1974 ABA Championship

Lore & Background

The Nets were established in 1967 as a charter franchise of the ABA. They played in New Jersey as the New Jersey Americans during their first season, before relocating to Long Island, New York, in 1968 and changing their name to the New York Nets. During this time, the Nets won two ABA championships (1974 and 1976), led by Hall of Famer Julius Erving.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Nassau Coliseum was thick with anticipation, smelling of popcorn and sweat as Game 7 loomed. Julius Erving stood at the free-throw line, the crowd a roar of blue and white jerseys. He didn't just shoot; he commanded the court. With seconds ticking down and the score knotted, he drove past two defenders, launching into the air with a gravity-defying leap that seemed to pause time itself. The net swished, sealing the ABA Championship for New York.

Reader's Guide

The 1974 ABA championship was the first of two titles won by the New York Nets in the ABA. The team was led by Julius Erving, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Nets later joined the NBA as part of the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.

Did You Know?

• The Nets won two ABA championships (1974 and 1976), both led by Hall of Famer Julius Erving.
• The team was originally the New Jersey Americans before moving to Long Island and becoming the New York Nets in 1968.