GAME 9: at McNichols Arena, Denver, Colorado, January 27, 1976 MVP: David Thompson, Denver Nuggets Coaches: * All-Stars: Kevin Loughery, New York Nets * Denver: Larry Brown, Denver Nuggets In the 1976 ABA All Star Game, the league abandoned the usual East vs. West format it used from the 1967-68 season onward and instead had the league's first place team at the All Star break face off against a team of ABA All Stars. At the All Star break the Denver Nuggets were in first place, which was convenient as the Nuggets had also been selected to host the game in McNichols Arena. (The Nuggets went on to finish the regular season in first place at 60-24 (.714), but after beating the Kentucky Colonels 4 games to 3 in the ABA Semifinals the Nuggets lost in the 1976 ABA Finals to the New York Ne