The 1971 ABA Finals: Utah Stars vs Kentucky Colonels – A Forgotten Classic

The 1971 ABA Finals brought together two explosive teams from opposite ends of the Western and Eastern Divisions: the Utah Stars and the Kentucky Colonels. What followed was a seven-game series full of elite scoring, superstar duels, and a franchise’s only championship.

In a battle that pitted Zelmo Beaty’s power and experience against Dan Issel’s rookie brilliance, the series delivered classic basketball drama from start to finish. It also marked a crowning achievement for one of the ABA’s great unsung teams.

📍 Background: A League Searching for Legitimacy

The ABA was still a fledgling league in 1971, in just its fourth season. While known for its red-white-and-blue basketball, wide-open play, and flamboyant personalities, it was still fighting for respect against the NBA.

The Finals spotlighted:

• Kentucky Colonels (68–16) – The best regular-season record in ABA history to that point, led by rookie phenom Dan Issel, sharpshooter Louie Dampier, and high-flying Darel Carrier.

• Utah Stars (57–27) – A former midseason relocation team (moved from Los Angeles in 1970) that built chemistry around veteran big man Zelmo Beaty, guard Willie Wise, and coach Bill Sharman, a future NBA Hall of Famer.

🔥 Key Players

Utah Stars

• Zelmo Beaty – Former NBA All-Star who joined the ABA after sitting out a full season; dominant inside force averaging 22.9 PPG and 15.7 RPG during the season.

• Willie Wise – Elite two-way forward and defensive stopper.

• Ron Boone – Emerging backcourt scorer who added toughness and shooting.

• Glen Combs – Nicknamed “The Kentucky Rifle” for his deep shooting range.

Kentucky Colonels

• Dan Issel – Rookie sensation, averaged 29.9 PPG in the regular season and was unstoppable in the post.

• Louie Dampier – ABA original, quick trigger from outside, team leader.

• Cincy Powell – Athletic forward and critical secondary scorer.

🏆 The Series: Game-by-Game Breakdown

Game 1 (Louisville): Colonels 136, Stars 113

Kentucky opened with a statement. Dampier and Issel combined for 68 points, running Utah off the court with transition buckets and perimeter firepower. The Stars struggled to contain Issel’s low-post agility.

Game 2 (Louisville): Stars 138, Colonels 125

Utah bounced back. Zelmo Beaty poured in 36 points, and Utah’s defense locked in on Dampier, limiting him to 15. Boone and Wise turned the tempo, showing Utah could match Kentucky’s fast pace.

Game 3 (Salt Lake City): Stars 108, Colonels 100

In front of a raucous home crowd, Utah pulled away late. Wise held Issel to 20 points, while Combs drilled four three-pointers in a slow, grind-it-out game.

Game 4 (Salt Lake City): Colonels 114, Stars 108

Kentucky evened the series. Issel reasserted himself with a dominant 32-point performance. Cincy Powell’s athleticism hurt Utah in transition. Utah’s late push fell short as Kentucky’s bench stepped up.

Game 5 (Louisville): Colonels 110, Stars 101

Back in Kentucky, the Colonels fed off the crowd. Issel and Dampier combined for 59 points. Utah couldn’t stop Kentucky’s pick-and-roll, and Beaty faced foul trouble. Kentucky led the series 3–2 and smelled blood.

Game 6 (Salt Lake City): Stars 117, Colonels 113

Facing elimination, the Stars responded behind a heroic 40-point performance from Beaty, including 12 points in the fourth quarter. Combs hit two clutch threes to seal the win. The Stars forced a decisive Game 7.

Game 7 (Salt Lake City): Stars 131, Colonels 121

One of the best games in ABA Finals history. Beaty delivered 36 points and 16 rebounds, outdueling Issel in the paint. Boone added 26 points and Wise’s defense on Dampier was crucial. Utah led wire-to-wire but fought off every Kentucky run with big buckets and timely stops.

🏀 Finals MVP: Zelmo Beaty

Beaty was the undisputed anchor of the Utah Stars’ run. For the series, he averaged 28.2 points and 16 rebounds per game, dominating both ends of the floor.

He was the first former NBA All-Star to win a title in the ABA, and his success helped validate the league’s talent level.

🧠 Coaching Duel: Bill Sharman vs. Frank Ramsey

• Sharman, a former Celtics great, brought poise and discipline to Utah. His switch to a more post-heavy offense in Games 6 and 7 helped unlock Beaty’s dominance.

• Ramsey, himself a Celtics legend, coached Kentucky to its best season ever, but struggled to adjust when Utah started switching on Issel and trapping Dampier.

🏀 Legacy of the 1971 ABA Finals

• Utah’s only professional basketball championship to this day (the Jazz have never won an NBA title).

• The first time a former NBA All-Star (Beaty) dominated an ABA Finals, lending credibility to the ABA’s rising stature.

• A breakout moment for Dan Issel, who would go on to a Hall of Fame career.

• One of the few ABA Finals to go seven games, and arguably the best of the league’s short but storied existence.

🧱 Forgotten but Not Gone

Though often overlooked today, the 1971 ABA Finals was a brilliant showcase of two contrasting styles: Kentucky’s up-tempo shooting and Utah’s inside power. It cemented Beaty’s legend, set the stage for Issel’s future, and proved that ABA basketball could produce a series just as thrilling—and often more wide open—than anything the NBA had to offer.

The ABA may be gone, but for seven games in the spring of 1971, the league was at its absolute peak.