1976 ABA Finals MVP

Lore & Background

The club was established in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association (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 1976, the ABA merged with the NBA and four ABA teams were absorbed (Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs). In 1977, the team returned to New Jersey and played as the New Jersey Nets from 1977 to 2012. Led by star point guard Jason Kidd, the Nets reached consecutive NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, but failed to win a championship. In the summer of 2012, the team moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

In Their Own Story

The lights at Nassau Coliseum hummed with electricity as the crowd roared into double overtime. Julius Erving stood on the court, jersey dampened by sweat, breathing heavily after another contested rebound. The scoreboard flickered above, a testament to the grueling battle against Denver. He wiped his brow and looked toward the bench, knowing this was it—the final chapter of the ABA. With one last pass setting up the winning shot, he raised his arms, silencing the noise with pure triumph.

Reader's Guide

The 1976 ABA Finals were won by the New York Nets in six games. The series did not go to a seventh game. Game 6 was not a double-overtime game; the source does not specify whether it ended in regulation or single overtime. The Nets were led by Hall of Famer Julius Erving.

Did You Know?

• The Nets won two ABA championships (1974 and 1976), both led by Hall of Famer Julius Erving.
• The 1976 ABA Finals ended in six games, not seven.
• Game 6 of the 1976 ABA Finals was not a double-overtime game; the source does not provide details on the length of the game.