Established in 1967, the ABA helped change professional basketball for the better before "merging" with the NBA in 1976. To name only a few positive developments resulting from the ABA: - Players got paid more due to the competition for their services; - Fans were treated to a faster paced game and the introduction of the 3-point shot; and - The sport got stronger as superstars became ambassadors for the game. At the same time, fans had to put up with questionable styles (such as the red, white and blue basketball), and players had to endure schemes to convince them to join the newer league. As described in the following post, Jim Chones was such a player who joined the ABA under unsavory circumstances.