Top 10 Players in ABA History

The ABA didn’t even last a decade, but its impact is still being felt in the NBA today. The ABA began late in the 1960s and by 1977 they had achieved a partial merger with the NBA and gave us legends like the Doctor, The Ice Man and the Skywalker. Today we will take a look at the ten greatest players in ABA history.

10) Zelmo Beatty

The underrated vet was way too skilled and way too slick for so many inexperienced centers to make it a fair fight.

Zelmo Beaty also was the first player to reach the 60-point mark in league history and a pivotal player in Utah’s first pro sports championship.

Zelmo Beaty Career Highlights

9) George Gervin

From finger rolls to bank shots and midrange jumpers, no one had more tricks in his bag than George Gervin.

Vintage George Gervin Highlights

8) Roger Brown

Brown was legendary in the 1970 ABA playoffs, winning MVP in the Finals. In the championship round that year, Roger Brown was on full blast with 53, 39, and 45 points in the final three games.

Remember The ABA: Roger Brown

7) Jimmy Jones

The best ABA player that never won a championship, Jones was a six-time all-star. He also has a career shooting percentage of over 51 percent, which is better than any other player in ABA history.

Remember The ABA / NB70s: Jimmy Jones

6) Dan Issel

Issel was a Bluegrass legend and a tireless worker who averaged over 23 points per game during his ABA career.

Remember The ABA: Dan “The Horse” Issel (1973-75)

5) George McGinnis

Big George was an absolute physical freak and would have been a star in any league. A lot of NFL scouts thought he had NFL potential. His stat line was pretty impressive at 25.2 PTS, 12.9/ REB, 3.5 AST, 2.2* STL, 0.6* BLK.

Remember The ABA: George McGinnis (1973)

4) Artis Gilmore

Gilmore ranks as the all-time ABA leader in minutes played, rebounds, and blocked shots per game, but in a league of so few established bigs, more than one critic believes that he should have done even more.

Artis Gilmore ABA Highlights

3) Mel Daniels

Daniels won three major awards during his time in the ABA — Most Valuable Player (twice), All-Star Game MVP, and Rookie of the Year. Mel Daniels is among the top 10 in virtually every major statistical category on the all-time list.

Mel Daniels Career Highlights

2) Rick Barry

Barry was the first name player to sign with the ABA, he also averaged over 30 points per game and is the ABA’s greatest scorer. His biggest impact may have been just signing the contract to play in the ABA.

Remember The ABA: Rick Barry

1) Julius Erving

The Good Doctor was basketball’s version of Babe Ruth, Erving’s stat line in his ABA career was amazing 28.7 PTS,12.1 REB, 4.8 AST, 2.4* STL, 2.0* BLK. But the most important thing he gave the ABA was credibility.

Julius Erving Game 1 1976 ABA Finals (45 Points and Game Winner)