Full Description
This book examines the American Basketball League and its short history, beginning with its conception in 1959-60 and its two seasons of play, 1961-1963. The league was the first to use a trapezoidal, wider lane and a 30-second shot clock, as well as the 3-point shot. With a team in Hawaii, the league created an adjusted schedule to accommodate the outsize distance. Many players such as Connie Hawkins and Bill Bridges and coaches such as Jack McMahon and Bill Sharman later found their way to the NBA after the collapse of the league, but it took more than 15 years for wide acceptance of the 3-point shot. John McLendon and Ermer Robinson were the first two African American coaches in a major professional league as they both debuted in the ABL.
Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: An American Basketball League Overview 1
One. The ABL—the "Run Up" 13
Two. The Formation of a New League, Rules, Constitution, Referees and More 29
Three. ABL Financing—Expectations, Hopes, Realities 37
Four. The Exiles and the Deserters 51
Five. The Coaches and the Starting Fives 70
Six. Chicago, Battleground of the ABL and the NBA 97
Seven. The 1961-1962 Season (First Half) 109
Eight. The 1961-1962 Season (Second Half) 125
Nine. The ABL Begins a Second Year, 1962-1963 139
Ten. The ABL, and Then What? 158
Appendix 1. Team Standings, 1961-1962 167
Appendix 2. ABL Scoring, 1961-1962 168
Appendix 3. Team Standings, 1962-1963 177
Appendix 4. ABL Scoring, 1962-1963 178
Appendix 5. ABL Most Valuable Player and All-League Teams, 1961-1962 182
Chapter Notes 185
Bibliography 197
Index 207
