History of the Utah Rockies

A Team That Never Took the Floor

The Utah Rockies are one of the most unusual franchises in professional basketball history because the team never actually played a game. Unlike other ABA clubs that folded or relocated after several seasons, the Rockies existed only as a proposed franchise during the final months of the American Basketball Association.

The name became associated with plans to relocate the Spirits of St. Louis to Salt Lake City following the 1975-76 ABA season. Although ownership explored the move and discussed branding the club as the Utah Rockies, the franchise disappeared before the relocation could become reality when the ABA merged with the NBA.

While the Utah Rockies never took the court, the proposal illustrates the instability that surrounded the ABA during its final year and provides a fascinating glimpse into what professional basketball in Utah might have looked like before the arrival of the NBA's Utah Jazz.

The ABA's Financial Problems

By the mid-1970s, the ABA had become one of the most entertaining basketball leagues in the world. The league introduced the three-point shot, the red, white and blue basketball, slam dunk contests, and an exciting, fast-paced style of play.

Unfortunately, many franchises struggled financially despite the entertaining product on the floor. Several teams changed cities, ownership groups, or ceased operations altogether. Attendance varied dramatically from market to market, and many owners found it difficult to compete financially with the NBA.

The 1975-76 season proved especially difficult. During the year, the San Diego Sails folded after only eleven games, and the Utah Stars also ceased operations because of financial problems. The collapse of those franchises left the ABA with only seven teams to complete its final season.

The Spirits of St. Louis

The franchise that would eventually become linked with the Utah Rockies began life as the Houston Mavericks in 1967 before relocating to North Carolina as the Carolina Cougars in 1969. After the 1973-74 season, the team moved once again, becoming the Spirits of St. Louis.

Although the Spirits featured exciting players such as Marvin Barnes, Maurice Lucas, Moses Malone, Ron Boone and Mike D'Antoni, attendance remained disappointing. The franchise struggled to generate enough local support despite upsetting Julius Erving and the defending champion New York Nets during the 1975 ABA Playoffs.

Ownership began exploring alternative markets that might offer better long-term opportunities.

Why Salt Lake City?

Utah had already demonstrated that it could support professional basketball. The Utah Stars had been one of the ABA's most successful organizations on the court, winning the 1971 ABA championship behind Zelmo Beaty, Willie Wise and Ron Boone.

Although the Stars ultimately folded because of financial difficulties, much of the problem stemmed from ownership issues rather than a lack of fan interest. Salt Lake City remained an attractive market because of its passionate basketball fans, growing population and modern arena.

The Spirits' owners believed Utah could once again support an ABA franchise if the league survived beyond the 1975-76 season.

The Utah Rockies Name

During relocation discussions, one of the names considered for the franchise was the Utah Rockies. The nickname reflected the Rocky Mountains, one of the defining geographic features of the western United States.

The proposed name fit naturally with Utah's landscape and outdoor identity. It also would have distinguished the new club from the recently departed Utah Stars while still maintaining a regional connection.

No official uniforms were produced, and no regular-season schedule was ever created under the Utah Rockies name. The proposal never advanced beyond the planning stage.

The ABA-NBA Merger Changes Everything

While the relocation plans were being discussed, negotiations between the ABA and NBA accelerated.

In June 1976, the leagues reached an agreement that allowed four ABA franchises—the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets and San Antonio Spurs—to join the NBA.

The Kentucky Colonels and the Spirits of St. Louis were excluded from the agreement.

Since the Spirits franchise was dissolved as part of the merger negotiations, the proposed move to Utah immediately became unnecessary. The Utah Rockies never officially came into existence.

The Silna Brothers' Historic Agreement

Rather than accepting a traditional buyout, Spirits owners Ozzie and Daniel Silna negotiated one of the most famous business agreements in sports history.

The brothers received an upfront payment along with a share of the national television revenue earned by the four former ABA teams joining the NBA.

As NBA television contracts grew dramatically over the following decades, the value of the agreement increased into the hundreds of millions of dollars. The settlement became far more valuable than operating the franchise would likely have been.

Because of that agreement, the proposed Utah Rockies disappeared before ever playing a game.

What Might Have Been

Had the ABA continued beyond 1976, the Utah Rockies likely would have featured an impressive collection of young talent. The Spirits roster included future Hall of Famer Moses Malone, future NBA champion Maurice Lucas, veteran guard Ron Boone, Mike D'Antoni and several other accomplished players.

The franchise could have become one of the ABA's stronger teams with another season to develop. Instead, those players dispersed among NBA teams after the merger.

Salt Lake City ultimately received an NBA franchise only a few years later when the New Orleans Jazz relocated to Utah in 1979.

Legacy

Although the Utah Rockies never played a game, they remain one of professional basketball's greatest "what if" stories. The proposed franchise represents the final chapter of the Spirits of St. Louis organization and the uncertainty surrounding the final months of the ABA.

The Rockies also symbolize how close Utah came to receiving another professional basketball team before the arrival of the Jazz. Had the ABA survived another season, basketball history in Utah might have unfolded very differently.

Proposed Franchise Timeline

Interesting Facts

• The Utah Rockies never played a regular-season or preseason game.
• The team was proposed as a relocation of the Spirits of St. Louis.
• The nickname "Rockies" was inspired by the Rocky Mountains.
• The proposal ended when the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976.
• Many players who might have played for the Rockies—including Moses Malone, Maurice Lucas and Ron Boone—went on to successful NBA careers.
• Utah received an NBA franchise three years later when the New Orleans Jazz relocated to Salt Lake City in 1979.

Legacy

Even though the Utah Rockies never officially existed beyond the planning stages, they remain an intriguing footnote in basketball history. The proposed franchise serves as a reminder of the ABA's creativity, instability and willingness to explore new markets. Today, the Utah Rockies are remembered as one of the league's most fascinating unrealized franchises and an important part of the story leading to the ABA-NBA merger.