- 1967
- 1975
- 1976
-
Colonels Team Formation
On March 6, 1967, the American Basketball Association awarded the franchise that became the Kentucky Colonels to Don Regan for $30,000. Later that year the franchise was bought by Joseph Gregory, Mamie Gregory, and William C. Boone. John Givens was named the first coach of the Colonels. The Colonels draft picks were used on UK standout Louie Dampier, who signed ... -
ABA Championship 1975
The Colonels claimed first place in the Eastern Division with a record of 58 wins and 26 losses but tied with the New York Nets for the division crown. The Colonels’ average home attendance was 8,727. The Colonels began the playoffs with a one-game matchup against the New York Nets to determine who would be the first place in the ... -
ABA – NBA Merger – No Colonels
The ABA had entered the 1975 – 1976 preseason with ten teams. After three preseason games, the Baltimore Claws were shut down by the league due to financial problems and unpaid bills. The San Diego Sails and the Utah Stars each folded shortly after the season began, the Sails after 11 games, and the Stars after 16. The ABA was ...
History of the 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 not join the NBA in the 1976 ABA–NBA merger. The downtown Louisville Convention Center (now known as The Gardens) was the Colonels' original venue for the first three seasons before moving to Freedom Hall for the remaining seasons, beginning with the 1970–71 schedule.
The Kentucky Colonels were only one of two ABA teams, along with the Indiana Pacers, to play for the entire duration of the league without relocating, changing its team name, or folding. The Colonels were also the only major league franchise in Kentucky since the Louisville Breckenridge's left the National Football League in 1923.
Established
1967
City
Louisville
League History
1967 – 1976 / American Basketball Association
Team History
1967 – 1976 / Kentucky Colonels
Nickname
Colonels – The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. It is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer.
Championship
ABA Championships 1
1975
Arena
1970 – 1976 / Freedom Hall
1967 – 1970 / Louisville Convention Center
Owner
1973 – 1976 / John Y. Brown, Jr. and Ellie Brown
1969 – 1973 / H. Wendell Cherry, Bill DeWitt, Stuart Jay, David Jones, John Y. Brown, Jr. and Mike Storen
1967 – 1969 / Joseph E. Gregory, Mamie Gregory and William C. Boone
1967 / Don Regan
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Coaches
1974 – 1976 / Hubie Brown
1973 – 1974 / Babe McCarthy
1971 – 1973 / Joe Mullaney
1970 – 1971 / Frank Ramsey
1970 / Alex Groza
1967 – 1970 / Gene Rhodes
1967 / John Givens
*Blue is this team’s history