More what ifs in sports

[buzzcut]

I was going to put this particular post in the more sports what ifs thread, but decided to create an independent thread regarding the what if of the NBA/ABA merger. The question is...What if the merger was scuttled before it was finalized? Here's part one.

ABA, NBA continue basketball war

No possible end in sight to battle over hoops turf

By Bill Burditzman

AP Writer

HYANNIS, MA - June 18, 1976(AP): A potential last-minute deal to allow the National Basketball Association to add four members of the American Basketball Association to join their ranks was scuttled by two owners who would be left out. John Y. Brown and the Silna Brothers, owners of the Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis respectively, threatened to sue their fellow league jumpers for screwing loyalty to the ABA cause.

Angelo Drossos, the San Antonio Spurs president, relayed this possible suit to the three other teams in the ABA who were hoping to leave, the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and defending ABA titleists New York Nets. The four clubs immediately pulled their applications to join the NBA. Neither NBA commisioner Larry O'Brien nor his ABA counterpart Dave DeBusschere would comment on the situation.

Roy Boe, the Nets president said later that the ABA would attempt to add 2 new teams to the league. He declined to specify who was in line to receive those teams, but speculation had centered on 12 cities: Baltimore(who saw the ABA Claws fold in December of 1975), Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Fresno, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Montreal, Nashville, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Toronto.

Read it carefully and then post your response.

[TFoA]

Well if that had happened (expansion-wise), the Mavs and the Heat would've been playing for the title...of the league with the red white and blue ball.

[NJTank]

The ABA and NBA both struggled for a few years as the NBA saw teams dispand in 1979, the drafting of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird proved key for both leagues as Bird made the Celtics and teh NBA matter again while Magic helped build a ABA dynasty for the expnasion Detroit Drive which replaced the Pistons who along with the Rockets, Kings, Cavs, and Hawks folded, but the ABA healthier at that time took advanatge establishing teams in each market.

After 5 years of debate who was better Bird's Celtics or the Magic lead boys from Motown a series was established for a Pro Basketball championship leading to a merger which was needed after the New Jersey Nets of the ABA outbid the Bulls for Michael Jordan.

The mrger was going good for the NBA until 1986 but then Bird and the Cletics got old and the ABA won 7 of 9 thanks to Magic, and Jordan, with only the Bulls who got Isiah Thomas in a big trade break true for 2 in a row.

Eventuallu a full merger was made in Major League Basketball with the National Association and American Association.