit that the ABA was no longer an inferior product. The skill level, athleticism, and coaching in the ABA had caught up.

Final Tally: ABA 79 – NBA 76

Across five years and 155 games:

• ABA Wins: 79

• NBA Wins: 76

While initially dismissed as a novelty, the ABA proved its mettle in head-to-head competition. This 5-year stretch saw the ABA go from being treated as an upstart sideshow to earning legitimate parity and, ultimately, merger talks.

Impact of the ABA vs. NBA Exhibitions

1. Legitimized ABA Talent – Fans saw firsthand that stars like Julius Erving, Artis Gilmore, George Gervin, and Dan Issel could thrive against top NBA competition.

2. Accelerated Merger Talks – The increasingly competitive (and financially draining) dynamic between leagues, coupled with the ABA’s on-court success, helped catalyze the eventual 1976 ABA-NBA merger.

3. Cultural Shift – The ABA’s style—up-tempo, high-scoring, flashy—would ultimately influence how basketball was played post-merger, ushering in the modern era.

Legacy

While the ABA would dissolve in 1976, its players and style lived on. Four ABA teams joined the NBA (Nets, Pacers, Nuggets, Spurs), and many ABA stars went on to Hall of Fame careers in the NBA. But those who remember the exhibition series know that long before the leagues officially merged, the ABA had already earned a seat at the table—one game at a time.

Would you like a graphic or image to accompany this article (such as Julius Erving dunking on an NBA team or a matchup poster from one of the exhibitions)?