Memphis Pros
Encyclopedia
Memphis Pros were an American Basketball Association
team during the 1970-1971 and 1971-1972 seasons.
were a charter member of the ABA and played for three seasons, 1967-1970, winning the Western Division championship in 1969. After the 1969-1970 season the team was rechristened as the Louisiana Buccaneers, with home games scheduled in several cities in that state. However, this idea was scrapped, placing the Bucs' future in doubt.
On August 21, 1970, the team was sold to Memphis businessman P.W. Blake. Ten days later, he moved the team to Memphis and changed its name to the Memphis Pros, reportedly because the already purchased 'Bucs' uniforms could easily be converted to 'Pros' uniforms at little expense.
was nearly booked solid through the winter, and the Pros were only able to secure one Friday home game. They were forced to play the balance of their home schedule in several other arenas in Tennessee and Mississippi. Not surprisingly, ticket sales slowed to a trickle; by the start of the season they'd only sold 180 season tickets.
Bob Warren
of the Los Angeles Lakers
joined the team, and Ron Franz
and Dave Nash were traded to The Floridians for Wilbert Jones, Al Cueto
and Erv Staggs; later, Red Robbins
was traded to the Utah Stars
for Craig Raymond
and Skeeter Swift
was traded to the Pittsburgh Pipers for Charlie Williams
. Jimmy Jones
, Steve Jones
and Wendell Ladner
played in the 1971 ABA All-Star Game
; Ladner, a pick in the last ABA draft, also made the ABA All-Rookie team. An average of 3,199 fans attended Pros home games during the season. The Pros finished with 41 wins and 43 losses, which put them in third place in the Eastern Division. The Pros advanced to the playoffs but lost in the Eastern Division semifinals to the Indiana Pacers
, 4 games to none.
The Pros almost didn't survive that season. In December 1970, Blake simply walked away from the team, claiming to have lost $200,000. The league desperately tried to find a new owner, but there were no takers. Finally in February, a community group, Memphis Area Sports Inc., bought the team for $700,000. It was composed of 4,600 Tennessee residents who bought the team's stock at $5, $10 and $50 a share and elected a 24-person board to run the team. Memphis stockbroker A.W. Hart was installed as team president.
, an underclassman All American from the University of Mississippi
, and added Larry Cannon
, but lost Steve Jones to the Dallas Chaparrals
through free agency; Jimmy Jones also departed, ending up with the Utah Stars
.
On October 6, 1971 the Pros hosted the NBA's Boston Celtics
for a preseason exhibition game. The Celtics won, 115-94. This was the only time a Memphis team played an NBA team until the Vancouver Grizzlies
moved to Memphis in 2001, thirty years later.
The Pros traded Larry Cannon to the Indiana Pacers
in mid-season for Don Sidle
, and executed another midseason trade which sent Wendell Ladner, Tom Owens and Bobby Warren to the Carolina Cougars
for Randy Denton
, Warren Davis
and George Lehmann
. The latter trade was initiated by Hart without consulting McCarthy.
The Pros had one player, Wil Jones, play in the 1972 ABA All-Star Game
.
Despite (or perhaps because of) all the personnel moves, the team finished with only 26 wins against 58 losses, which put them in fifth (last) place in the Western Division, 34 games behind the Utah Stars, and kept them out of the playoffs.
Although they averaged 4,441 fans per home game, the team's financial problems cropped up again, and forcing the league to take control of the team for a second time.
On April 27, 1972 Babe McCarthy resigned as the Pros' coach. On June 13, 1972, the team was purchased by Charles O. Finley
, who also owned the Oakland A's. Finley also took over the team's debts. Legendary former University of Kentucky
head coach Adolph Rupp
became team president.
Prior to the 1972-1973 season Finley changed the team's name to the Memphis Tams
.
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:...
team during the 1970-1971 and 1971-1972 seasons.
Origins
The New Orleans BuccaneersNew Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers was a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before an abortive move to Baltimore in 1975.-Origins:With the...
were a charter member of the ABA and played for three seasons, 1967-1970, winning the Western Division championship in 1969. After the 1969-1970 season the team was rechristened as the Louisiana Buccaneers, with home games scheduled in several cities in that state. However, this idea was scrapped, placing the Bucs' future in doubt.
On August 21, 1970, the team was sold to Memphis businessman P.W. Blake. Ten days later, he moved the team to Memphis and changed its name to the Memphis Pros, reportedly because the already purchased 'Bucs' uniforms could easily be converted to 'Pros' uniforms at little expense.
1970-1971 season
The Pros immediately ran into problems due to the timing of the move. The Mid-South ColiseumMid-South Coliseum
The Mid-South Coliseum, also known as "The Entertainment Capital of the Mid-South", was a multi-purpose arena, that seated 10,085 people, in Memphis, Tennessee...
was nearly booked solid through the winter, and the Pros were only able to secure one Friday home game. They were forced to play the balance of their home schedule in several other arenas in Tennessee and Mississippi. Not surprisingly, ticket sales slowed to a trickle; by the start of the season they'd only sold 180 season tickets.
Bob Warren
Bob Warren
Robert G. Warren is former American professional basketball player. He was born in Murray, Kentucky.Warren played forward at the Vanderbilt University from 1965 to 1968. His listed height was 6'5" and his weight was 190 lbs. He wore jersey number 21. He was named to multiple All-SEC teams and won...
of the Los Angeles 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...
joined the team, and Ron Franz
Ron Franz
Ronald Stephen Franz is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward, Franz played at the University of Kansas from 1965 to 1967. During the 1966-67 season, he served as team captain under coach Ted Owens.Franz was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 33rd pick of the 1967...
and Dave Nash were traded to The Floridians for Wilbert Jones, Al Cueto
Al Cueto
Alfonso Angel Cueto is a Cuban-born former professional basketball player.A 6'7" center, Cueto attended Coral Gables High School in Florida and the University of Tulsa. He was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the tenth round of the 1969 NBA Draft, but he never joined the team...
and Erv Staggs; later, Red Robbins
Red Robbins
Austin "Red" Robbins was an American basketball player....
was traded to the Utah Stars
Utah Stars
The Utah Stars was an American Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.Under head coach Bill Sharman the Stars were the first major professional basketball team to use a pre-game shootaround.-History:...
for Craig Raymond
Craig Raymond
Craig Raymond is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'11" center from Brigham Young University, Raymond was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the twelfth pick of the 1967 NBA Draft...
and Skeeter Swift
Skeeter Swift
Harley E. "Skeeter" Swift is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'3" guard from East Tennessee State University, Swift played five seasons in the American Basketball Association as a member of the New Orleans Buccaneers, Memphis Pros, Pittsburgh Condors, Dallas Chaparrals, and San...
was traded to the Pittsburgh Pipers for Charlie Williams
Charlie Williams (basketball)
Charles E. "Charlie" Williams is a former professional basketball player. A 6’0” guard from Stadium High School and Seattle University, he played in the American Basketball Association in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
. Jimmy Jones
Jimmy Jones (basketball)
James "Jimmy" Jones is an American former professional basketball player who was a six-time All-Star in the American Basketball Association .A 6'4" guard/forward, Jones attended Grambling State University....
, Steve Jones
Steve Jones (basketball)
Stephen Howard "Snapper" Jones is one of the most esteemed and watched National Basketball Association television analysts.-Basketball career:...
and Wendell Ladner
Wendell Ladner
Wendell Ladner was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at The University of Southern Mississippi where he became a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity....
played in the 1971 ABA All-Star Game
1971 ABA All-Star Game
GAME 4: at Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina, January 23, 1971MVP: Mel Daniels, Indiana PacersCoaches:* East: Al Bianchi, Virginia Squires* West: Bill Sharman, Utah Stars-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods:...
; Ladner, a pick in the last ABA draft, also made the ABA All-Rookie team. An average of 3,199 fans attended Pros home games during the season. The Pros finished with 41 wins and 43 losses, which put them in third place in the Eastern Division. The Pros advanced to the playoffs but lost in the Eastern Division semifinals to the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, 4 games to none.
The Pros almost didn't survive that season. In December 1970, Blake simply walked away from the team, claiming to have lost $200,000. The league desperately tried to find a new owner, but there were no takers. Finally in February, a community group, Memphis Area Sports Inc., bought the team for $700,000. It was composed of 4,600 Tennessee residents who bought the team's stock at $5, $10 and $50 a share and elected a 24-person board to run the team. Memphis stockbroker A.W. Hart was installed as team president.
1971-1972 season
The team signed Johnny NeumannJohnny Neumann
Carl John Neumann is an American former professional basketball player and coach. At 6'6" and 200 pounds, he played the guard and forward positions.-High school and college:...
, an underclassman All American from the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, and added Larry Cannon
Larry Cannon (basketball)
Lawrence T. "Larry" Cannon is a retired American basketball player, a former 6'4" guard .-La Salle:...
, but lost Steve Jones 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...
through free agency; Jimmy Jones also departed, ending up with the Utah Stars
Utah Stars
The Utah Stars was an American Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.Under head coach Bill Sharman the Stars were the first major professional basketball team to use a pre-game shootaround.-History:...
.
On October 6, 1971 the Pros hosted the NBA's Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
for a preseason exhibition game. The Celtics won, 115-94. This was the only time a Memphis team played an NBA team until the Vancouver Grizzlies
Vancouver Grizzlies
The Vancouver Grizzlies were a professional basketball team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They were part of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Toronto Raptors, as part of the NBA's...
moved to Memphis in 2001, thirty years later.
The Pros traded Larry Cannon to the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in mid-season for Don Sidle
Don Sidle
Donald Roy Sidle was an American professional basketball player.A 6'8" forward/center, Sidle played at the University of Oklahoma from 1965 to 1968...
, and executed another midseason trade which sent Wendell Ladner, Tom Owens and Bobby Warren to 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...
for Randy Denton
Randy Denton
Randall Drew Denton is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'10" center from Duke University, Denton played six seasons in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association as a member of the Carolina Cougars, Memphis Pros, Memphis Tams, Utah Stars, Spirits...
, Warren Davis
Warren Davis (basketball)
Warren Lee Davis was a Forward/Center for the Anaheim Amigos , Los Angeles Stars , Pittsburgh Pipers , The Floridians , Carolina Cougars and Memphis Pros/Memphis Tams of the American Basketball Association.He was named to the 1968-69 ABA West All-Star Team.In 6 seasons he played in...
and George Lehmann
George Lehmann
George Lehmann is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'0" guard from Campbell University, Lehmann played in the NBA and ABA from 1967 to 1974 as a member of the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Stars, New York Nets, Miami Floridians, Carolina Cougars, Memphis Pros, and Memphis...
. The latter trade was initiated by Hart without consulting McCarthy.
The Pros had one player, Wil Jones, play in the 1972 ABA All-Star Game
1972 ABA All-Star Game
GAME 5: at Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, January 29, 1972MVP: Dan Issel, Kentucky ColonelsCoaches:* East: Joe Mullaney, Kentucky Colonels* West: LaDell Andersen, Utah Stars-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods:...
.
Despite (or perhaps because of) all the personnel moves, the team finished with only 26 wins against 58 losses, which put them in fifth (last) place in the Western Division, 34 games behind the Utah Stars, and kept them out of the playoffs.
Although they averaged 4,441 fans per home game, the team's financial problems cropped up again, and forcing the league to take control of the team for a second time.
On April 27, 1972 Babe McCarthy resigned as the Pros' coach. On June 13, 1972, the team was purchased by Charles O. Finley
Charles O. Finley
Charles Oscar Finley , nicknamed Charlie O or Charley O, was an American businessman who is best remembered for his tenure as the owner of the Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball team. Finley purchased the franchise while it was located in Kansas City, moving it to Oakland in 1968...
, who also owned the Oakland A's. Finley also took over the team's debts. Legendary former University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
head coach Adolph Rupp
Adolph Rupp
Adolph Frederick Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American college basketball. Rupp is fourth in total victories by a men's NCAA Division I college coach, winning 876 games in 41 years of coaching...
became team president.
Prior to the 1972-1973 season Finley changed the team's name to the Memphis Tams
Memphis Tams
The Memphis Tams were an American Basketball Association team during the 1972-1973 and 1973-1974 seasons. The team had previously been the New Orleans Buccaneers for three seasons before moving to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Memphis Pros from 1970 through 1972. The team later became...
.
See also
- New Orleans BuccaneersNew Orleans BuccaneersNew Orleans Buccaneers was a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before an abortive move to Baltimore in 1975.-Origins:With the...
- Memphis TamsMemphis TamsThe Memphis Tams were an American Basketball Association team during the 1972-1973 and 1973-1974 seasons. The team had previously been the New Orleans Buccaneers for three seasons before moving to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Memphis Pros from 1970 through 1972. The team later became...
- Memphis SoundsMemphis SoundsMemphis Sounds was the final name of a franchise in the American Basketball Association. The team had begun as the New Orleans Buccaneers, and after three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where it had occasionally played some home games in the past to reasonable crowds...
- Baltimore Hustlers
- Baltimore ClawsBaltimore ClawsThe Baltimore Claws was an American basketball team which was supposed to appear in the 1975-76 season in the American Basketball Association. The team collapsed before the season started, playing only three exhibition games in its brief history.-Background:...
- Memphis GrizzliesMemphis GrizzliesThe Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...