Anaheim Amigos
Encyclopedia
The Anaheim Amigos/Los Angeles Stars were an American Basketball Association
(ABA) team based in Southern California
. They were the Amigos during their first season in Anaheim and later moved to Los Angeles to become the Stars. The team existed from 1967 to 1970, when it moved to Salt Lake City to become the Utah Stars
.
was awarded to Art Kim and James Ackerman
for $30,000. A 'name the team' contest resulted in the Amigos name. The team played most of its home games at the Anaheim Convention Center
. Five home games were scheduled elsewhere in California
and three home games were scheduled in Honolulu, Hawaii
. Al Brightman was the first head coach.
, Jeff Congdon
and Steve Chubin
, former NBA player Ben Warley
and 7 foot center Larry Bunce
. Chubin led the team in scoring and assists and was a fan favorite. Selvage led the league in three point field goal attempts. Warley led the team in rebounds and was an effective outside shooter. Congdon played well but was traded in mid-season to the Denver Rockets for Willis Thomas
. Bunce did not live up to expectations despite his height, but played in the 1968 ABA All-Star Game
, as did Warley.
The Amigos were not successful on the court. They lost their first five games, including the first ever ABA game, a 134-129 loss to the Oakland Oaks
on the road. After losing two thirds of their first 36 games Brightman was fired and replaced as head coach by Harry Dinnel
. During the season the Amigos lost eight straight games in one stretch and had two other stretches of six losses each. The team finished the season with 25 wins and 53 losses, good for fifth place in Western Division but not good enough to make the playoffs.
, where they became the Stars. After two seasons in Los Angeles the team relocated again and became the Utah Stars
.
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:...
(ABA) team based in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. They were the Amigos during their first season in Anaheim and later moved to Los Angeles to become the Stars. The team existed from 1967 to 1970, when it moved to Salt Lake City to become 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:...
.
Origins
With the founding of the ABA on February 2, 1967, a charter franchise in Anaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
was awarded to Art Kim and James Ackerman
James Ackerman
James Ackerman may refer to:* James S. Ackerman , architectural historian* James Waldo Ackerman , United States federal judge...
for $30,000. A 'name the team' contest resulted in the Amigos name. The team played most of its home games at the Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim Convention Center
The Anaheim Convention Center is a major convention center in Anaheim, California. It is located across from the Disneyland Resort on Katella Avenue. Much of the Anaheim Convention Center has been renovated in recent years with state-of-the-art facilities...
. Five home games were scheduled elsewhere in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and three home games were scheduled in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
. Al Brightman was the first head coach.
1967-1968 season
The Amigos' roster was highlighted by guards Les SelvageLes Selvage
Lester Revell Selvage was an American professional basketball player.A 6'1" guard from Beaumont High School in St. Louis, Missouri, Selvage played college basketball at Kirksville State Teachers College . He was named to the All-MIAA First Team in 1963...
, Jeff Congdon
Jeff Congdon
Jeffrey D. Congdon was an American basketball player.-Career:Congdon played college basketball at Brigham Young University....
and Steve Chubin
Steve Chubin
Stephen "Steve" Chubin, also known as "Chube" is a retired American basketball player.He played collegiately for the University of Rhode Island, where he became the school's all-time leading scorer....
, former NBA player Ben Warley
Ben Warley
Benjamin Vallentina Warley was an American professional basketball player.A 6'5" forward/guard from Tennessee State University, Warley played five seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia 76ers, and Baltimore Bullets. He averaged 8.4...
and 7 foot center Larry Bunce
Larry Bunce
Lawrence Melvin Bunce is an American former professional basketball player.A 7'0" center from Utah State University, Bunce played two seasons in the American Basketball Association as a member of the Anaheim Amigos, Denver Rockets, Dallas Chaparrals, and Houston Mavericks...
. Chubin led the team in scoring and assists and was a fan favorite. Selvage led the league in three point field goal attempts. Warley led the team in rebounds and was an effective outside shooter. Congdon played well but was traded in mid-season to the Denver Rockets for Willis Thomas
Willis Thomas
Willis Thomas is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'2" guard from Tennessee State University, Thomas played in the American Basketball Association from 1967 to 1968 as a member of the Denver Rockets and Anaheim Amigos. He scored 555 points in 62 games.-External links:...
. Bunce did not live up to expectations despite his height, but played in the 1968 ABA All-Star Game
1968 ABA All-Star Game
GAME 1: at Indianapolis, Indiana, January 9, 1968MVP: Larry Brown, New Orleans BuccaneersCoaches:* East: Jim Pollard, Minnesota Muskies* West: Babe McCarthy, New Orleans Buccaneers-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods:...
, as did Warley.
The Amigos were not successful on the court. They lost their first five games, including the first ever ABA game, a 134-129 loss to the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (ABA)
The Oakland Oaks were a charter member of the original American Basketball Association. Formed in February 1967 as the Oakland Americans, the team changed its name to the Oaks prior to play that fall. Playing in the ABA during the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons, the team colors were green and gold.The...
on the road. After losing two thirds of their first 36 games Brightman was fired and replaced as head coach by Harry Dinnel
Harry Dinnel
Harry Dinnel was an American basketball player and coach.Dinnel played basketball at Pepperdine University.Dinnel was drafted in the 8th round of the 1963 NBA draft by the San Francisco Warriors....
. During the season the Amigos lost eight straight games in one stretch and had two other stretches of six losses each. The team finished the season with 25 wins and 53 losses, good for fifth place in Western Division but not good enough to make the playoffs.
Move to Los Angeles
The Amigos were not successful off the court either. They averaged 1,293 fans per home game and their games were broadcast on radio and sometimes on television. However, they lost approximately $500,000 on the season and were sold for $450,000 to James J. Kirst who moved the team to nearby Los Angeles Memorial Sports ArenaLos Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in the University Park neighborhood, of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park. It is located next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, just south of the campus of the University of Southern California.-History:The Los Angeles...
, where they became the Stars. After two seasons in Los Angeles the team relocated again and became 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:...
.