1967–1968 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 as the first coach of the Colonels. The Colonels draft picks were used on
UK standout
Louie Dampier, who signed with the Colonels;
Western Kentucky University standout
Clem Haskins, who signed with the NBA's
Chicago Bulls;
Bob Verga, who signed with Dallas, and
Randy Mahaffey, who signed with the Colonels. The team also signed
Darel Carrier (WKU) and
Jim "Goose" Ligon (from
Kokomo, Indiana). The Colonels' 1967–68 roster was rounded out with Kendall Rhine (
Rice University), Stew Johnson (
Murray State), Rubin Russell, Bill Bradley (Tennessee Tech),
Cotton Nash (UK), Bobby Rascoe (WKU), Howard Bayne (
Tennessee), Orbie Bowling (Tennessee) and Tommy Woods. The Colonels played their home games at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center (Freedom Hall) and at the
Louisville Convention Center (now Louisville Gardens). The team only won 5 of their first 17 games, leading to Givens being fired as coach. He was replaced by
Gene Rhodes. In November, Stew Johnson was traded to the
New Jersey Americans for Jim Caldwell. Darel Carrier, Randy Mahaffey and Louie Dampier played in the ABA All Star game but the team finished with a record of 36 wins and 42 losses, tying New Jersey for fourth place in the Eastern Division. For the season the Colonels averaged 3,225 fans per game. The Colonels and Americans scheduled a
one-game playoff game to determine who would get the playoff bid slated for the Eastern Division's fourth place team. The game was scheduled at the
Long Island Arena, as New Jersey's
Teaneck Armory was unavailable, but the facility was in such poor condition that the game could not be played, and the Colonels won by forfeit. The Colonels then advanced to the Eastern Division semifinals where they lost to the
Minnesota Muskies 3 games to 2.
1968–1969 Among the Colonels' draft picks was
University of Louisville star
Wes Unseld, who opted to take a higher paying deal with the NBA's Baltimore franchise. The Colonels also drafted
Manny Leaks and
Gene Moore, who signed with the team.
Sam Smith was acquired from Minnesota and then Randy Mahaffey and Manny Leaks were traded to the
New York Nets for
Oliver Darden and
Andy Anderson. The Colonels hosted the
1969 ABA All-Star Game in Louisville. Kentucky coach Gene Rhodes was the head coach for the East team, which lost to the West 133–127. Darel Carrier and Louie Dampier repeated as ABA All Stars and were joined by Kentucky's Jim "Goose" Ligon. During this season the Colonels fielded the first ever female professional basketball player when jockey
Penny Ann Early joined the team for pregame warmups and appeared briefly during a game. The Colonels finished in third place in the Eastern Division with a 42–36 record. Their average home attendance was 4,157. In the Eastern Division semifinals the Colonels lost a tight series to their rival the
Indiana Pacers, 4 games to 3.
1969–1970 The Colonels used their draft picks to select
Bob Dandridge, who joined the
Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA and
Herm Gilliam, who signed with the NBA's Cincinnati franchise. Bud Olsen, former
Kentucky Wesleyan College star
George Tinsley, future Kentucky Wesleyan coach
Wayne Chapman and former University of Kentucky star
Tommy Kron were added to the roster. In April 1969 the Colonels were bought by a group of Louisville investors that included
H. Wendell Cherry, Bill DeWitt,
J. David Grissom, Stuart P. Jay,
David A. Jones,
John Y. Brown, Jr. and
Mike Storen. Storen had previously been the president and general manager of the Indiana Pacers. The group then hired former University of Kentucky star
Alex Groza as the team's business manager. Darel Carrier and Louie Dampier again appeared in the ABA All Star Game and were joined by Gene Moore. The Colonels finished the season with a record of 45–39 which was good for second place in the Eastern Division. The Colonels defeated the
New York Nets 4 games to 3 in the Eastern Division semifinals but lost in the Eastern Division finals to the Indiana Pacers, 4 games to 1.
1970–1971 led the ABA in scoring with 29.9 points per game, and also averaged 13.2 rebounds per game. In July the Colonels traded Jim "Goose" Ligon, Gene Moore and Bud Olsen to Dallas for
Cincy Powell. They also signed University of Kentucky star
Dan Issel. Issel was given a 10-year contract worth $1.4 million. The Colonels also traded a draft pick to the New York Nets for
Walt Simon. Mike Pratt joined the Colonels' roster for the season. The Colonels began the regular season with a 10–5 record, resulting in coach Gene Rhodes being fired. Rhodes was briefly replaced by Alex Groza, who won both games he coached. Groza was quickly replaced as coach by
Frank Ramsey, the former star for the University of Kentucky and the
Boston Celtics. Kentucky's Dan Issel and Cincy Powell played in the ABA All-Star Game. Issel was named Co-Rookie of the Year, along with
Charlie Scott of the
Virginia Squires. The Colonels finished the regular season with a record of 44–40 and in second place in the Eastern Division. Their average home attendance for the season was 7,375. Beginning with this season the Colonels moved their home games from the Louisville Convention Center (now
Louisville Gardens) to
Freedom Hall. The Colonels defeated
The Floridians 4 games to 2 in the Eastern Division semifinals and defeated the
Virginia Squires 4 games to 2 in the Eastern Division finals. Facing the
Utah Stars in the ABA championship, the Colonels and Stars each won three games before Utah pulled out Game 7 at home in front of an ABA record crowd. The Colonels finished as the league's runner up.
1971–1972 The Colonels' draft picks included
Artis Gilmore,
John Roche and
Mike Gale, who all signed with Kentucky, and
Fred Brown and
Larry Steele, who signed with the Seattle SuperSonics and
Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, respectively. The Colonels then sold Roche to the New York Nets. Gilmore, like Issel, signed a contract for 10 years and $1.5 million.
Joe Mullaney was named coach of the Colonels. On September 22, 1971, the Colonels played in the second ever ABA vs. NBA preseason exhibition game. 13,821 fans watched the Colonels defeat the
Baltimore Bullets 111–85 in
Freedom Hall. It was the ABA's first win against the NBA, as the ABA's
Dallas Chaparrals had lost to the NBA's
Milwaukee Bucks 106–103 the night before in the first ever matchup between the two leagues. On October 8, 1971, the Colonels hosted the Milwaukee Bucks and
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at Freedom Hall in front of over 18,000 fans. Dan Issel scored 34 points and Artis Gilmore posted 18 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. However, Abdul-Jabbar had 30 points, 20 rebounds and 3 blocked shots and the Bucks edged the Colonels, 99–93. The very next night the Colonels hosted the New York Knicks in Freedom Hall. The Knicks won, 112–100, before 12,238 fans. The Colonels had a terrific regular season. Mullaney coached in the ABA All Star Game, heading up the East team which won 142–115. Dan Issel, Louie Dampier and Artis Gilmore each played in the All Star Game for the East team; Issel was the game's Most Valuable Player. Gilmore ended up as the league's Most Valuable Player at the end of the season and was also the league's Rookie of the Year. Gilmore's impressive statistics included leading the league with 3,666 minutes in play, a field goal percentage of 59.8% and an average of 17.8 rebounds per game. Gilmore and Issel were both on the All-ABA First Team. Kentucky finished the season with the best record ever posted in ABA play, with 68 wins and 16 losses, a winning percentage of .810. This secured the Colonels' first ever first-place finish in the Eastern Division. The Colonels' average home attendance was 8,811. Kentucky's season came to an end when the Colonels lost in the Eastern Division semifinals to the New York Nets, 4 games to 2.
1972–1973 Prior to the season the Colonels traded Cincy Powell to the Utah Stars for a draft pick and cash, and bought
Rick Mount from the Indiana Pacers for $250,000.
Wendell Ladner joined the Colonels' roster for the season. In preseason play, on September 23, 1972, the Colonels hosted the NBA's
Atlanta Hawks for an exhibition game in
Frankfort.
Julius Erving played for the Hawks, posting 28 points and 18 rebounds in 42 minutes. The Hawks prevailed, 112–99. On September 30, 1972, the Colonels traveled to
Phoenix, Arizona for an exhibition game against the
Phoenix Suns. The Colonels won, 120–118. On October 1, 1972, the Milwaukee Bucks returned to Freedom Hall. Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar each scored 20 points as the Bucks beat the Colonels 131–100. On October 6, 1972, the Phoenix Suns played the Colonels at Freedom Hall. The Suns won, 103–91. The next night the Colonels lost a close game to the Baltimore Bullets, 95–93. Louie Dampier, Dan Issel and Artis Gilmore returned to the ABA All-Star Game. Gilmore was again First Team All-ABA and posted a 55.9% field goal percentage and averaged 17.6 rebounds per game. Issel led the league in minutes played with 3,531. The Colonels finished in second place in the Eastern Division with a record of 56 wins and 28 losses. Their average home attendance was 7,113. The Colonels beat the Virginia Squires 4 games to 1 in the Eastern Division Semifinals and beat the
Carolina Cougars 4 games to 3 in the Eastern Division finals. The Colonels then lost a very close ABA Championship Series to the Indiana Pacers, 4 games to 3.
1973–1974 Prior to the
Colonels' 1973–74 season the Colonels drafted
M. L. Carr and
Ron Behagen; Carr stayed in college and Behagen signed with the NBA's
Kansas City-Omaha Kings. The Colonels also selected
Ernie DiGregorio in a special circumstance draft but he signed with the NBA's
Buffalo Braves. In July 1973 the franchise was bought by a group headed by
John Y. Brown, Jr. and his wife Ellie Brown. Ellie Brown was later named Chairman of the Board of the team; the board itself was made up of ten women. Legendary former University of Kentucky head coach
Adolph Rupp was named as Vice President of the Board. Mike Storen left the team; he later surfaced with the ABA's Memphis franchise. Former head coach Gene Rhodes became general manager of the team. Head coach Joe Mullaney departed to become head coach of the Utah Stars. Mullaney was succeeded by
Babe McCarthy. In preseason play against the NBA the Colonels defeated the Houston Rockets 110–102 at Freedom Hall on September 21, 1973, and defeated the Kansas City-Omaha Kings 110–99 the following night. In January 1974 the Colonels traded
Jim O'Brien and a first round draft pick to the
San Diego Conquistadors for
Red Robbins and
Chuck Williams. That same month Kentucky dealt Rick Mount to the Utah Stars for a draft pick and cash, and then sent Mike Gale and
Wendell Ladner to the New York Nets for former Colonel John Roche. Louie Dampier, Dan Issel and Artis Gilmore again played in the ABA All-Star Game, and Babe McCarthy coached the East team. Gilmore was again named the game's Most Valuable Player. Gilmore again posted remarkable statistics including 3,502 minutes played (tops in the league) and 18.3 rebounds per game (Gilmore grabbed 40 rebounds in one game against the New York Nets that season). Louie Dampier posted a league high 38.7% percentage in three-point shots. Babe McCarthy and his Colonels predecessor Joe Mullaney were named ABA Co-Coaches of the Year. The Colonels posted a regular season record of 53 wins and 31 losses, clinching second place in the Eastern Division. Kentucky's average home attendance for the season was 8,201. In the playoffs Kentucky defeated the
Carolina Cougars 4 games to none in the Eastern Division semifinals but then lost the Eastern Division finals to the New York Nets 4 games to none. Despite being named ABA Coach of the Year, Babe McCarthy was fired at the end of the season.
1974–1975 The Colonels took Jim Price, Greg Smith, Rowland Garrett,
Herm Gilliam and Larry Steele in a draft of NBA players, bought
Ted McClain from the Carolina Cougars, signed
Wil Jones, and traded a draft pick and cash to the
San Antonio Spurs for
Bird Averitt. The Colonels also sent
Al Eberhard to the
Denver Nuggets in exchange for
Marv Roberts and sent Red Robbins to the Virginia Squires for cash. John Roche was sold to the Utah Stars in the midst of the season. Gene Littles was added to the Colonels roster for the season.
Hubie Brown was named the new head coach of the Colonels. In preseason play against the NBA the Colonels lost a game in
Lincoln, Nebraska to the Kansas City-Omaha Kings 102–91 on September 29, 1974; beat the Washington Bullets 118–95 at Freedom Hall on October 1, 1974; lost by one point on the road to the Houston Rockets on October 5, 1974, 96–95; beat the
Detroit Pistons 109–100 at Freedom Hall on October 8, 1974, and on October 12, 1974, defeated the Chicago Bulls at Freedom Hall 93–75. Louie Dampier, Dan Issel and Artis Gilmore again played in the ABA All Star Game. Gilmore again was First Team All ABA and led the league with 3,493 minutes played. 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 first place in the Eastern Division. The Colonels won that game in Louisville 108–99. The Colonels then defeated the
Memphis Sounds 4 games to 1 in the Eastern Division semifinals and defeated the
Spirits of St. Louis 4 games to 1 in the Eastern Division finals. The Colonels met their rivals the Indiana Pacers for the ABA Championship and the Colonels prevailed, 4 games to 1, winning their first ABA Championship. Colonels owner John Y. Brown offered $1 million to the NBA Champion
Golden State Warriors to play a world title game, following the tradition of previous ABA champions that had offered to play the NBA champion. The NBA and Golden State refused. Hubie Brown went on to coach many teams in the NBA but has always maintained (including in his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction) that the 1974–75 Colonels were the best team he coached.
1975–1976 Prior to the season the Colonels and the ABA's commissioner,
Dave DeBusschere, challenged the NBA to have its champion, the
Golden State Warriors, face the Colonels in a championship series, the winner of which would get $1 million. The NBA declined. Interest in ABA vs. NBA play extended beyond the two leagues' management. In 1976,
CBS sought to establish a postseason playoff between the ABA and NBA, and to win the rights to broadcast those games. To the dismay of Colonels fans and players, owner John Y. Brown, Jr. dealt star Dan Issel to the
Baltimore Claws prior to the season for $500,000; the cash was not forthcoming from the struggling Baltimore franchise and Issel ended up with the Denver Nuggets shortly before the Claws were shut down by the league. Gene Rhodes was named vice president of operations and David Vance was named general manager for the team. In preseason play the Colonels defeated the Chicago Bulls, 95–86, at
Riverfront Coliseum in
Cincinnati on October 1, 1975; lost to the New York Knicks in
Landover, Maryland at the
Capital Centre, 107–102, on October 4, 1975; defeated the Detroit Pistons 114–113 on October 5, 1975, in Cincinnati; defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 96–91 in Freedom Hall on October 10, 1975; lost an overtime game to the Detroit Pistons in Detroit on October 12, 1975, 115–107; defeated the Buffalo Braves, 120–116, in Freedom Hall on October 14, 1975; defeated the
Philadelphia 76ers 112–110 in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 17, 1975; and won another ABA vs. NBA exhibition on October 19, 1975, with a 121–111 victory over the Washington Bullets in Lexington, Kentucky. The game against the Bullets was the penultimate ABA vs. NBA contest; two nights later in the final ABA vs. NBA matchup the Utah Stars defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 106–101. The prior year, the NBA declined the ABA champion Colonels' challenge against the NBA champion Golden State Warriors for a $1 million payout. However, the two teams met on October 8, 1975, at Freedom Hall. The Colonels won the matchup of the league champions, 93–90. The Colonels finished the 1975–76 preseason with a record of 7–2 against NBA teams. The Colonels, like the ABA as a whole, had a winning overall record against the NBA over the course of their existence. Shortly after the regular season began the
San Diego Sails folded and the Colonels picked up
Caldwell Jones from their roster. Kentucky then traded Jones to the Spirits of St. Louis for
Maurice Lucas. The Colonels also traded Marv Roberts to the Virginia Squires during the season in exchange for
Johnny Neumann and
Jan van Breda Kolff. Another move in the middle of the season sent
Ted McClain to the New York Nets in exchange for $150,000. Allen Murphy, Jimmy Dan Connor,
Johnny Neumann, Jimmy Baker, Kevin Joyce and
Jim McDaniels joined the Colonels' roster for the 1975–76 season. Artis Gilmore returned to the ABA All-Star Game and once again was named First Team All ABA. Dampier, after seven appearances in that game, was not chosen. The Colonels finished in fourth place in the regular season with a record of 46–38. Their average home attendance was 6,935. The Colonels defeated their rivals, the Indiana Pacers, 2 games to 1 in the first round of the playoffs. In the league semifinals, the Colonels and the Denver Nuggets each won three games apiece before Denver claimed Game 7 133–110 at Denver on April 28, 1976. It was the Kentucky Colonels' final game.
Aftermath 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 reduced to seven teams for the remainder of the season. Shortly after the regular season ended, the Virginia Squires were forced to fold because they could not meet a league-mandated financial assessment. The six remaining ABA teams began negotiations for the eventual
ABA–NBA merger. According to Jim Bukata of the ABA, the NBA opposed Kentucky joining the league, and Bill Wirtz of the Chicago Bulls opposed Kentucky joining because Chicago wanted to acquire Kentucky's Artis Gilmore in a dispersal draft. In the end, the Colonels were not among the four teams the NBA agreed to take in. On July 17, 1976, the Kentucky Colonels ceased to exist as John Y. Brown, Jr. agreed to fold the Colonels in exchange for $3 million. Brown used the money to purchase the
Buffalo Braves of the NBA. Brown's intent was to use the purchase as a backdoor to revive the Colonels by relocating the Braves to Louisville. ==Basketball Hall of Famers==