The American Basketball Association Collection from Royal Retros celebrates the full legacy of the ABA, the revolutionary professional basketball league that operated from 1967 to 1976 and forever changed the sport. Known for its red, white, and blue basketball, its fast pace, high scoring, three-point shot, above-the-rim athleticism, and flamboyant style, the ABA became the birthplace of modern basketball. Its teams, players, coaches, and identities pushed the sport forward, creating a legacy that still defines basketball today. This collection honors the full history of the league and every franchise that contributed to its personality, innovation, creativity, and explosive on-court product.
The ABA produced some of the greatest basketball players in history, including Julius Erving, George Gervin, Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, David Thompson, Spencer Haywood, Connie Hawkins, Roger Brown, Mel Daniels, James Silas, Maurice Lucas, Rick Barry, Larry Kenon, Freddie Lewis, Louie Dampier, and Moses Malone. These athletes became pioneers of the modern game. The league showcased unbelievable athleticism and creativity at a time when the NBA was conservative and grounded. The ABA gave young stars the freedom to improvise, dunk, shoot from deep, and entertain — years before the NBA embraced those same traits. The ABA’s spirit still lives inside modern basketball culture, from streetball to the All-Star Game to the spacing-focused pro game seen today.
The Indiana Pacers were the ABA’s dynasty franchise, winning three championships behind the brilliance of Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, Freddie Lewis, Bob Netolicky, and later George McGinnis. Their fanbase remained one of the most loyal in the league, and their high-intensity, physical style matched perfectly with the ABA’s competitive environment. The Kentucky Colonels were another powerhouse, led by Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, Louie Dampier, and coach Hubie Brown. The Colonels built one of the deepest rosters in pro basketball history and won the 1975 ABA championship. The New York Nets became a marquee franchise thanks to the electrifying Julius Erving, whose athletic dominance and charisma made him the ABA’s most iconic star and led the Nets to two championships.
The Denver Nuggets developed into one of the league’s strongest teams in its later years, featuring David Thompson, Dan Issel, Bobby Jones, and coach Larry Brown. Their high-flying offense helped define the sport’s pace-and-space evolution. The San Antonio Spurs built their identity through the scoring brilliance of George Gervin, James Silas, and Larry Kenon. Their enduring success after the ABA–NBA merger remains one of the league’s biggest legacies. The Spirits of St. Louis became famous for their spectacular roster of young talent, including Marvin Barnes, Maurice Lucas, Caldwell Jones, and announcer Bob Costas in his early career. Their on-court drama and flair made them one of the most memorable franchises in ABA lore.
The Utah Stars, originally the Los Angeles Stars, became champions in 1971 behind stars like Zelmo Beaty, Willie Wise, Ron Boone, and Red Robbins. The franchise had some of the most passionate fans in the league and delivered consistent high-level basketball. The Memphis Sounds, formerly the Memphis Pros, represented the league in Tennessee and featured players like Larry Kenon and Tom Owens. The Carolina Cougars built a strong regional fanbase across multiple North Carolina cities and featured stars such as Joe Caldwell, Billy Cunningham, and Mack Calvin. The Dallas Chaparrals, one of the league’s charter members, later became the San Antonio Spurs and helped lay the foundation for the modern Texas basketball culture.
The Virginia Squires fielded a roster of future legends, including Julius Erving, George Gervin, Charlie Scott, and Dave Twardzik. Their ability to develop young stars made them critical to the ABA’s talent pipeline. The Pittsburgh Condors, formerly the Pipers, won the 1968 ABA championship behind Connie Hawkins, one of the most gifted players of his generation. Hawkins’s combination of size, skill, and grace made him one of the first true modern-style basketball superstars. The Miami Floridians, known for their unique branding and bright uniforms, brought professional basketball to Florida long before the NBA arrived. The Minnesota Muskies, who later became the Miami Floridians, showcased ABA talent such as Mel Daniels during the league’s early years.
The Oakland Oaks won the 1969 ABA championship with Rick Barry and Warren Jabali, representing one of the league’s strongest short-lived franchises. The Washington Caps, formerly the Oaks, contributed to the ABA’s growing national presence. The Anaheim Amigos, one of the league’s earliest experimental franchises, laid the groundwork for the west-coast development of the league. The New Orleans Buccaneers reached the first ABA Finals behind Red Robbins, Larry Brown, Jimmy Jones, and Doug Moe, contributing early legitimacy to the league’s competition level.
The league also featured franchises such as the San Diego Conquistadors (later the San Diego Sails), coached at times by NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain during a comeback attempt; the Memphis Tams and Memphis Pros, known for their brief tenure and bright branding; and historic short-run teams such as the Baltimore Claws, Houston Mavericks, and the Consolidated Denver Rockets identity before becoming the Nuggets. Each team added unique personality to the league, contributing to the ABA’s cultural richness.
The ABA’s innovations changed basketball forever: the three-point line, the modern dunk-centric style, the use of athletic wings as primary stars, flashy uniforms, lively entertainment, cheer squads, pregame music, and a faster offensive pace. Its players, coaches, and ideas reshaped the evolution of the NBA after the 1976 merger. The league’s colorful identity, creative logos, and unforgettable team names make it one of the most visually iconic leagues in sports history.
The Royal Retros ABA Collection honors every franchise and era of the American Basketball Association through designs inspired by original team aesthetics, bold color palettes, classic typography, and dynamic vintage logos. Modern fabrics, sublimated graphics, and streetwear-driven fits bring these historic looks into today’s fashion culture. Whether your connection is to the Nets, Colonels, Nuggets, Pacers, Spurs, Squires, Stars, Pipers, Buccaneers, Conquistadors, Cougars, Chaparrals, Spirits, or any of the league’s many unique franchises, this collection captures the spirit of the league that brought flair, creativity, and excitement to professional basketball.
The ABA’s legacy is visible in every dunk, every deep three, and every highlight-reel moment in today’s game. The Royal Retros ABA Collection is the deepest tribute available anywhere to the league that changed basketball forever.