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25 Greatest Players in ABA History

By Maxwell Ogden

SPRINGFIELD, MA - AUGUST 12: Artis Gilmore shakes hands with Hall of Fame Player Julius Erving during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2011 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - AUGUST 12: Artis Gilmore shakes hands with Hall of Fame Player Julius Erving during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2011 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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8. David Thompson

Position: Small Forward
Years Active: 1975-76
Team(s): Denver Nuggets
ABA Averages: 37.4 MPG, 26.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.7 ORPG, 3.7 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG
Accolades: All-ABA Second Team, ABA All-Star, ABA Rookie of the Year, ABA All-Star Game MVP

David Thompson played just one season in the American Basketball Association, but it may have been the single most influential year in professional basketball history. Not only did Thompson achieve a great deal in 1975-76, but he played an instrumental role in the ABA-NBA merger.

Thompson was selected at No. 1 overall in the 1975 NBA Draft, but spurned the Atlanta Hawks to sign with the ABA’s Denver Nuggets.

The fact that he led Denver to the ABA Finals as a rookie is a testament to just how brilliant Thompson was.

The two-time college National Player of the Year entered the NBA Draft with as much hype and fanfare as any player in history. Thus, his decision to choose the ABA over the NBA sent waves throughout the basketball community, and essentially forced the NBA’s hand.

Missing out on the best players in the world simply wasn’t an option, and whether or not Larry O’Brien admits it, the prospect of never having players such as George Gervin, Julius Erving, and Thompson pushed the NBA to the realize the danger of not merging with the ABA.

And thus, the merger transpired and the NBA made out like bandits–the fault of the ABA’s terrible business practices.

In his lone ABA season, Thompson produced across the board, won Rookie of the Year, and received an All-ABA Second Team selection. He was named All-Star Game MVP, and solidified his place as a future superstar of the basketball world.

He was far from the one and only reason for it—financial mismanagement of the ABA comes to mind—but it’s no coincidence that the merger was agreed to directly following Thompson’s first season in the ABA.

Next: No. 7