The ABA was conceived at a time stretching from 1960 through the mid-1970s when numerous upstart leagues were challenging, with varying degrees of success.  The ABA distinguished itself from its older counterpart, the NBA, with a more wide-open, flashy style of offensive play, as well as differences in rules such as a 30-second shot and use of a three-point field goal, pioneered in the earlier ABL.  The style of the ABA eventually caught on with fans, but the lack of a national television contract and protracted financial losses would spell doom for the ABA as an independent circuit. In 1976, its last year of existence, the ABA pioneered the now-popular Slam Dunk Contest at its All-Star Game in Denver.

The League did produce several future NBA greats such as Julius Erving, Moses Malone, George Gervin, Ralph Simpson, Marvin Barnes, Mack Calvin, and James Silas all who have signed this colorful Official ABA Game Ball.  The use of a colorful red, white and blue ball, instead of the NBA's traditional orange ball was one of the ABA’s flashy techniques to grow the leagues interest.  Other ABA players who also signed this ball include Rick Darnell, Jumbo Jim Eakins, Mack Calvin and several others.  The ball in total includes 25 ABA players signatures and is in overall excellent condition.  Only minor fading is present on the signatures on the white panels while all other black sharpie signatures have a bold appearance ranging in condition from 8-10.  This item comes with a LOA from JSA. 

Please note that this lot has a 25% Buyer’s Premium (28% if payment is made using a credit card and/or is not paid within 10 days of invoice). Goldin Auctions will be donating 5% of the winning bid price to The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

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