1975–76 Kentucky Colonels season

Prior to the season, ABA Commissioner Dave DeBusschere, urged on by Colonels owner John Y. Brown, Jr., challenged the NBA to a world championship series between the ABA champion Kentucky Colonels and NBA champion Golden State Warriors in which the winner would get $1 million. NBA Commissioner Walter Kennedy promptly declined.[1]

Star center Dan Issel was sold to the Baltimore Claws for $500,000, and soon ended up with the Denver Nuggets.[2]

Gene Rhodes was named vice president of operations and David Vance was named general manager.[3]

Like most ABA teams, the Colonels played several preseason exhibition games against NBA opponents. The Colonels opened up the season's ABA vs. NBA action on October 1, 1975, in Cincinnati, Ohio, against the NBA's Chicago Bulls. The Colonels beat the Bulls 95–86.[4]

Three nights later on October 4, 1975, the Colonels met the NBA's New York Knicks at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Louie Dampier scored 23 for the Colonels but New York's Earl Monroe led all scorers with 26 as the Knicks won 107–102.[5]

The next night the Colonels returned to Cincinnati to host the Detroit Pistons. Bob Lanier led the Pistons with 17 points but Artis Gilmore had 22 and Travis Grant added 17 and the game winning score, a jump shot with 4 seconds left in game, to lead Kentucky to a 114–113 victory.[6]

On October 8, 1975, the reigning champions of the ABA and NBA met at Freedom Hall in Louisville. 8,806 fans turned out to see the Golden State Warriors face the Colonels. Marv Roberts scored 20 points and former ABA player Rick Barry was held to 9 points on 3 of 11 shooting from the floor, including an airball with 31 seconds left in the game. Artis Gilmore had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Colonels to a 93–90 victory against the NBA champions.[7]

Two nights later on October 10, 1975, the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks visited Louisville and lost to the Colonels 96–91.[8]

On October 12, 1975, the Kentucky Colonels traveled to Michigan to face the Detroit Pistons again. The game went to overtime. Despite Bird Averitt's 21 points the Pistons won the overtime game, 115–107.[9]

Two nights later on October 14, 1975, the NBA's Buffalo Braves came to Louisville and were defeated by the Colonels, 120–116.[10]

On October 17, 1975, the Philadelphia 76ers traveled to Cincinnati to face the Colonels. Former ABA player George McGinnis had 25 points but so did Artis Gilmore. Kentucky won, 112–110.[11]

Two nights later on October 19, 1975, the Colonels hosted the Washington Bullets in Lexington, Kentucky. Led by Artis Gilmore's 23 points, the Colonels won 121–111. This was the penultimate ABA-NBA matchup; two nights later in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Utah Stars 106–101.[12]

Overall in the 1975-76 preseason the ABA went 30–18 against NBA teams.[13]

• 5 Jan Van Breda Kolff
• 10 Louie Dampier
• 14 Bird Averitt
• 20 Allen Murphy
• 21 Jimmy Dan Connor
• 22 Wil Jones
• 25 Maurice Lucas
• 31 Johnny Neumann
• 32 Jimmy Baker
• 42 Ron Thomas
• 43 Kevin Joyce
• 45 Jim McDaniels
• 53 Artis Gilmore

[14]

• Artis Gilmore, 1976 ABA All-Star Game[16]
• Artis Gilmore, All-ABA First Team[17]
• Artis Gilmore, ABA All-Defensive Team[18]

On December 18, 1975, the Colonels had their smallest crowd ever, 2,761, for a 115–102 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[19]

On April 28, 1976, the Colonels were the opponent, in the ABA Semifinals, when the Denver Nuggets set their franchise's attendance record, with 18,821 present for the Nuggets' 133–110 win in Game 7.[20]