The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a professional basketball league that operated from 1967 to 1976. The league was known for its fast-paced, high-scoring games and its colorful and innovative style of play. The ABA featured a number of talented players, including Julius Erving, George Gervin, and Artis Gilmore, who went on to have successful careers in the NBA. The league also introduced a number of innovations to the game, including the three-point shot and the red, white, and blue basketball. Despite its popularity, the ABA struggled financially and eventually merged with the NBA in 1976. Today, the ABA is remembered as a pioneering and influential league that helped shape the modern game of basketball.