There has been a long-standing issue regarding former ABA (American Basketball Association) players not receiving pensions from the NBA. When the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, only four ABA teams joined the NBA, leaving many players without the required three accrued NBA seasons to qualify for pensions. This left many former ABA players struggling financially in their later years.
However, in 2022, the NBA and its players’ association approved a $24.5 million program to provide financial support to eligible former ABA players. This program offers "recognition payments" rather than pensions, with players receiving an annual amount based on their years of service in the ABA or combined ABA and NBA. While this was a significant step forward, some advocates believe more could be done to support these players who contributed to the Growth of professional basketball.
#aba #nba #basketball
