Ghosts of the Hardwood: The History and Legacy of the Spirits of St. Louis

When basketball fans look back at the brief but colorful history of the American Basketball Association (ABA), few teams evoke as much curiosity, chaos, and lasting legacy as the Spirits of St. Louis. Though the franchise existed for just two seasons (1974–1976), the Spirits left behind an outsized cultural footprint that still resonates through basketball history—and business lore.

Origins: A Franchise on the Move

The Spirits of St. Louis were born out of the unstable and freewheeling nature of the ABA. Originally the Houston Mavericks (1967–1969), the franchise had moved to North Carolina and became the Carolina Cougars, playing across Greensboro, Charlotte, and Raleigh. In 1974, the Cougars were sold to brothers Daniel and Ozzie Silna, who relocated the team to St. Louis—a city that hadn’t had a professional basketball team since the Hawks left for Atlanta in 1968.

The Silnas renamed the team the Spirits of St. Louis, inspired by Charles Lindbergh’s famous transatlantic flight. The name proved fitting—this was a team that flew high, lived fast, and vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.

1974-75 Spirits of St Louis

On-Court Chaos and Cult Heroes

The Spirits were an unpredictable and entertaining team, known more for flash and drama than sustained success. In their two seasons in the ABA, they never posted a winning record, finishing 32–52 in 1974–75 and 35–49 in 1975–76. But their talent was undeniable, and their storylines were unforgettable.

Key Players:

• Marvin “Bad News” Barnes – A brilliant but troubled forward, Barnes embodied the wild side of the ABA. Despite a troubled college career at Providence, he averaged 24.0 points and 15.6 rebounds in his rookie year. But his off-court antics—including once refusing to board a plane because it was scheduled to “arrive before it took off” due to a time zone shift—made him a legend.

• Maurice Lucas – A bruising power forward, Lucas was an emerging star who would later become a key figure with the Portland Trail Blazers’ 1977 NBA championship team.

• Moses Malone – Although only briefly with the Spirits, Malone started his career there after jumping directly from high school. He would go on to become a three-time NBA MVP and a Hall of Famer.

• Don Chaney and Ron Boone – Other veteran players who gave the Spirits some defensive grit and credibility.

• Bob Costas – Before becoming a broadcasting icon, a young Costas got his break calling Spirits games, quickly becoming part of the franchise’s colorful story.

Bob Costas Adjusts Voice To Become Announcer For Spirit Of St. Louis | CampusInsiders

Upsetting the ABA Order

Despite their poor regular-season record in 1974–75, the Spirits shocked the basketball world by upsetting Julius Erving’s powerhouse New York Nets in the ABA Eastern Division semifinals, taking the series in five games. It was arguably the franchise’s finest moment. They lost to the eventual champion Kentucky Colonels in the division finals, but their playoff run earned them national attention.

The ABA-NBA Merger and the Greatest Deal in Sports History

The most lasting impact of the Spirits of St. Louis didn’t come on the court—it came at the negotiating table.

In 1976, the ABA-NBA merger was finally agreed upon, but only four ABA teams would be absorbed into the NBA: the New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs. The Kentucky Colonels and the Spirits of St. Louis were left out.

Colonels owner John Y. Brown accepted a $3 million buyout. But the Silna brothers—who couldn’t get the NBA to accept the Spirits—negotiated a deal that would become legendary. They agreed to dissolve the team in exchange for:

• A $2.2 million up-front payment

• A share of future NBA television revenue from the four ABA teams that joined the league—in perpetuity.

The percentage was small (around 1/7 of each team’s share), but as the NBA grew into a global media behemoth, the Silnas’ cut exploded in value. Over the next 35+ years, the Silna family earned over $300 million from a team that hadn’t played since 1976.

In 2014, the NBA finally negotiated a buyout of the TV rights—reportedly for an additional $500 million—bringing one of the most lopsided business deals in sports to a close.

Remember The ABA: Freddie Lewis (Spirits of St Louis)

Legacy of the Spirits

Although they were a blip in terms of wins and losses, the Spirits’ legacy remains profound:

• Pop Culture and Basketball Lore: The team has inspired books, documentaries, and countless articles. Loose Balls by Terry Pluto and Free Spirits (an ESPN 30 for 30 film) helped keep their legend alive.

• Launchpad for Legends: The Spirits helped launch the careers of Moses Malone and Maurice Lucas, both of whom became All-Stars in the NBA. Bob Costas credited the Spirits for giving him his start in broadcasting.

• Business Brilliance: The Silnas’ TV deal remains the gold standard of sports negotiations. It’s taught in law and business schools as a case study in foresight, risk-taking, and the value of intellectual property.

Conclusion: Spirits That Still Haunt the Game

The Spirits of St. Louis never won a title, never had a winning season, and never played a game in the NBA. Yet their impact on the history of basketball is arguably greater than that of many long-standing franchises. They were the ultimate ABA team—wild, colorful, and full of talent—and they left behind a ghost story that still haunts the hardwood to this day.

From Marvin Barnes’ chaos to the Silnas’ cash, the Spirits may be gone, but they are never forgotten.