1971–72 ABA season

The 1971–72 ABA season was the fifth season of the American Basketball Association. The Indiana Pacers won the championship, defeating the New York Nets, 4 games to 2, in the ABA Finals.

For the first time in the league's history, no franchise moved to a different state from the previous season. The only name change involved the Dallas Chaparrals, who were able to secure a lease in Dallas for the season and were renamed from the previous season's Texas Chaparrals.

Western Division
Asterisk (*) denotes playoff team

Bold – ABA champions

Awards and honors

 * ABA Most Valuable Player Award: Artis Gilmore, Kentucky Colonels
 * Rookie of the Year: Artis Gilmore, Kentucky Colonels
 * Coach of the Year: Tom Nissalke, Dallas Chaparrals
 * Playoffs MVP: Freddie Lewis, Indiana Pacers
 * All-Star Game MVP: Dan Issel, Kentucky Colonels
 * All-ABA First Team
 * Dan Issel, Kentucky Colonels (1st First Team selection, 2nd overall selection)
 * Rick Barry, New York Nets (4th selection)
 * Artis Gilmore, Kentucky Colonels
 * Donnie Freeman, Dallas Chaparrals (1st First Team selection, 4th overall selection)
 * Bill Melchionni, New York Nets
 * All-ABA Second Team
 * Willie Wise, Utah Stars
 * Julius Erving, Virginia Squires
 * Zelmo Beaty, Utah Stars (2nd selection)
 * Ralph Simpson, Denver Rockets
 * Charlie Scott, Virginia Squires
 * All-ABA Rookie Team
 * Julius Erving, Virginia Squires
 * Artis Gilmore, Kentucky Colonels
 * George McGinnis, Indiana Pacers
 * Johnny Neumann, Memphis Pros
 * John Roche, New York Nets