The Kentucky Colonels were a professional basketball team that played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1967 to 1976. While the ABA was a strong competitor to the National Basketball Association (NBA), the two leagues ultimately merged in 1976.
The Colonels were not one of the four teams chosen to join the NBA during the merger, likely due to financial instability. At the time, the Colonels were one of the weaker teams in the ABA in terms of wins, and the team also suffered from financial instability.
The Colonels had been losing money for several years due to poor attendance and unreliable financial backing from their owners. This led to a situation where the ABA was preparing to fold and the Colonels had not even been able to submit a bid for entry into the NBA before the merger took place.
The bid was eventually rejected due to financial and attendance issues, and Kentucky was not included in the four chosen teams for the merger. It is uncertain what the fate of the Colonels would have been had they been accepted into the NBA in 1976, but the fact that their financial instability prevented them from even submitting a bid likely played a large role in their exclusion.
What ABA teams went to the NBA?
There have been several teams to make the jump from the American Basketball Association (ABA) to the National Basketball Association (NBA). The move began in 1976, when the NBA absorbed four ABA teams.
These four teams reduced the old American Basketball Association from nine teams to five, and added the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs to the NBA.
The second phase of the merger saw three more ABA teams join the NBA in 1977. The remaining ABA teams, including the Kentucky Colonels, San Diego Sails, and Spirits of St. Louis, took them until the financial strain of the failed merger forced them to fold or sell its players to NBA clubs.
The third phase of the merger saw two additional ABA teams make the jump to the NBA. The Baltimore Claws were sold off to be dispersed to other teams in 1976, while the Virginia Squires simply folded in 1976.
In total, seven teams from the American Basketball Association eventually joined the NBA. These seven teams were the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Kentucky Colonels, San Diego Sails, and Spirits of St.
Louis.
Why doesn’t Louisville have an NBA team?
There are a variety of reasons Louisville does not have an NBA team. The main two reasons are population and size of the market. Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky and the 29th largest city in the United States, but with a population of just over 600,000 people, it is far too small to sustain an NBA team.
The 42 metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with professional teams all have populations of at least 1. 5 million people. These larger MSAs such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are more attractive to NBA teams due to having more potential fans to pay for tickets, and more corporate sponsors to help subsidize team expenses.
Although Louisville is a hotbed for basketball and the namesake basketball team, the Louisville Cardinals, are dominant in the NCAA, an NBA team would require a whole new level of support. Louisville would need to add a larger arena to house an NBA team, as the KFC Yum! Center seats just over 22,000 people, far less than a typical NBA arena.
And Louisville would need to be a destination that could draw NBA all-stars and fans from outside the city. Louisville is not a major media market, which would need to change in order to get an NBA, or any other professional sports team.
Louisville has thought of different ways to try to bring an NBA team to the city. In 2012, a group of investors from Louisville teamed up with a group from Cincinnati in an effort to secure an NBA relocation or expansion.
The group also proposed a hotel-tax increase to help pay for an NBA-regulation arena. Despite these efforts, it is unclear if Louisville will ever get an NBA team.
What happened to the ABA 1976?
The American Basketball Association, or ABA, was a professional basketball league that was founded in 1967. The league was known for its fast-paced, showy style of play and its memorable teams, such as the New York Nets and the San Antonio Spurs.
The ABA even offered unique innovations like the three-point shot and the slam dunk contest before the NBA adopted these concepts.
The ABA disbanded in 1976 and four of its teams were merged into the National Basketball Association (NBA): the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs. Each of the four ABA teams kept their players and some of their coaching staffs, but their records and official statistics were given to the NBA and the other ABA teams’ statistics and records were considered unofficial and included in the ABA Handbook.
The ABA 1976’s legacy lives on through teams like the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs, but the league itself will always be remembered for its unique spirit and its great basketball.
Has Kentucky ever had an NBA team?
No, Kentucky has never had an NBA team. The closest team to Kentucky was the Cincinnati Royals, which was a professional basketball team that was based in Cincinnati from 1957 to 1972. The Cincinnati Royals moved to Kansas City and eventually became the Sacramento Kings in 1985.
The closest NBA teams to Kentucky are now the Indiana Pacers and the Memphis Grizzlies. While the state does not have a team in the NBA, Louisville and Lexington are home to several professional sports teams, including minor-league baseball and basketball teams.
Additionally, the University of Kentucky’s men’s basketball team is one of the best in college basketball and consistently competes in the NCAA tournament.
What NBA team no longer exists?
The Seattle SuperSonics were an NBA team founded in 1967 and based in Seattle, Washington. The team won their only championship in 1979, before being relocated to Oklahoma City and becoming the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.
The SuperSonics’ iconic gold, green and white colors, mascot, and overall brand was replaced following the move to OKC, and the team name is no longer used in the NBA. Following the departure of the SuperSonics, Seattle has made a number of attempts to obtain another NBA team; however, these attempts have largely been unsuccessful.
As of 2021, there is no NBA team based in Seattle.
Will Louisville get a pro team?
It is possible that Louisville will one day get a professional team, although there are currently no plans for this to happen. The city has a long history of passionate sports fans and several successful college teams, suggesting that it could one day be home to a pro team.
However, the city currently lacks suitable facilities and the large market and considerable corporate support that many successful professional teams have. The cost of creating and running a professional team could also be prohibitively high.
Despite these obstacles, with the right backing and enthusiasm, a pro team in Louisville is not impossible.
Why is there no NBA team in Kentucky?
Unfortunately, Kentucky has never had an NBA team due to a lack of resources and support. The state has seen some success in college basketball, with the University of Kentucky and Louisville both boasting NCAA championship teams, but lacks the infrastructure and financial backing to support an NBA team.
Additionally, the state’s population of just over 4. 4 million is the 25th lowest in the country, making it a less desirable market for an NBA franchise. There have been multiple attempts from local groups to bring an NBA team to Kentucky, but none of these efforts have been successful.
Ultimately, the state has not been able to attract the necessary investment and support required to launch a successful NBA team.
What NBA team does Kentucky support?
Kentucky is home to several passionate NBA basketball fans, and many of those fans tend to gravitate towards different teams. However, the team that the majority of Kentucky residents tend to support is the Boston Celtics.
This is due to the fact that the Celtics have a long and storied history, and due to the fact that the franchise is one of the NBA’s Original Eight. Additionally, Kentucky is also home to many University of Kentucky Basketball fans, and due to the Celtics’ strong connection to former University of Kentucky stars like Antoine Walker, Rajon Rondo, and John Wall, the Celtics have become quite popular in Kentucky.
Moreover, Kentucky is also home to many fans of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Charlotte Hornets, the Chicago Bulls, and the Indiana Pacers, as each of these teams has featured former University of Kentucky stars such as Devin Booker, Julius Randle, and DeMarcus Cousins.
Ultimately, no single NBA team truly dominates the fan landscape in Kentucky, but the Boston Celtics are definitely the most popular franchise in the Bluegrass State.
What happened to the Colonels in Kentucky?
The Colonels were a folk and country music band based in Kentucky that was highly influential on the local music scene during the mid-20th century. The band was founded in 1955 by brothers Red and Everett Lilly and featured Vernon Sanders, Lonnie Williams, Curly Fox, Dessie Jenkins, Bill and Chuck Wilson.
The Colonels released several albums between 1956 and 1962 and toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada.
The Colonels hailed from Paducah and found success through regular appearances on local radio and television as well as international tours. They had major hits with songs like “My Little Girl in Tennessee,” “Floatin’ Down the Mighty Ohio,” and “The Longest Train I Ever Saw.
“.
In 1962, the Colonels essentially disbanded after Everett Lilly retired and the other members went their separate ways. Red Lilly would go on to become one of the first live country music disc jockeys on Paducah’s WGYK radio station and was later inducted into both the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 1998, the band was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. To this day, the Colonels are remembered fondly throughout the state of Kentucky for their contribution to the local music scene.
Who won the most ABA championships?
The Indiana Pacers franchise have won the most ABA championships, with three titles in their history. The Pacers won the titles in the 1969–70, 1971–72, and 1972–73 seasons under head coach Bobby Leonard.
This makes them the only team in ABA history to win three championships. The New York Nets and the Kentucky Colonels won the other two ABA championships during its nine-year existence. The Pacers were one of the four ABA teams to join the NBA at the time of the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.
The legacy of the Pacers’ three titles in the ABA continues to live on, as the team was retroactively named the champions of the 1976 ABA championship as part of the NBA’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ABA in 2018.
How many Kentucky Colonels are there?
The exact number of Kentucky Colonels is difficult to determine since there is no official governing body that keeps track of such information. This is because Kentucky Colonels is an honorary title bestowed to individuals from the Commonwealth of Kentucky in recognition of their exemplary service and contributions.
Generally, the title was limited to individuals with outstanding accomplishments within their field, though it has also been used to recognize those who are deemed to have provided extraordinary service to their communities.
The title is not exclusive to citizens of Kentucky. Anyone can be appointed a Kentucky Colonel and, historically, has been a right of the Governor of Kentucky. It is believed that approximately 30,000 people have been appointed Kentucky Colonels since the title was first used in 1813.
Who bought the Kentucky colonels?
In October 2019, the Kentucky Colonels, a professional basketball team in the American Basketball Association, were purchased by local businessmen Doug Keistler, Kenny Smith, and Justin Norman. The exact details of the deal were not made public but reports suggest the team was purchased for 1.
2 million dollars and the three new owners plan to keep the team in their home state of Kentucky.
The new owners plan to maintain the team’s close ties to their home state, making sure to do business with local vendors and hold charity events to give back to the community. They also plan to make improvements to the fan experience, including bringing in high-profile players to round out their roster and make the Colonels a more competitive team.
The Kentucky Colonels have a storied history in the state, having been the original Kentucky team in the ABA and the first professional basketball team to come out of Kentucky. With the new ownership, the hope is the Colonels will once again become a major draw for local basketball fans.
How much does a colonel with 30 years make?
The salary of a colonel with 30 years of service varies depending on the country and military. In the US Army, a colonel with 30 years of service would receive a base pay of $9,874. 80 a month. This amount includes longevity pay, which starts to increase after 20 years of service.
When adding in allowances and other standard pay, a colonel with 30 years of service would earn an annual salary of about $122,500. Additional pay for special qualifications and duties, such as flight pay, can also increase their salary.
Is being a Kentucky Colonel a big deal?
Being a Kentucky Colonel can be a big deal, depending on who you are and your connections in the state. For many, being a Kentucky Colonel is an honor that comes with great pride, as it recognizes an individual for outstanding service to the state of Kentucky or extraordinarily high achievement or noteworthy service in a particular field of endeavor.
The most visible embodiment of the honor is the commission bestowed by the Governor of the Commonwealth. This commission dates back to the 1800s when it was done in imitation of the Order of the Star Spangled Banner in 1798 and the Order of Cincinnati in 1783.
In addition to receiving a framed commission, the honoree typically receives an embroidered white mantle and a personal or home charm featuring the Governor’s seal. Moreover, a Kentucky Colonel license plate is available under Kentucky law, allowing the honoree to display the official designation on his or her vehicle.
Therefore, being a Kentucky Colonel is a sign of prestige and a source of pride, signaling to other Kentuckians that the holder is a person of excellence and worthy of recognition.