The first North American Basketball League (NABL) was an American professional basketball league that played from 1964 to 1968. The league played four full seasons, until the league folded after the 1967–1968 season.
History The North American Basketball League began play in 1964–1965 with five charter franchises, some of whom had been members of the Midwest Professional Basketball League from 1961 to 1964. The Chicago Bombers, Grand Rapids Tackers, Muskegon Panthers, Pontiac Nationals and Twin City Sailors began play in 1964 as charter members. The Chicago and Grand Rapids franchises had been members of the MWL.
In 1965–1966, the Holland Carvers replaced the Pontiac Nationals and the North American Basketball League remained at five teams.
The 1966–1967 North American Basketball League expanded from five to eight teams, adding the Battle Creek Braves, Columbus Comets and Lansing Capitals franchises.
In 1967–1968 the North American Basketball League lost the Muskegon Panthers and the Twin City Sailors teams. Pontiac returned to play and the league played in two divisions. Columbus, Battle Creek, Lansing and Pontiac were the Eastern Division. Chicago, Grand Rapids and Holland comprised the Western Division.
Chicago finished last in each of the four seasons, with Grand Rapids taking three of the four league championships. Porter Meriwether (Chicago) led the league in Scoring in the first three seasons, averaging 28.1, 28.3 and 29.9 points. Art Crump (Battle Creek) averaged 29.6 in 1967–68 to lead the league.
American Basketball League Franchises (1964–68)
Battle Creek Braves (1964–1968) Chicago Bombers (1964–1968) Columbus Comets (1964–1968) Grand Rapids Tackers (1964–1968) Holland Carvers (1965–1968) Lansing Capitals (1965–1968) Muskegon Panthers (1964–1967) Pontiac Nationals (1964–65, 1967–1968) Twin City Sailors (1964–1967)
Notable alumni
Bud Acton, Twin Cities M. C. Burton Jr., Grand Rapids Bill Chmielewski, Muskegon, Battle Creek Gary Bradds, Twin Cities, Columbus Bill Buntin, Twin Cities Ed Burton, Muskegon Larry Comley, Twin Cities Johnny Cox Holland, Battle Creek, Muskegon Jimmy Darrow, Coach, Muskegon Bill Dinwiddie, Columbus Sonny Dove, Pontiac Ron Dunlap, Chicago Boo Ellis, Chicago Charles Hardnett, Grand Rapids Jerry Harkness, Twin Cities Bob Hogsett, Lansing Les Hunter, Twin Cities Ollie Johnson, Grand Rapids Stew Johnson, Twin Cities Willie Jones, Grand Rapids Arvesta Kelly, Columbus Jim Ligon, Holland Lonnie Lynn, Columbus Billy McGill, Grand Rapids, Holland Guy Manning, Battle Creek Nick Mantis, Grand Rapids Porter Meriwether, Chicago Gene Michael, Columbus Mel Nowell, Muskegon, Columbus Bob Pelkington, Muskegon Bill Reigel Coach, Holland, Joe Roberts, Muskegon, Columbus Tom Thacker, Muskegon Skip Thoren, Twin Cities Horace Walker, Lansing Jim Ware, Muskegon Bob Wilkinson, Coach, Grand Rapids Bob Woollard, Twin Cities
References
External links Association for Professional Basketball Research NORTH AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE 1964–65 TO 1967–68