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1975-76 ABA Season Summary

Previous Season

League Champion: New York Nets

Most Valuable Player: Julius Erving (29.3/11.0/5.0)
Rookie of the Year: David Thompson (26.0/6.3/3.7)

PPG Leader: Julius Erving (29.3)
RPG Leader: Artis Gilmore (15.5)
APG Leader: Don Buse (8.2)
WS Leader: Julius Erving (17.7)

League Standings

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*)
Team W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G SRS
Denver Nuggets* 60 24 .714 — 121.9 115.9 5.46
New York Nets* 55 29 .655 5.0 111.8 108.8 2.56
San Antonio Spurs* 50 34 .595 10.0 115.6 111.5 3.83
Kentucky Colonels* 46 38 .548 14.0 111.0 110.2 0.51
Indiana Pacers* 39 45 .464 21.0 112.6 112.9 0.30
Spirits of St. Louis 35 49 .417 25.0 108.9 112.1 -3.09
San Diego Sails 3 8 .273 20.5 98.8 103.5 -5.33
Utah Stars 4 12 .250 22.0 114.9 116.6 -1.95
Virginia Squires 15 68 .181 44.5 106.9 116.6 -8.62

League Playoffs

Click series name to show/hide game results
Finals (4-2): New York Nets over Denver Nuggets
 
Semifinals (4-3): Denver Nuggets over Kentucky Colonels
Semifinals (4-3): New York Nets over San Antonio Spurs
 
First Round (2-1): Kentucky Colonels over Indiana Pacers

Team Stats

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*)
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS PTS/G
1 Denver Nuggets* 84 20310 4059 8036 .505 41 178 .230 2078 2667 .779 1311 2776 4087 2442 891 539 1755 1988 10237 121.9
2 San Antonio Spurs* 84 20310 3888 7945 .489 26 130 .200 1905 2342 .813 1305 2927 4232 2146 759 583 1576 2032 9707 115.6
3 Utah Stars 16 3915 715 1498 .477 23 72 .319 386 467 .827 265 516 781 378 112 39 292 468 1839 114.9
4 Indiana Pacers* 84 20335 3735 8525 .438 250 771 .324 1740 2253 .772 1612 2740 4352 2087 941 459 1452 1981 9460 112.6
5 New York Nets* 84 20385 3752 8148 .460 111 372 .298 1775 2333 .761 1493 2750 4243 1817 913 522 1529 2209 9390 111.8
6 Kentucky Colonels* 84 20435 3756 8000 .470 111 331 .335 1703 2313 .736 1465 2897 4362 2068 664 526 1695 2257 9326 111.0
7 Spirits of St. Louis 84 20460 3790 8177 .463 66 243 .272 1500 1985 .756 1477 2811 4288 1987 911 541 1667 2147 9146 108.9
8 Virginia Squires 83 20120 3431 7844 .437 72 274 .263 1939 2533 .765 1465 2455 3920 1724 830 361 1756 2142 8873 106.9
9 San Diego Sails 11 2640 432 1020 .424 6 24 .250 217 278 .781 202 348 550 215 72 66 196 253 1087 98.8
League Average 68 16546 3062 6577 .466 78 266 .295 1471 1908 .771 1177 2247 3424 1652 677 404 1324 1720 7674 112.5

Opponent Stats

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*)
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS PTS/G
1 San Diego Sails 11 2640 446 997 .447 12 31 .387 234 305 .767 176 360 536 255 107 53 185 273 1138 103.5
2 New York Nets* 84 20385 3552 7837 .453 108 362 .298 1930 2515 .767 1434 2853 4287 1986 826 533 1716 2032 9142 108.8
3 Kentucky Colonels* 84 20435 3581 8022 .446 87 287 .303 2004 2581 .776 1449 2719 4168 1901 791 423 1522 2132 9253 110.2
4 San Antonio Spurs* 84 20310 3760 8111 .464 122 419 .291 1720 2254 .763 1307 2628 3935 2036 822 457 1475 2141 9362 111.5
5 Spirits of St. Louis 84 20460 3714 7986 .465 89 329 .271 1899 2384 .797 1403 2749 4152 1971 834 502 1603 1888 9416 112.1
6 Indiana Pacers* 84 20335 3869 8132 .476 63 224 .281 1679 2156 .779 1501 3103 4604 2139 744 494 1740 2060 9480 112.9
7 Denver Nuggets* 84 20310 4027 8683 .464 113 418 .270 1567 2061 .760 1662 2578 4240 2133 952 485 1763 2287 9734 115.9
8 Utah Stars 16 3915 740 1520 .487 20 63 .317 366 478 .766 261 481 742 429 100 86 270 461 1866 116.6
9 Virginia Squires 83 20120 3869 7905 .489 92 262 .351 1844 2437 .757 1402 2749 4151 2014 917 603 1644 2203 9674 116.6
League Average 68 16546 3062 6577 .466 78 266 .295 1471 1908 .771 1177 2247 3424 1652 677 404 1324 1720 7674 112.5

Miscellaneous Stats

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*)
Offense Four Factors Defense Four Factors
Rk Team Age PW PL MOV SOS SRS ORtg DRtg Pace eFG% TOV% ORB% FT/FGA eFG% TOV% DRB% FT/FGA Arena Attendance
1 Denver Nuggets* 25.4 56 28 5.99 -0.54 5.46 108.7 103.4 111.2 .508 16.0 33.7 .259 .470 15.5 62.6 .180 McNichols Sports Arena
2 San Antonio Spurs* 24.5 52 32 4.11 -0.28 3.83 107.5 103.6 106.8 .491 14.9 33.2 .240 .471 13.9 69.1 .212 HemisFair Arena
3 New York Nets* 25.4 50 34 2.95 -0.39 2.56 104.4 101.7 105.9 .467 14.3 34.4 .218 .460 16.1 65.7 .246 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4 Kentucky Colonels* 26.2 44 40 0.87 -0.36 0.51 103.5 102.7 105.8 .476 15.8 35.0 .213 .452 14.3 66.7 .250 Freedom Hall
5 Indiana Pacers* 24.7 41 43 -0.24 0.54 0.30 103.7 103.9 107.7 .453 13.2 34.2 .204 .480 16.1 64.6 .206 Market Square Arena
6 Utah Stars 26.9 7 9 -1.69 -0.26 -1.95 108.8 110.4 103.6 .485 14.6 35.5 .258 .493 13.5 66.4 .241 Salt Palace
7 Spirits of St. Louis 25.8 34 50 -3.21 0.13 -3.09 101.5 104.5 105.7 .468 15.6 35.0 .183 .471 15.1 66.7 .238 St. Louis Arena
8 San Diego Sails 24.9 4 7 -4.64 -0.69 -5.33 98.5 103.1 100.3 .426 14.6 35.9 .213 .453 14.1 66.4 .235 San Diego Sports Arena
9 Virginia Squires 25.6 19 64 -9.65 1.05 -8.62 99.0 107.9 106.9 .442 16.4 34.8 .247 .495 15.5 63.7 .233 Norfolk Scope
League Average 25.3 34 34 0.00 0.00 0.00 104.1 104.1 106.9 .472 15.2 34.4 .224 .472 15.2 65.6 .224

League Leaders

Rate statistic requirements
Minutes Played
1. Don Buse-INA 3380
2. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 3286
3. Julius Erving*-NYA 3244
4. Ralph Simpson-DNA 3121
5. James Silas-SAA 3112
Field Goals
1. Julius Erving*-NYA 949
2. David Thompson*-DNA 807
3. Billy Knight-INA 774
4. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 773
5. Dan Issel*-DNA 752
Field Goal Attempts
1. Julius Erving*-NYA 1873
2. David Thompson*-DNA 1567
  Billy Knight-INA 1567
4. Dan Issel*-DNA 1472
5. Ron Boone-TOT 1467
3-Pt Field Goals
1. Bill Keller-INA 123
2. Don Buse-INA 72
3. Johnny Neumann-TOT 71
4. Bird Averitt-KEN 40
5. Julius Erving*-NYA 34
3-Pt Field Goal Attempts
1. Bill Keller-INA 349
2. Johnny Neumann-TOT 208
  Don Buse-INA 208
4. Bird Averitt-KEN 128
5. Freddie Lewis-SSL 106
Free Throws
1. James Silas-SAA 564
2. David Thompson*-DNA 541
3. Julius Erving*-NYA 530
4. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 521
5. Dan Issel*-DNA 425
Free Throw Attempts
1. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 764
2. David Thompson*-DNA 681
3. Julius Erving*-NYA 662
4. James Silas-SAA 647
5. Dan Issel*-DNA 521
Offensive Rebounds
1. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 402
2. Kim Hughes-NYA 341
3. Julius Erving*-NYA 337
4. Dan Issel*-DNA 303
5. Maurice Lucas-TOT 297
Defensive Rebounds
1. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 901
2. Maurice Lucas-TOT 673
3. Billy Paultz-SAA 652
4. Dan Issel*-DNA 620
5. Larry Kenon-SAA 610
Total Rebounds
1. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 1303
2. Maurice Lucas-TOT 970
3. Julius Erving*-NYA 925
4. Dan Issel*-DNA 923
5. Larry Kenon-SAA 897
Assists
1. Don Buse-INA 689
2. Ralph Simpson-DNA 597
3. Louie Dampier-KEN 467
4. James Silas-SAA 452
5. Julius Erving*-NYA 423
Steals
1. Don Buse-INA 346
2. Julius Erving*-NYA 207
3. Fatty Taylor-VIR 206
4. Bobby Jones-DNA 170
5. James Silas-SAA 155
Blocks
1. Billy Paultz-SAA 253
2. Caldwell Jones-TOT 218
3. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 205
4. Bobby Jones-DNA 184
5. Len Elmore-INA 178
Turnovers
1. Ralph Simpson-DNA 360
2. Julius Erving*-NYA 307
3. Billy Knight-INA 299
4. Maurice Lucas-TOT 298
5. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 295
Personal Fouls
1. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 341
2. Maurice Lucas-TOT 332
3. Wil Jones-KEN 326
4. Caldwell Jones-TOT 321
5. Len Elmore-INA 310
Points
1. Julius Erving*-NYA 2462
2. David Thompson*-DNA 2158
3. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 2067
4. James Silas-SAA 2000
5. Billy Knight-INA 1969
Field Goal Pct
1. Bobby Jones-DNA .581
2. Artis Gilmore*-KEN .552
3. Kim Hughes-NYA .530
4. James Silas-SAA .519
5. Byron Beck-DNA .517
3-Pt Field Goal Pct
1. Brian Taylor-NYA .421
2. Louie Dampier-KEN .368
3. Bill Keller-INA .352
4. Don Buse-INA .346
5. Johnny Neumann-TOT .341
Free Throw Pct
1. Mack Calvin-VIR .888
2. James Silas-SAA .872
3. Ron Boone-TOT .871
4. George Gervin*-SAA .857
5. Dave Robisch-TOT .850
Minutes Per Game
1. Don Buse-INA 40.2
2. Billy Knight-INA 39.6
3. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 39.1
4. Julius Erving*-NYA 38.6
5. Ron Boone-TOT 38.0
Points Per Game
1. Julius Erving*-NYA 29.3
2. Billy Knight-INA 28.1
3. David Thompson*-DNA 26.0
4. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 24.6
5. Marvin Barnes-SSL 24.1
Rebounds Per Game
1. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 15.5
2. Maurice Lucas-TOT 11.3
3. Caldwell Jones-TOT 11.2
4. Larry Kenon-SAA 11.1
5. Julius Erving*-NYA 11.0
Assists Per Game
1. Don Buse-INA 8.2
2. Ralph Simpson-DNA 7.1
3. Mack Calvin-VIR 6.0
4. Louie Dampier-KEN 5.7
5. James Silas-SAA 5.4
Steals Per Game
1. Don Buse-INA 4.1
2. Fatty Taylor-VIR 2.7
3. Julius Erving*-NYA 2.5
4. Brian Taylor-NYA 2.3
5. Bobby Jones-DNA 2.0
Blocks Per Game
1. Billy Paultz-SAA 3.0
2. Caldwell Jones-TOT 2.9
3. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 2.4
4. Len Elmore-INA 2.3
5. Bobby Jones-DNA 2.2
Player Efficiency Rating
1. Julius Erving*-NYA 28.7
2. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 23.5
3. Dan Issel*-DNA 21.8
4. Marvin Barnes-SSL 21.6
5. James Silas-SAA 21.2
True Shooting Pct
1. Bobby Jones-DNA .609
2. James Silas-SAA .599
3. Artis Gilmore*-KEN .595
4. David Thompson*-DNA .578
5. Julius Erving*-NYA .569
Effective Field Goal Pct
1. Bobby Jones-DNA .581
2. Artis Gilmore*-KEN .552
3. Kim Hughes-NYA .530
4. Byron Beck-DNA .521
5. James Silas-SAA .519
Offensive Rebound Pct
1. Kim Hughes-NYA 14.8
2. Swen Nater-TOT 12.1
3. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 12.0
4. Dan Issel*-DNA 11.1
5. Mike Green-VIR 10.9
Defensive Rebound Pct
1. Swen Nater-TOT 30.1
2. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 25.8
3. Randy Denton-TOT 23.3
4. Maurice Lucas-TOT 22.5
5. Caldwell Jones-TOT 22.1
Total Rebound Pct
1. Swen Nater-TOT 20.8
2. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 19.0
3. Kim Hughes-NYA 17.1
4. Randy Denton-TOT 16.8
5. Maurice Lucas-TOT 16.3
Assist Pct
1. Don Buse-INA 25.5
2. Mack Calvin-VIR 24.5
3. Ralph Simpson-DNA 23.9
4. Louie Dampier-KEN 21.7
5. Fatty Taylor-VIR 21.4
Steal Pct
1. Don Buse-INA 4.6
2. Fatty Taylor-VIR 3.7
3. Brian Taylor-NYA 3.3
4. Ted McClain-TOT 3.2
5. Mike Gale-SAA 3.1
Block Pct
1. Billy Paultz-SAA 4.5
2. Caldwell Jones-TOT 4.4
3. Len Elmore-INA 3.5
4. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 3.3
5. Bobby Jones-DNA 3.2
Turnover Pct
1. Dave Robisch-TOT 8.6
2. Dan Issel*-DNA 10.5
3. Randy Denton-TOT 10.9
4. Rich Jones-NYA 11.1
5. Ticky Burden-VIR 11.4
Usage Pct
1. Julius Erving*-NYA 29.0
2. Johnny Neumann-TOT 28.7
3. Billy Knight-INA 27.9
4. Bird Averitt-KEN 27.7
5. Ticky Burden-VIR 27.4
Offensive Rating
1. James Silas-SAA 118.8
2. Don Buse-INA 116.7
3. Dan Issel*-DNA 116.4
4. David Thompson*-DNA 116.0
5. Julius Erving*-NYA 115.8
Defensive Rating
1. Julius Erving*-NYA 97.5
2. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 98.0
3. Kim Hughes-NYA 98.1
4. Len Elmore-INA 98.6
5. Bobby Jones-DNA 98.9
Offensive Win Shares
1. Julius Erving*-NYA 11.7
2. James Silas-SAA 10.5
3. David Thompson*-DNA 9.5
4. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 9.2
5. Dan Issel*-DNA 8.6
Defensive Win Shares
1. Julius Erving*-NYA 6.0
2. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 5.8
3. Bobby Jones-DNA 4.8
4. Don Buse-INA 4.6
5. Len Elmore-INA 4.4
Win Shares
1. Julius Erving*-NYA 17.7
2. Artis Gilmore*-KEN 15.1
3. James Silas-SAA 13.1
4. Dan Issel*-DNA 12.5
5. David Thompson*-DNA 12.4
Win Shares Per 48 Minutes
1. Julius Erving*-NYA .262
2. Artis Gilmore*-KEN .220
3. Dan Issel*-DNA .209
4. James Silas-SAA .202
5. David Thompson*-DNA .193