Houston Mavericks

The Houston Mavericks were an American basketball franchise from Houston, Texas and a founding member of the American Basketball Association.

Origins

The Mavericks were one of the first franchises of ABA and were called by the League on February 2, 1967 in life. One of the early owners of the Mavericks was Bud Adams, who owned the Houston Oilers of the American Football League.

1967-1968

Your first season ended the Mavericks with 29 wins and 49 defeats, what they in the Western Division took fourth place. They played in the Sam Houston Coliseum in front of an average of 1543 spectators. Willie Somerset and DeWitt Menyard played in the All Star Game with. Art Becker was named team for the All ABA. The financial problems weighed heavily, the ABA took over the team and made transactions in order to limit the costs. The Mavericks lost to the Dallas Chaparrals in the division semi-finals of the playoffs 0-3.

1968-1969

Their second season ended the Houston Mavericks with 23 wins and 55 defeats. Willie Somerset again took part in the All Star Game. During the season, a group led by James C. Gardner, who later became Commissioner of the ABA, the new owner of the team was. The average attendance was 1147 viewers, but was often glossed over. Often less than 100 spectators at home games. Your last game made ​​the Mavericks on April 2, 1969 against only 89 fans. They defeated the New York Nets doing with 149:132. Another remarkable value were the 43 transformed free throws in a row. The series began with seven in a row with a victory after two extensions against the Minnesota Pipers on 16 January 1969 continued with 36 in a row at the New York Nets next day and ended on January 18 with the first free throw against the Kentucky Colonels. This free-throw line and the free throw line in a game are still an unbroken record in professional basketball. The Mavericks finished the season in sixth place in the Western Division and did not make it into the playoffs.

Final

After the end of the 1968/69 season the team moved to North Carolina to continue playing as Carolina Cougars. After a few years in North Carolina moved the team St. Louis, Missouri, and participated as Spirits of St. Louis in the game mode. After the 1975/76 season the team was relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, to continue playing as Utah Rockies, but the association of ABA and NBA did not include the Spirits / Rockies and the Kentucky Colonels, the team was disbanded and the players distributed in a Draft.