The Brooklyn Nets could be in for more ABA-related fun during the 2026-27 season.
Last week, the team announced plans to celebrate the franchise’s 60th anniversary with an “ABA Night” on November 18. This week, a Sacramento Kings fan account on X discovered the NBA filed to trademark the term “ABA CHALLENGE SERIES” and an accompanying wordmark in late June.
The USPTO also has it listed as “live” and “pending.”
The Nets are shedding some light on their ABA roots this season. On ABA Night, they’ll give away a Julius Erving bobblehead giveaway. Peter Vecsey reported that all living players and coaches from the 1974 and 1976 title teams will be in attendance.
There’s been no official word from the league or the Nets on whether or not there’s more to the scheduled “ABA Night,” although the “Challenge Series” might indicate that something larger is in the works.
The Nets are one of four NBA teams to have originated in the ABA, the other being the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs. To our knowledge, they’ve yet to announce anything formally related to a the trademark filling either.
Brooklyn will face the San Antonio Spurs twice (December 23 and March 18), the Denver Nuggets twice (March 1 and March 25), and the Indiana Pacers four times (October 25, November 1, January 11 and March 15).