The 1968–69 ABA season was the second season for the American Basketball Association. Two teams relocated: Minnesota Muskies became the Miami Floridians, while the Pittsburgh Pipers moved to Minnesota and became the Minnesota Pipers. Two others relocated within their territory, with the Anaheim Amigos becoming the Los Angeles Stars and the New Jersey Americans became the New York Nets. These moves to perceived better locations, alongside the arrival of Rick Barry to play with the Oakland Oaks, led the league having optimism for its second season. The season ended with the Oakland Oaks capturing the first ABA championship. Months later, the Oaks elected to relocate to Washington, D.C. with the purchase of the team by Earl Foreman.

+Coaching changesOffseason Team 1967–68 coach 1968–69 coach Los Angeles Stars Harry Dinnel Bill Sharman Minnesota Pipers Vince Cazzetta Jim Harding Oakland Oaks Bruce Hale Alex HannumIn-season Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach Houston Mavericks Slater Martin Jim Weaver Indiana Pacers Larry Staverman Bobby Leonard Minnesota Pipers Jim HardingVern Mikkelsen Vern MikkelsenGus Young

Teams 1968–69 American Basketball Association Division Team City Arena Capacity Eastern Indiana Pacers Indianapolis, Indiana Indiana State Fair Coliseum 10,000 Kentucky Colonels Louisville, Kentucky Louisville Convention Center 6,000 Miami Floridians Miami Beach, Florida Miami Beach Convention Center 15,000 Minnesota Pipers Bloomington, Minnesota Metropolitan Sports Center 15,000 New York Nets Commack, New York Long Island Arena 6,000 Western Dallas Chaparrals University Park, Texas Dallas, Texas Moody Coliseum Dallas Memorial Auditorium 8,998 9,815 Denver Rockets Denver, Colorado Denver Auditorium Arena 6,841 Houston Mavericks Houston, Texas Sam Houston Coliseum 9,200 Los Angeles Stars Los Angeles, California Los Angeles Sports Arena 14,795 New Orleans Buccaneers New Orleans, Louisiana Loyola Field House 6,500 Oakland Oaks Oakland, California Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,502

Map of teams

Regular season

On April 5, 1969, prior to the ABA Playoffs, Mel Daniels was named ABA Most Valuable Player, with the margin being reported as being two votes over Connie Hawkins (others to receive votes were Larry Jones, James Jones, Rick Barry, Don Freeman, Warren Armstrong, Louie Dampier, Roger Brown, and Doug Moe). Final standings

Eastern Division + Team W L PCT. GB Indiana Pacers * 44 34 .564 — Miami Floridians * 43 35 .551 1 Kentucky Colonels * 42 36 .538 2 Minnesota Pipers * 36 42 .462 8 New York Nets 17 61 .218 27

Western Division + Team W L PCT. GB Oakland Oaks * 60 18 .769 — New Orleans Buccaneers * 46 32 .590 14 Denver Rockets * 44 34 .564 16 Dallas Chaparrals * 41 37 .526 19 Los Angeles Stars 33 45 .423 27 Houston Mavericks 23 55 .295 37 Asterisk (*) denotes playoff team

Bold – ABA champions

Playoffs

The Oakland Oaks beat the Indiana Pacers 4-1 to win the ABA Championship.

Awards and honors

ABA Most Valuable Player Award: Mel Daniels, Indiana Pacers Rookie of the Year: Warren Jabali, Oakland Oaks Coach of the Year: Alex Hannum, Oakland Oaks Playoffs MVP: Warren Jabali, Oakland Oaks All-Star Game MVP: John Beasley, Dallas Chaparrals All-ABA First Team Connie Hawkins, Minnesota Pipers (2nd selection) Rick Barry, Oakland Oaks Mel Daniels, Indiana Pacers (2nd selection) Jimmy Jones, New Orleans Buccaneers Larry Jones, Denver Rockets (2nd selection) All-ABA Second Team John Beasley, Dallas Chaparrals (2nd selection) Doug Moe, Oakland Oaks (1st Second Team selection, 2nd overall selection) Red Robbins, New Orleans Buccaneers Donnie Freeman, Miami Floridians Louie Dampier, Kentucky Colonels All-Rookie Team Ron Boone, Dallas Chaparrals Warren Jabali, Oakland Oaks Larry Miller, Los Angeles Stars Gene Moore, Kentucky Colonels Walter Piatkowski, Denver Rockets

See also

1969 ABA Playoffs

References

Season summary on Basketball Reference