Great question. The ABA has been open to playing D-league teams for many years.

In fact, the ABA has even challenged D-league teams. We feel that the quality of players in the ABA is as good if not better than the D-league. Perhaps the reason is because the NBA does not want to dispel the myth that the D-league is the second best non-NBA league in the US. However, the D-league is important to the ABA because our players see it as a path to the NBA and we certainly do not want to upset the NBA or D-league and thus prevent more of our players to advance. We are ready, willing and able to play games vs. the D-league at any time, any place. We truly believe that many of our players are NBA caliber and that if ABA players were scouted as much as NCAA and international players are scouted, you would see many ABA players in the NBA. Anyone who has seen players like Maurice Mickens of the Jacksonville Giants or Andre Muse of the Chicago Steam or Jesse Jones of the Jersey Express or Chris Cromartie of the South Florida Gold or any of dozens of great ABA All Stars would know that they are far better than many of the players drafted into the NBA or on D-league rosters. And hopefully one day, the NBA and D-league will wise up – starting with some games between the D-league and the NBA.