1976 ABA All-Star Game
Encyclopedia
GAME 9: at McNichols Arena, Denver, Colorado
, January 27, 1976
MVP: David Thompson
, Denver Nuggets
Coaches:
In the 1976 ABA All Star Game, the league abandoned the usual East vs. West format it used from the 1967-68 season onward and instead had the league's first place team at the All Star break face off against a team of ABA All Stars. At the All Star break the Denver Nuggets
were in first place, which was convenient as the Nuggets had also been selected to host the game in McNichols Arena. (The Nuggets went on to finish the regular season in first place at 60-24 (.714), but after beating the Kentucky Colonels
4 games to 3 in the ABA Semifinals
the Nuggets lost in the 1976 ABA Finals to the New York Nets, 4 games to 2.)
Pre-game entertainment was provided by Glen Campbell
and Charlie Rich
.
Halftime of the All Star Game saw the first-ever Slam Dunk Contest
, which was won by Julius Erving
of the New York Nets (who took off from the free throw line for his dunk) over David Thompson
of the Denver Nuggets, Artis Gilmore
of the Kentucky Colonels
, George Gervin
of the San Antonio Spurs
and Larry Kenon
of the Spurs.. The NBA later adopted the Slam Dunk Contest as part of its All Star Game starting in 1984 (also hosted by the Denver Nuggets).
Denver's 52 fourth quarter points was a record for an ABA All Star Game and capped a ferocious comeback win.
This was the final ABA All Star Game, due to the ABA-NBA merger
in June 1976.
|- bgcolor="#dddddd"
|Score by Periods:|| 1||2||3||4||Final
|-
|| Denver || 32 || 23 || 37 || 52 || 144
|-
|| All-Stars || 31 || 25 || 41 || 41 || 138
|-
|}
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, January 27, 1976
MVP: David Thompson
David Thompson (basketball)
David O'Neil Thompson is a former American professional basketball star with the Denver Nuggets of both the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association , as well as the Seattle SuperSonics...
, Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
Coaches:
- All-Stars: Kevin LougheryKevin LougheryKevin Michael Loughery is an American former professional basketball player and coach.-Career Biography:...
, New York Nets - Denver: Larry BrownLarry Brown (basketball)Lawrence Harvey "Larry" Brown is an American basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....
, Denver Nuggets
In the 1976 ABA All Star Game, the league abandoned the usual East vs. West format it used from the 1967-68 season onward and instead had the league's first place team at the All Star break face off against a team of ABA All Stars. At the All Star break the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
were in first place, which was convenient as the Nuggets had also been selected to host the game in McNichols Arena. (The Nuggets went on to finish the regular season in first place at 60-24 (.714), but after beating the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
4 games to 3 in the ABA Semifinals
1976 ABA Playoffs
The 1976 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the American Basketball Association's 1975-1976 season. The tournament concluded with the New York Nets defeating the Denver Nuggets four games to two in the ABA Finals....
the Nuggets lost in the 1976 ABA Finals to the New York Nets, 4 games to 2.)
Pre-game entertainment was provided by Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
and Charlie Rich
Charlie Rich
Charles Rich was an American country music singer and musician. A Grammy Award winner, his eclectic-style of music was often hard to classify in a single genre, playing in the rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, and gospel genres.In the latter part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname The Silver...
.
Halftime of the All Star Game saw the first-ever Slam Dunk Contest
Slam Dunk Contest
The Slam Dunk Contest is an annual National Basketball Association competition held during the NBA All-Star Weekend. The contest was inaugurated by the American Basketball Association at its All-Star Game in 1976 in Denver, the same year the slam dunk was legalized in the NCAA...
, which was won by Julius Erving
Julius Erving
Julius Winfield Erving II , commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim....
of the New York Nets (who took off from the free throw line for his dunk) over David Thompson
David Thompson (basketball)
David O'Neil Thompson is a former American professional basketball star with the Denver Nuggets of both the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association , as well as the Seattle SuperSonics...
of the Denver Nuggets, Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association...
of the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
, George Gervin
George Gervin
George "The Iceman" Gervin is a retired American professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls...
of the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
and Larry Kenon
Larry Kenon
Larry Joe Kenon is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'9" forward who had a productive career in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association , Kenon played for the New York Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors and...
of the Spurs.. The NBA later adopted the Slam Dunk Contest as part of its All Star Game starting in 1984 (also hosted by the Denver Nuggets).
Denver's 52 fourth quarter points was a record for an ABA All Star Game and capped a ferocious comeback win.
This was the final ABA All Star Game, due to the ABA-NBA merger
ABA-NBA merger
The ABA–NBA merger was the merger of the American Basketball Association with the National Basketball Association, which after multiple attempts over several years finally occurred in 1976.- Origins of ABA-NBA competition :...
in June 1976.
Score by Periods
{| cellpadding=5|- bgcolor="#dddddd"
|Score by Periods:|| 1||2||3||4||Final
|-
|| Denver || 32 || 23 || 37 || 52 || 144
|-
|| All-Stars || 31 || 25 || 41 || 41 || 138
|-
|}
- Halftime — All-Stars, 56-55
- Third Quarter — All-Stars, 97-92
- Officials: Norm DruckerNorm DruckerNorm Drucker was a major influence in professional basketball officiating for over thirty-five years.He refereed in the National Basketball Association from 1953 to 1969...
and Ed Middleton - Attendance: 10,449.