ABA Quiz from ESPN

[rlee]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ortCat=nba

by John Zoni

Friday marks the 35th anniversary of the final game ever played in the American Basketball Association -- Game 6 of the 1976 ABA Finals between the New York Nets and Denver Nuggets. Coincidentally, it was also a Friday the 13th, and the league's first regular-season games were played on Friday, Oct. 13, 1967.

To celebrate the occasion and to remember the league, Page 2 tests your knowledge of the old ABA.

1: While best known as coaches, Larry Brown and Doug Moe were players on which team in the ABA's first season (1967-68)?

A. Anaheim Amigos
B. Minnesota Muskies
C. New Orleans Buccaneers
D. Pittsburgh Pipers

2: Which of these former Kentucky Colonels was the ABA's all-time leading scorer?

A. Louie Dampier
B. Artis Gilmore
C. Dan Issel
D. Maurice Lucas

3: Which of these Long Island towns was NOT home to the New York Nets during their ABA tenure?

A. Commack
B. Great Neck
C. Uniondale
D. West Hempstead

4: Announcer Bob Costas was the play-by-play voice of which ABA team?

A. Memphis Sounds
B. Miami Floridians
C. San Diego Conquistadors
D. Spirits of St. Louis

5: Which of these Indiana Pacers players was the first two-time winner of the ABA MVP award?

A. Roger Brown
B. Mel Daniels
C. Darnell Hillman
D. George McGinnis

6: Hall of Famers Julius Erving and George Gervin were teammates during the 1972-73 ABA season on which team?

A. Carolina Cougars
B. New York Nets
C. San Antonio Spurs
D. Virginia Squires

7: From 1967-74, the Denver Nuggets went by which of these monikers?

A. Colorado Lark Buntings
B. Denver Rockets
C. Denver Gold
D. Rocky Mountain Miners

8: Hall of Famer Moses Malone made his pro debut at 19 years old with which ABA team?

A. Utah Stars
B. Houston Mavericks
C. Dallas Chaparrals
D. Baltimore Claws

9: ESPN NBA analyst Hubie Brown guided which team to the 1975 ABA Championship?

A. Denver Nuggets
B. Indiana Pacers
C. Kentucky Colonels
D. San Diego Conquistadors

10: Current Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl was a player for which ABA team?

A. Virginia Squires
B. San Antonio Spurs
C. Pittsburgh Condors
D. Oakland Oaks

11: Which of these former NBA head coaches was NEVER a player for the ABA Carolina Cougars?

A. Billy Cunningham
B. Dan Issel
C. Gene Littles
D. Doug Moe

12: How many current NBA markets once had an ABA team?

A. 15
B. 16
C. 17
D. 18


Answers
1: C

2: A

3: B. Nets played at Commack Arena in Commack, Island Garden in West Hempstead and Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.

4: D

5: B

6: D

7: B

8: A

9: C

10: B

11: B. Issel played for Kentucky and Denver during his ABA career.

12: A. Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indiana, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New York-New Jersey area, New Orleans, San Antonio, Oakland-San Francisco Bay area, Utah and Washington are the NBA markets that once had ABA teams.

John Zoni is a researcher with ESPN Production Research.