A Premier Thriller, a Cinderella Climb, and shocking relegations define the ABF’s first year
The American Basketball Federation’s inaugural season promised competition and drama. It delivered on both. From a photo-finish in the Premier that led to a one game playoff to a Cinderella run through the Founder’s Cup, 1976 wrote a new chapter in basketball history. A chapter rife with games that carried the weight of promotion, relegation, and legacy.
For the complete standings, visit the 1976 ABF Standings Page.
Premier League
With relegation looming at the bottom, the ABF Premier League saw an equally compelling race at the top. The race ended with a dead heat between the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets at 41-25. The two teams played a one game playoff to determine the champion. Denver relied on a nearly 80 point advantage in shooting percentage and 18 more free throw attempts to take down the Celtics and become crowned as the inaugural ABF champion.
The Nuggets, who became an ABA powerhouse under coach Larry Brown, continued that trend in the ABF Premier League. Coming off of a heartbreaking loss in last year’s ABA finals to the Nets, they entered the new league with a chip on their shoulder. With some deriding the ABA as a lesser league, they also felt like they had something to prove that the ABF is an entirely different league where any team can rise to become champion.
Meanwhile, Boston, NBA blueblood and last year’s NBA champion also wanted to show that the NBA, as the older and more established league, would rule the ABF for the foreseeable future. While they ultimately fell short in that goal, it gives them fuel to motivate them next year. After only one year, a new rivalry is born at the top of the ABF.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the Premier League table, three teams saw their Premier League dreams postponed. The Kentucky Colonels, San Antonio Spurs, and Indiana Pacers all became the first teams to relegate to the Championship League. They will need to adjust their rosters and strategies to compete in the new league and prove that they belong in the Premier. The battle does not end with this relegation. Instead, it now becomes a way to show their versatility and resilience. Fans of these teams, don’t fret. They still play among basketball legends and promise to deliver an exciting season in 1977.
Champions League
Two teams that rise to take their place are the Buffalo Braves and Philadelphia 76ers. They finished within one game of each other to earn their spots in the Premier League. The goal now becomes to tweak their rosters and strategies to compete and prove that they belong in the elite competition of the Premier League. The Championship tournament to promote the third team saw blowouts in the first round (Cleveland over Kansas City 83-61 and Houston over Atlanta 93-85) before Houston edged Cleveland in the deciding game 94-91 to earn the third promotion spot.
The Portland Trailblazers, Spirits of St. Louis, and Detroit Pistons all found themselves relegated to the Founder’s Cup. This gives these teams a chance to reassess and reapply their principles in a new environment for a chance to rejoin the Championship and make another push for promotion to the Premier League. The relegation, rather than a sign of failure, should be seen as an opportunity for the teams to show their resilience and versatility in a different competitive environment.
Founder’s Cup
The ABF’s third tier saw dominance at the top. The Oklahoma City Stampede lived up to their name, rushing to a 17-3 record with a 9 game winning streak to end the season. Their three game lead over the second place Baltimore Ravens was the largest of any tier leader. Baltimore, another new market for professional basketball earned their spot at the Champions League table. Two teams with losing records, the Memphis Sounds and Mid Atlantic Monarchs went into a single elimination playoff with th 10th ranked team in the Championship, Portland. Memphis edged Mid-Atlantic 66-65 in their match and then shocked Portland 91-85 behind lights out shooting to take their place in the Championship.
The Big Picture
The inaugural ABF season provided proof of concept. The pyramid worked. Underdogs rose and giants fell. Some teams cemented their legacy with championships and promotions. Others saw an opportunity to write a new chapter in their legacy by succeeding in an entirely new environment. All three tiers provided drama through playoffs, tournaments, and close races right to the end. Thank you for joining us for this season and we look forward to bringing you much more entertainment in the future.
Looking Ahead
Speaking of the future, 1977 comes with several questions:
- Can Denver repeat?
- How long does the Celtics dynasty have left?
- Will Kentucky, San Antonio, or Indiana bounce back?
- Does OKC have what it takes to get promoted twice in two years, perhaps setting an impossible standard?
- Who among the promoted Champions League teams can remain to compete for the Premier League title?
Links: 1976 Standings | Team Directory | About the ABF