1968–69 Miami Floridians season

1968–69 Miami Floridians season
Head coachJim Pollard
ArenaMiami Beach Convention Center
Convention Center Annex
Results
Record43–35 (.551)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in the Eastern Division Finals
RadioWOCN

The 1968–69 Miami Floridians season was the first season of the Floridians franchise in the American Basketball Association and second overall season of existence. The team had moved from the state of Minnesota after one season played as the Minnesota Muskies. One aspect for the Miami Floridians struggling to acquire a good fanbase related to them trading away their star player, Mel Daniels, to the Indiana Pacers back when they were still going by the Muskies in the 1968 ABA draft. Despite them trading away their star player to Indiana, the Miami Floridians finished one game behind the Pacers, for a second-place finish. In the 1969 ABA Playoffs, they faced the replacement for them in the state of Minnesota, the defending champion Pipers. They beat them in a close 7-game series to set up a chance to go to the ABA Finals. However, in the Eastern Division Finals, they lost to the Indiana Pacers 4 games to 1.

Roster

1968–69 Miami Floridians roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
SG 23 Andrew Anderson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 184 lb (83 kg) July 6, 1945 Canisius
SG 20 Donnie Freeman 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) July 18, 1944 Illinois
PF 41 Les Hunter 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) August 16, 1942 Loyola Chicago
SG 24 Ervin Inniger 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) January 16, 1945 Indiana
PG 21 Willie Iverson 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) October 8, 1945 Central Michigan
G 23 Nick Jones 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) March 28, 1945 Oregon
C 42 Gary Keller 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) June 13, 1944 Florida
PG 22 Maurice McHartley 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) August 1, 1942 North Carolina A&T
SF 44 Willie Murrell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) September 13, 1941 Kansas State
PG 22 Ron Perry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) December 29, 1943 Virginia Tech
PF 33 Don Sidle 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) June 21, 1946 Oklahoma
PF 32 Dan Sparks 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) April 17, 1945 Weber State
C 43 Skip Thoren 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) April 5, 1943 Illinois
SF 34 Dallas Thornton 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) September 1, 1946 Kentucky Wesleyan
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

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

Playoffs

Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Minnesota Pipers[1]

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 April 7 Miami 119–110 1–0 4,103
2 April 9 Miami 99–106 1–1 1,688
3 April 10 Minnesota 93–109 1–2 1,520
4 April 12 Minnesota 116–109 2–2 2,532
5 April 13 Miami 122–107 3–2 4,206
6 April 15 Minnesota 100–105 3–3 1,345
7 April 19 Miami 137–128 4–3 5,702

Floridians win series, 4–3

Eastern Division Finals vs Indiana Pacers

Game Date Location Result Record Attendance
1 April 20 Indiana 110–126 0–1 8,721
2 April 22 Indiana 116–131 0–2 7,243
3 April 23 Miami 105–119 0–3 2,112
4 April 25 Miami 114–110 1–3 2,846
4 April 26 Indiana 105–127 1–4 3,528

Floridians lose series, 4–1

Awards and honors

1969 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 28, 1969)

References

  1. ^ "1968-69 ABA Regular Season Standings". Remembertheaba.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
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