New Orleans Buccaneers
The New Orleans Buccaneers were an American basketball franchise from New Orleans, Louisiana and a founding member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, the team moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she played four years as a Memphis Pros, Memphis Tams and Sounds Memphis, should before they move to Baltimore in 1975 and continue to exist as Baltimore Claws.
Origins
At the founding of ABA on February 2, 1967, a franchise to a group, who was also Morton Downey, Jr., awarded. The group claimed to only $ 1000 for the team, whereas most other $ 30,000 cost. Charles G. Smither, one of the seven owners, became president; Another investor, Maurice M. Stern, Managing Director. The team got the name New Orleans Buccaneers and former coach of the Mississippi State University Babe McCarthy was hired as the first coach. Among the first players were Doug Moe, Larry Brown, Gerald Govan, Jimmy Jones and Red Robbins.
1967-1968
The Buccaneers played their home games in the first season before 2337 fans at the Loyola University Fieldhouse. Doug Moe, Red Robbins, Larry Brown and Jimmy Jones were named the first All Star Game, was at the Babe McCarthy coach of the West. Larry Brown was named MVP of the All Star Game and was in the season, most assists in the league. Doug Moe was a member of the ABA All teams and Jimmy Jones of the All Rookie team. The Buccaneers recruited Jackie Moreland, a native of Minden, Louisiana and played from 1960-1965 for the Detroit Pistons.
The Buccaneers finished the season as the first in the Western Division with 48 wins and 30 defeats, two games ahead of the Dallas Chaparrals and three games against the Denver Rockets. They defeated in the first round of the playoffs, the Denver Rockets 3-2 and won the division championship with 4-1 victory over the Dallas Chaparrals. In the first ABA championship series ever they lost the decisive seventh game against the Pittsburgh Pipers with 113:122.
1968-1969
Before the season, the Buccaneers Larry Brown and Doug Moe gave from the Oakland Oaks in exchange for Steve Jones, Barry Liebowitz and Ron Frantz. Red Robbins and Steve Jones played in the ABA All Star Game. They finished the season with 46 wins and 32 defeats, what second place in the Western Division meant 14 games behind the Oakland Oaks. Average 2834 spectators came to the games.
The Buccaneers met in the first round of the playoffs to the Dallas Chaparrals, which could defeat almost 4:3. In the division finals, they then lost to the Oakland Oaks with 0:4.
1969-1970
The Buccaneers now played in Tulane Gym (now Fogelman Arena). Jimmy Jones suffered a knee injury in December, which limited its activity in this season; yet he was as well as Steve Jones and Gerald Govan nominated for the All Star Game. Babe McCarthy coached the West again.
The Bucs finished the season with 42 victories as defeats. This was the team's fifth and last in the powerful Western Division and could not qualify for the playoffs. ( In the Eastern Division, the result would have been enough for third place and thus for the playoffs. ) Average visited 2599 fans to home games.
End of the stay in New Orleans
The team earned Wendell Ladner in the Draft and named himself in the Louisiana Buccaneers to the plan throughout the state to discharge the home games in the 1970/71 season, so in New Orleans, Shreveport, Lafayette, Monroe and Baton Rouge. Like most teams in the ABA had the Bucs never a strong financial base and moving into the smaller Tulane Gym along with their poorer game were the revenues dry up more and more. It was hoped that one could achieve with a regional team more capital.
Nevertheless, the franchise was acquired on 21 August 1970 by a new owner, ten days later relocated to Memphis, Tennessee and renamed Memphis Pros.
On 10 December 2008, the Buccaneers were revived in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats for the first time by the New Orleans Hornets, the NBA team from the city, who played from the first season in the jerseys of the Bucks. Even the cheerleaders were on their gap from the season, highlights of the team were shown during the game as videos and many of the former players and coaches were honored at halftime. The Hornets won the game 105:89. In an away game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 16, 2009, the Hornets wore these jerseys again and lost 78:92.