All-Time ABA All-Star Team
From 1967-1976, the ABA co-existed alongside the NBA, drawing quite a few talented players into itself. The league was founded with the intention of competing with the NBA in the short term until the two entities could merge into one league with an explosion of talent.
With a 30-second shot clock and a three-point line, the ABA wanted to emphasize flashy play. The players jumped high, the colorful ball stood out and the points filled up scoreboards.
Unfortunately, many players of the now defunct league are overlooked historically. Let's try to change that.
Read on for the all-time ABA All-Star Team.
Starting Point Guard: Mack Calvin
1 of 6Years in ABA: 1969-1976
Teams: Los Angeles Stars, The Floridians, Carolina Cougars, Denver Nuggets, Virginia Squires
ABA Per-Game Stats: 19.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists
Accolades: Five-time All-Star, Two-time All-ABA
Before his four seasons in the NBA and after his collegiate career at the University of Southern California, Mack Calvin went a from 14th-round pick in the NBA draft to a complete stud in the ABA.
Second on the ABA's all-time assist list, Calvin started his career off with a bang, averaging 16.8 points per game and making the All-Rookie team. The next season he averaged a career-high 27.2 points per game with The Floridians. He never reached that pace again, but he still managed to have quite a few stellar seasons.
Starting Shooting Guard: Warren Jabali
2 of 6Years in ABA: 1968-1975
Teams: Oakland Oaks, Washington Capitols, Indiana Pacers, The Floridians, Denver Rockets, San Diego Conquistadors
ABA Per-Game Stats: 17.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists
Accolades: Four-time All-Star, One-time All-ABA, One-time ABA Champion
Originally named Warren Edward Armstrong, Warren Jabali changed his last name during his collegiate career at Wichita State in order to shine a light on his African roots. Jabali means "rock" in Swahili.
A great defender and ridiculous athlete, Jabali was quite highly thought of by his peers. Rick Barry, a great player in his own right, once said:
""He's unbelievable. As a guard, he's in a class by himself. I've never seen a player his size with so much strength. As great as Oscar Robertson is, well, he couldn't come close to matching Armstrong in jumping and rebounding. Nobody can. He can out-jump and out-score the Warriors' Al Attles. He's stronger than I am; stronger than Robertson. He's so powerful that even at 6-foot-2, he can come in and rebound with 6-foot-7 forwards. And you should see him drive into the basket. No doubt he's one of the best guards I've ever played with, or against. Just wait till he gets more experience. Nobody will be able to stop him."
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Starting Small Forward: Julius Erving
3 of 6Years in ABA: 1971-1976
Teams: Virginia Squires, New York Nets
ABA Per-Game Stats: 28.7 points, 12.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists
Accolades: Three-time MVP, Five-time All-Star, Five-time All-ABA, One-time All-Defensive, Two-time ABA Champion
What can you say about Julius Erving that will do him justice?
Dr. J revolutionized basketball with his high-flying above-the-rim style of the play that really came to define the more showy ABA.
With two championships, three MVP awards and stats that soared as high as 31.9 points per game, Erving may very well have been the best player in the history of the ABA.
Starting Power Forward: Dan Issel
4 of 6Years in ABA: 1970-1976
Teams: Kentucky Colonels, Denver Nuggets
ABA Per-Game Stats: 25.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Accolades: Six-time All-Star, Five-time All-ABA, One-time Champion
Now a Hall-of-Famer, thanks to his contributions in both the ABA and the NBA, Dan Issel enjoyed a stellar career under Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky before getting to stay at home with the ABA's Kentucky Colonels.
His career started off with a bang as he averaged 29.9 points per game during his rookie season in 1971, one that ended with him earning the elusive title of Rookie of the Year. Incredibly enough, that scoring average was good enough to lead the ABA in scoring.
Issel wasn't done yet. He improved to 30.6 points per game during his sophomore campaign and never looked back. His ABA career is absolutely unforgettable.
Starting Center: Mel Daniels
5 of 6Years in ABA: 1967-1975
Teams: Minnesota Muskies, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Sounds
ABA Per-Game Stats: 18.7 points, 15.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Accolades: Two-time MVP, Seven-time All-Star, Five-time All-ABA, Three-time Champion
One of only four players to have his number retired by the Indiana Pacers, Mel Daniels spent all but one year of his stellar professional basketball career in the ABA.
The 1968 Rookie of the Year spent only his first season with the Minnesota Muskies before he was traded to the Pacers. He left an unbelievably big mark in the record books of that franchise, winning three championships and two MVP awards in just five seasons of play.
Daniels, who is somehow absent from the halls of basketball's Hall of Fame, is the league's all-time leader in total rebounds.
Bench
6 of 6Guard: George Gervin
The Iceman might be more famous for being a four-time scoring champion in the NBA, but he enjoyed a pretty remarkable ABA career as well. Gervin was a three-time ABA All-Star and averaged 21.9 points per game during his time in the league.
Guard: David Thompson
As good as the Hall of Famer named Skywalker was, he only spent a single season in the ABA. During that 1975-1976 rookie season with the Denver Nuggets, the man with the supposed 48-inch vertical leap averaged 26.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Those numbers were good enough for him to be named Rookie of the Year, make the All-Star Team and find himself on the All-ABA Second Team.
Forward: Jimmy Jones
Jimmy Jones was originally drafted 13th overall by the Baltimore Bullets in 1967 after he played college ball at Grambling State. But because Earl Monroe was already established with the Bullets, Jones chose to instead join the ABA. The decision worked out quite well for him as he averaged 19.2 points, 5.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game while making six All-Star squads.
Forward: Connie Hawkins
The Hawk made his mark in too many places to truly be associated with just one. A Rucker Park legend, Hawkins managed to leave his name in the records of the ABL, ABA, NBA and even with the Harlem Globetrotters. Because of a point shaving incident, Hawkins was banned from playing in the NBA at the start of his career and instead played in the ABL and then the ABA. He spent two seasons in the latter league, winning the MVP regular seasons and postseason award in his first championship-winning season.
Forward: Billy Cunningham
Billy Cunningham is known mostly for his unforgettable seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, including the 1967 season when he won the NBA Championship alongside Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer and Chet Walker. But he also spent two seasons in the ABA with the Carolina Cougars. After his first season in the league, one which saw him average 24.1 points, 12.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists, he was named MVP. His second season was limited by injury.
Center: Spencer Haywood
Spencer Haywood spent only one season in the ABA, but damn was it an incredible one. In his first professional season, Haywood played for the Denver Rockets and led the league in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 30.0 points and 19.5 rebounds per game. He was both the Rookie of the Year and the MVP.
Center: Artis Gilmore
It's really a shame that Artis Gilmore has to be blocked by Mel Daniels, because he really deserves to be a starter on this team. Gilmore won an MVP award and was an All-Star in each of his five seasons, deservedly so. He averaged 22.3 points and 17.1 rebounds per game during his time in the league.
Adam Fromal is a syndicated writer and Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
