Houston Mavericks
Encyclopedia
The Houston Mavericks were a charter member of the American Basketball Association
. They played in the upstart league's first two seasons, from 1967 to 1969. Their home arena was the Sam Houston Coliseum
. In 1947-1948, there was an unrelated Mavericks franchise based in Houston as part of the Professional Basketball League of America
.
, who owned the Houston Oilers of the American Football League
. Houston native and former NBA great Slater Martin
was hired as general manager and head coach.
).
Not surprisingly given the rough start, the Mavericks had a somewhat mediocre season, finishing 29-49, good for fourth place in the Western Division. However, this was actually enough to make the playoffs. They went down rather meekly to the Dallas Chaparrals
in the Western Division semifinals 3 games to none.
Willie Somerset
and DeWitt Menyard
of the Mavericks played in the ABA All Star Game. Art Becker
was named First Team All ABA.
Houstonians viewed the Mavericks largely with indifference. Average attendance was listed as 1,543, easily the worst in the league. It took some effort to get even to that low figure; the team was lucky to attract 500 fans on most nights.
and Don Chaney
. However, when they both opted for the NBA instead, Morrow turned the team back over to the league.
ABA commissioner George Mikan
was concerned enough about the situation in Houston that he sent the Mavericks several players in hopes of making them more attractive to fans. Martin, who had teamed with Mikan on the Minneapolis Lakers
in the 1940s and 1950s, didn't appreciate this intervention from the league office and resigned a month into the season. Becker served as player-coach for a few games until Jim Weaver took over for the rest of the campaign.
The team's already dreadful attendance dropped even further. While average attendance was officially reported as 1,147, it was almost certainly lower than that; many observers reported seeing "crowds" in double digits. According to most reliable sources, the Mavericks padded the gate for most of the early-season games to make the attendance figures look more respectable than they actually were. As the season wore on, however, the Mavericks were less willing to embellish their attendance. During the last three months of the season, they attracted well under 400 fans per game.
Not surprisingly, the Mavericks were wretched on the court, finishing with a record of 23-55, second-worst in the league. However, the season was not without individual highlights Willie Somerset again played in the ABA All Star Game. The Houston Mavericks played their final game on April 2, 1969 before only 89 fans (announced attendance), defeating the New York Nets 149-132. The 149 points was an all time high for the Mavericks; the 89 fans was an all time low. Another notable mark during the season was the Mavericks hitting 43 consecutive free throws in a row. The streak began with 7 straight in a double overtime victory over the Minnesota Pipers on January 16, 1969. The next night on the road against the New York Nets the Mavericks went 36 of 36 from the line. The streak ended with the team's first free throw against the Kentucky Colonels
on January 18, 1969. The free throw streak and mark for a single game remain to this day as unbroken professional basketball records.
, who intended to move the team to North Carolina
. However, he agreed to finish the season in Houston. Shortly after the season ended, Gardner moved the team to North Carolina as the Carolina Cougars
. After a few years in North Carolina the team moved to St. Louis, Missouri
and competed as the Spirits of St. Louis
. After the 1975-1976 season the team was moving to Salt Lake City, Utah
to play as the Utah Rockies
but the ABA-NBA merger
did not include the Spirits/Rockies or the Kentucky Colonels
and the franchise disbanded, its players put into a dispersal draft.
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
. They played in the upstart league's first two seasons, from 1967 to 1969. Their home arena was the Sam Houston Coliseum
Sam Houston Coliseum
Sam Houston Coliseum was an indoor arena, located in Houston, Texas. It was located at 801 Bagby Street near downtown. The arena was opened in November 1937 and had a capacity of 9,200. It was built in conjunction with the Houston Music Hall, which was adjacent to the Coliseum...
. In 1947-1948, there was an unrelated Mavericks franchise based in Houston as part of the Professional Basketball League of America
Professional Basketball League of America
The Professional Basketball League of America was a basketball league in the United States that was started in 1947 in response to the tremendous upsurge in interest in basketball in the era immediately following World War II...
.
Origins
The Mavericks were one of the first ABA franchises, announced on February 2, 1967 when the ABA was formed. They were owned by businessman T. C. Morrow. One of the minority partners was Bud AdamsBud Adams
Kenneth Stanley "Bud" Adams, Jr. is the owner of the Tennessee Titans' National Football League franchise. He was instrumental in the founding and establishment of the former American Football League. Adams became a charter AFL owner with the establishment of the Titans franchise, which was...
, who owned the Houston Oilers of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
. Houston native and former NBA great Slater Martin
Slater Martin
Slater Nelson "Dugie" Martin Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player and coach who played the guard position for 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association...
was hired as general manager and head coach.
1967-1968 season
The Mavericks got off to an inauspicious start during the first ABA draft. Martin arrived in Oakland to represent the team, only to find out that the owners hadn't sent the required $30,000 bond. By the time Martin was able to get the money through other channels, he'd missed the first four rounds and was forced to recruit players from the Eastern Basketball Association (now the Continental Basketball AssociationContinental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
).
Not surprisingly given the rough start, the Mavericks had a somewhat mediocre season, finishing 29-49, good for fourth place in the Western Division. However, this was actually enough to make the playoffs. They went down rather meekly to the Dallas Chaparrals
Dallas Chaparrals
The Dallas Chaparrals were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, later becoming the San Antonio Spurs and joining the NBA.The team suffered from poor attendance and general disinterest in Dallas...
in the Western Division semifinals 3 games to none.
Willie Somerset
Willie Somerset
Willard F. Somerset is an American former professional basketball player.A 5'8" guard from Duquesne University, Somerset played eight games for the Baltimore Bullets during the 1965-66 NBA season, averaging 5.6 points per game...
and DeWitt Menyard
DeWitt Menyard
DeWitt Menyard was an American professional basketball player.A 6'10" center from the University of Utah, Menyard played one season in the American Basketball Association as a member of the Houston Mavericks...
of the Mavericks played in the ABA All Star Game. Art Becker
Art Becker
Arthur C. "Art" Becker is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward from Arizona State University, Becker played six seasons in the American Basketball Association as a member of the Houston Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Rockets, Dallas Chaparrals, and New York Nets...
was named First Team All ABA.
Houstonians viewed the Mavericks largely with indifference. Average attendance was listed as 1,543, easily the worst in the league. It took some effort to get even to that low figure; the team was lucky to attract 500 fans on most nights.
1968-1969 season
Morrow made a considerable effort in the offseason to improve the team, aggressively pursuing Houston Cougars stars Elvin HayesElvin Hayes
Elvin Ernest Hayes is a retired American basketball player and radio analyst for Houston Cougars men's basketball, where he played college basketball...
and Don Chaney
Don Chaney
Donald Ray Chaney is an American former professional basketball player and coach, most notable for his long stints as a player on the Boston Celtics.-Career as a player:...
. However, when they both opted for the NBA instead, Morrow turned the team back over to the league.
ABA commissioner George Mikan
George Mikan
George Lawrence Mikan, Jr. , nicknamed Mr. Basketball, was an American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball Association...
was concerned enough about the situation in Houston that he sent the Mavericks several players in hopes of making them more attractive to fans. Martin, who had teamed with Mikan on the Minneapolis Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 1940s and 1950s, didn't appreciate this intervention from the league office and resigned a month into the season. Becker served as player-coach for a few games until Jim Weaver took over for the rest of the campaign.
The team's already dreadful attendance dropped even further. While average attendance was officially reported as 1,147, it was almost certainly lower than that; many observers reported seeing "crowds" in double digits. According to most reliable sources, the Mavericks padded the gate for most of the early-season games to make the attendance figures look more respectable than they actually were. As the season wore on, however, the Mavericks were less willing to embellish their attendance. During the last three months of the season, they attracted well under 400 fans per game.
Not surprisingly, the Mavericks were wretched on the court, finishing with a record of 23-55, second-worst in the league. However, the season was not without individual highlights Willie Somerset again played in the ABA All Star Game. The Houston Mavericks played their final game on April 2, 1969 before only 89 fans (announced attendance), defeating the New York Nets 149-132. The 149 points was an all time high for the Mavericks; the 89 fans was an all time low. Another notable mark during the season was the Mavericks hitting 43 consecutive free throws in a row. The streak began with 7 straight in a double overtime victory over the Minnesota Pipers on January 16, 1969. The next night on the road against the New York Nets the Mavericks went 36 of 36 from the line. The streak ended with the team's first free throw against the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
on January 18, 1969. The free throw streak and mark for a single game remain to this day as unbroken professional basketball records.
Aftermath
During the 1968-69 season, the league sold the team to a group led by Jim GardnerJames Carson Gardner
James Carson "Jim" Gardner is a North Carolina businessman and politician who served as a U.S. Representative and as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina ....
, who intended to move the team to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. However, he agreed to finish the season in Houston. Shortly after the season ended, Gardner moved the team to North Carolina as the Carolina Cougars
Carolina Cougars
Carolina Cougars was a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association that existed from late 1969 through 1974. The Cougars were originally a charter member of the ABA as the Houston Mavericks in 1967. The Mavericks moved to North Carolina in late 1969 after two unsuccessful...
. After a few years in North Carolina the team moved to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and competed as the Spirits of St. Louis
Spirits of St. Louis
The Spirits of St. Louis were one of two teams still in existence at the end of the American Basketball Association that did not survive the ABA-NBA merger. They were a member of the ABA in its last two seasons, 1974–75 and 1975–76, while playing their home games at the St...
. After the 1975-1976 season the team was moving to Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
to play as the Utah Rockies
Utah Rockies
Utah Rockies was the name under which the Spirits of St. Louis were to play during the ultimately aborted 1976–77 American Basketball Association season....
but the ABA-NBA merger
ABA-NBA merger
The ABA–NBA merger was the merger of the American Basketball Association with the National Basketball Association, which after multiple attempts over several years finally occurred in 1976.- Origins of ABA-NBA competition :...
did not include the Spirits/Rockies or the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
and the franchise disbanded, its players put into a dispersal draft.