Remembering the Virginia Squires, a Forgotten ABA Team

The upstart ABA league launched hall-of-fame careers, including some players who spent time with the Virginia Squires.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Virginia Squires were an American Basketball Association (ABA) team based in Norfolk, Virginia that hoped to build a statewide fan base by playing games in cities across the state, including Roanoke. The team featured future Hall of Famers like Julius Erving and Charlie Scott, and gave opportunities to local players like Jay Piccola from Roanoke College. Though the Squires folded just before the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, their legacy lives on through the players they helped develop.

Why it matters

The Virginia Squires were part of the upstart ABA league that challenged the NBA's dominance in the 1970s. While the Squires ultimately folded, they helped launch the careers of some of basketball's all-time greats and provided opportunities for local players to showcase their talents on a national stage.

The details

The Squires were based in Norfolk but played games in cities across Virginia, including Hampton, Richmond, and Roanoke, in an effort to build a statewide fan base. The team featured future Hall of Famers like Julius Erving, who played his first two professional seasons with the Squires, and Charlie Scott. Local players like Jay Piccola, who led Roanoke College to an NCAA championship, also got a chance to try out for the Squires. Though the team folded just before the ABA-NBA merger in 1976, their impact on the sport's history remains.

  • The Virginia Squires were based in Norfolk and played games across Virginia from 1970 to 1976.
  • Julius Erving started his professional career with the Squires in October 1971, playing two seasons with the team.
  • In September 1970, WDBJ7 interviewed Squires players Frank Card and Ron Taylor.
  • In March 1971, WDBJ7 interviewed Squires head coach Al Bianchi about the possibility of the team playing games in Roanoke.
  • In September 1974, Jay Piccola, a standout player from Roanoke College, talked with WDBJ7 about trying out for the Squires.

The players

Julius Erving

A Hall of Fame basketball player who started his professional career with the Virginia Squires, playing two seasons with the team before being traded to the New York Nets.

Charlie Scott

A Hall of Fame basketball player who played some of his early professional games with the Virginia Squires before going on to a successful NBA career.

Jay Piccola

A standout player from Roanoke College who led the team to an NCAA championship in 1972 and later tried out for the Virginia Squires in 1974.

Al Bianchi

The head coach of the Virginia Squires who spoke with WDBJ7 in 1971 about the possibility of the team playing games in Roanoke.

Frank Card

A forward for the Virginia Squires who was interviewed by WDBJ7 in 1970 about his expectations for the upcoming season.

Ron Taylor

A center for the Virginia Squires who was interviewed by WDBJ7 in 1970 about his hopes for the upcoming season.

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What they’re saying

“Well. I hope to do quite well. The coach seems to have a lot of confidence in me. And I just hope I can live up to what he expects.”

— Frank Card, Forward (WDBJ7)

“I think this year is my big year. It's like a semi-rookie year for me.”

— Ron Taylor, Center (WDBJ7)

“I would say this to you, and I would say this to the people of Roanoke. When it comes down to a question of numbers, I mean, if we play here and we draw people and we can do well, well, naturally, we want to come back. But if we play here and we do not do well, well, then we have to go somewhere where the people will turn out to see us play so we can pay these salaries and we can go after these high-priced players.”

— Al Bianchi, Head Coach (WDBJ7)

“I feel as though I have a real good shot. I know what I'm up against. I played against all the rookies before at rookie camp and I played against some of the veterans already too. So I pretty much know what I'm up against. I think I have a real good shot.”

— Jay Piccola (WDBJ7)

What’s next

The Virginia Squires folded in May 1976, just one month before the ABA merged with the NBA.

The takeaway

The Virginia Squires, though ultimately short-lived, played an important role in the history of professional basketball, helping to launch the careers of Hall of Famers like Julius Erving and providing opportunities for local players to showcase their talents on a national stage.