1969–70 ABA season

The season ended with the Indiana Pacers capturing their first ABA Championship.

Spencer Haywood, a rookie from the University of Detroit, led the ABA in scoring (30.0 ppg) and rebounding (19.5 rpg) for the Denver Rockets.

Haywood was professional basketball's first "hardship case", leaving college after his sophomore season.

The NBA prohibited him from declaring for its draft, and he signed with the Rockets instead, leading them to the Western Division championship.

Asterisk (*) denotes playoff team Bold – ABA champions

Spencer Haywood ( Denver ) was named ABA MVP and ROTY
Mel Daniels (right) was named All-ABA First Team