The 1974–75 American Basketball Association season saw the Kentucky Colonels, led by Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore, Louie Dampier and coach Hubie Brown, win the 1975 ABA Championship.
Offseason
Draft picks
Preseason transactions
Following the 1973–74 Kentucky Colonels season, the Colonels fired head coach Babe McCarthy despite his winning the 1974 ABA Coach of the Year award. Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Hubie Brown was hired as McCarthy's replacement in June 1974.
Preseason exhibition games
Like most ABA teams, the Colonels played several preseason exhibition games against NBA opponents. By September 29, 1974, the ABA had won all five of that season's ABA vs. NBA exhibition games as the Colonels took the floor in Lincoln, Nebraska, against the Kansas City–Omaha Kings. Dan Issel scored 26 for the Colonels but the Kings won, 102–91. On October 1 the NBA's Washington Bullets visited the Colonels' home court at Freedom Hall. Artis Gilmore had 26 points and 16 rebounds as the Colonels won, 118–95. On October 5, 1974, the Colonels traveled to Pasadena, Texas, to face the Houston Rockets. The Rockets won 96-95 despite Gilmore's 22 points. On October 8, 1974, in Louisville the Colonels hosted the Detroit Pistons, defeating the NBA team 109-100 behind Gilmore's 18 points and 11 rebounds. On October 12 the Colonels defeated the Chicago Bulls in Louisville, 93–75. Gilmore scored 24 points and Dan Issel scored 15.
The ABA went 16-7 vs. the NBA in that season's exhibition games; the Colonels posted a 3–2 record.
Regular season
Roster
10 Louie Dampier
14 Bird Averitt
22 Wil Jones
23 Gene Littles
24 Ted McClain
25 Jim Bradley
31 Marv Roberts
42 Ron Thomas
44 Dan Issel
53 Artis Gilmore
Season standings
Game log
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Month by Month
October 1974
The ABA opened its regular season on October 18, 1974, and on that night the host Colonels defeated the Denver Nuggets 117–99. Two nights later the Colonels won at home before 7,207 fans against the Indiana Pacers, 101–92. On October 23 the Colonels hosted the Virginia Squires and 5,978 fans watched ten different Colonels score ten or more points as Kentucky won 136–82. The next evening the Colonels hosted the San Antonio Spurs before 10,853 fans and won 113-103 despite George Gervin's 30 points. The next evening, October 25, saw the Colonels' first loss of the season, 91–86 against the Spirits of St. Louis as Marvin Barnes scored 25 points against the Colonels with 4,217 in attendance. The next evening in Indianapolis Dan Issel had 28 points as the Colonels defeated the Indiana Pacers 107–95 in front of 10,948 fans. October 30 saw the Colonels win at home against the San Diego Conquistadors 97-84 as 9,622 fans saw Caldwell Jones score 22 for San Diego. The Colonels ended October with a record of 6 wins and 1 loss.
November 1974
On November 1 the Colonels defeated the Virginia Squires 125–93 in front of 8,203 fans as Louie Dampier led all scorers with 24. Two nights later in Louisville Kentucky defeated the Memphis Sounds 104–99; Rick Mount had a game-high 27 before 7,843 spectators. On November 6 the Colonels hosted the Utah Stars in Lexington; 9,400 turned out to see Kentucky prevail 97-85 despite Ron Boone's 29 points. November 9 saw the Colonels at home against the New York Nets; 16,029 packed Freedom Hall and Julius Erving had a game-high 28 points but Kentucky won 103–97.
On November 13 the Colonels returned to Lexington, again facing the New York Nets. Julius Erving had 44 points and the game went into two overtimes before 9,577 fans; Kentucky won 132–129. Kentucky's seven game win streak came to an end on November 14 in an overtime road game as Bird Averitt's 26 were not enough to stop the San Antonio Spurs, who won 102-100 before 8,354 fans. On November 17 the Colonels bounced back with a 116–103 win against the Indiana Pacers in Lexington; Artis Gilmore scored 32 points and 7,381 attended.