The 1969 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the

American Basketball Association The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major men's professional basketball league from 1967 to 1976. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger, American Basketball Association–National Basketball Association merger in 1976, ...

's 1968–69 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Division champion Oakland Oaks defeating the Eastern Division champion

Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The Pacers were first esta ...

, four games to one in the ABA Finals.

Warren Jabali Warren Jabali (August 29, 1946 – July 13, 2012) was an American basketball player. He played professionally in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1968 to 1975. Early career Born Warren Edward Armstrong, Jabali changed his name wh ...

of the Oaks was named the Playoff MVP.

Notable events

The Oakland Oaks won the ABA championship after finishing with the league's best record during the regular season (60-18, .769). The

Pittsburgh Pipers Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylv ...

had accomplished the same feat the year prior.

Rick Barry Richard Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28, 1944) is an American retired professional basketball player who starred at the NCAA, American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) levels. Barry ranks among the ...

, now eligible to play for the Oaks after being forced to sit out the previous season, averaged 34.0 points during the regular season. However, Barry only played 35 regular season games before injuring a knee and missing the playoffs. The Oaks, like the Pittsburgh Pipers before them, did not play in the following season as the same team. The Oakland Oaks became the

Washington Caps The Washington Caps were an American Basketball Association team from 1969 through 1970. The franchise had previously been the Oakland Oaks. From 1970 through 1976 the team played as the Virginia Squires. Origins With the formation of the ABA i ...

for the 1969-1970 ABA season; the Pittsburgh Pipers had become the Minnesota Pipers after winning the ABA championship the prior season. The Oaks' 60-18 (.769) record in this season was the best in ABA history until the

Kentucky Colonels The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of ...

finished the 1971-1972 season with a record of 68-16 (.810), a record that was never surpassed.

of Oakland was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs.

Western Division

Champion: Oakland Oaks Division Semifinals (1) Oakland Oaks vs. (3)

Denver Rockets Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the United ...

: ''Oaks win series 4-3'' *Game 1 @ Oakland: Oakland 129, Denver 99 *Game 2 @ Oakland: Denver 122, Oakland 119 *Game 3 @ Denver: Oakland 121, Denver 99 *Game 4 @ Denver: Denver 109, Oakland 108 *Game 5 @ Oakland: Oakland 128, Denver 118 *Game 6 @ Denver: Denver 126, Oakland 115 *Game 7 @ Oakland: Oakland 115, Denver 102 (2)

New Orleans Buccaneers The New Orleans Buccaneers were a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before a ...

vs. (4)

Dallas Chaparrals The Dallas Chaparrals were a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA). The team moved to San Antonio, Texas for the 1973–74 season and were renamed the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs joined the National Basketball Association ...

: ''Bucs win series 4-3'' *Game 1 @ New Orleans: New Orleans 129, Dallas 106 *Game 2 @ New Orleans: New Orleans 122, Dallas 108 *Game 3 @ Dallas: Dallas 130, New Orleans 106 *Game 4 @ Dallas: New Orleans 114, Dallas 107 *Game 5 @ New Orleans: Dallas 123, New Orleans 112 *Game 6 @ Dallas: Dallas 136, New Orleans 118 *Game 7 @ New Orleans: New Orleans 101, Dallas 95 Division Finals (1) Oakland Oaks vs. (2)

: ''Oaks win series 4-0'' *Game 1 @ Oakland: Oakland 128, New Orleans 118 *Game 2 @ Oakland: Oakland 135, New Orleans 124 *Game 3 @ New Orleans: Oakland 113, New Orleans 107 *Game 4 @ New Orleans: Oakland 128, New Orleans 114

Eastern Division

Champion:

Division Semifinals (1)

vs. (3)

: ''Pacers win series 4-3'' *Game 1 @ Indiana: Kentucky 128, Indiana 118 *Game 2 @ Indiana: Indiana 120, Kentucky 115 *Game 3 @ Kentucky: Kentucky 130, Indiana 111 *Game 4 @ Kentucky: Kentucky 105, Indiana 104 *Game 5 @ Indiana: Indiana 116, Kentucky 97 *Game 6 @ Kentucky: Indiana 107, Kentucky 89 *Game 7 @ Indiana: Indiana 120, Kentucky 111 (2)

Miami Floridians The Miami Floridians, later in their history known simply as The Floridians, were a professional basketball franchise in the original, now-defunct American Basketball Association. The Miami Floridians played in the ABA from 1968 through 1970 wh ...

vs. (4)

Minnesota Pipers Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to i ...

: ''Floridians win series 4-3'' *Game 1 @ Miami: Miami 119, Minnesota 110 *Game 2 @ Miami: Minnesota 106, Miami 99 *Game 3 @ Minnesota: Minnesota 109, Miami 93 *Game 4 @ Minnesota: Miami 116, Minnesota 109 *Game 5 @ Miami: Miami 122, Minnesota 107 *Game 6 @ Minnesota: Minnesota 105, Miami 100 *Game 7 @ Miami: Miami 137, Minnesota 128 Division Finals (1)

vs. (2)

: ''Pacers win series 4-1'' *Game 1 @ Indiana: Indiana 126, Miami 110 *Game 2 @ Indiana: Indiana 131, Miami 116 *Game 3 @ Miami: Indiana 119, Miami 105 *Game 4 @ Miami: Miami 114, Indiana 110 *Game 5 @ Indiana: Indiana 127, Miami 105

ABA Finals

(1) Oakland Oaks VS. (1)

: ''Oaks win series 4-1'' *Game 1 (Apr 30) @ Oakland: Oakland 123, Indiana 114 *Game 2 (May 2) @ Oakland: Indiana 150, Oakland 122 *Game 3 (May 3) @ Indiana: Oakland 134, Indiana 126 *Game 4 (May 5) @ Indiana: Oakland 144, Indiana 117 *Game 5 (May 7) @ Oakland: Oakland 135, Indiana 131

External links

RememberTheABA.com page on 1969 ABA playoffs

{{Oakland Oaks 1968-69 ABA champions

Playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...

American Basketball Association playoffs