The 1969–70 ABA season was the third season of the American Basketball Association. Prior to the start of the season, the Minnesota Pipers moved back to Pittsburgh, the Oakland Oaks moved to Washington, D.C., and became the Washington Caps and the Houston Mavericks moved to North Carolina and became the Carolina Cougars. For the regular-season, the schedule was increased from 78 to 84 games per team. The season ended with the Indiana Pacers capturing their first ABA Championship.
By April of 1970, rumblings of a merger were reported in the press, with one reported offer having the league pay $11 million in indemnities while agreeing to move the Washington franchise out of its location. The NBA Players Association was felt to be a stumbling block for any plans of a merger, as they had voted to strike in the event of such a merger. As it turned out, the merger would not occur until many years later.
Spencer Haywood, a rookie from the University of Detroit, led the ABA in scoring (30.0 ppg) and rebounding (19.5 rpg) for the Denver Rockets. Haywood was professional basketball's first "hardship case", leaving college after his sophomore season. The NBA prohibited him from declaring for its draft, and he signed with the Rockets instead, leading them to the Western Division championship.
Teams
Map of teams
Final standings
Eastern Division
Western Division
Asterisk (*) denotes playoff team
Bold – ABA champions
Regular season
On April 28, 1970, Spencer Haywood was named ABA MVP.
Playoffs
Awards and honors
- ABA Most Valuable Player Award: Spencer Haywood, Denver Rockets
- Rookie of the Year: Spencer Haywood, Denver Rockets
- Coach of the Year: Bill Sharman, Los Angeles Stars and Joe Belmont, Denver Rockets
- Playoffs MVP: Roger Brown, Indiana Pacers
- All-Star Game MVP: Spencer Haywood, Denver Rockets
- All-ABA First Team
- Rick Barry, Washington Caps (2nd selection)
- Spencer Haywood, Denver Rockets
- Mel Daniels, Indiana Pacers (3rd selection)
- Bob Verga, Carolina Cougars
- Larry Jones, Denver Rockets (3rd selection)
- All-ABA Second Team
- Roger Brown, Indiana Pacers (2nd selection)
- Bob Netolicky, Indiana Pacers
- Red Robbins, New Orleans Buccaneers (2nd selection)
- Louie Dampier, Kentucky Colonels (3rd selection)
- Donnie Freeman, Miami Floridians (2nd selection)
- All-ABA Rookie Team
- Mike Barrett, Washington Caps
- John Brisker, Pittsburgh Pipers
- Mack Calvin, Los Angeles Stars
- Spencer Haywood, Denver Rockets
- Willie Wise, Los Angeles Stars
Finals
References
