North American Basketball League (1964–1968)
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1964 |
| Ceased | 1968 |
| No. of teams | 5–8 |
| Country | United States |
| Last champion(s) | Grand Rapids Tackers (1967–1968) Muskegon Panthers (1966–1967) Grand Rapids Tackers (1965–1966) Grand Rapids Tackers (1964–1965) |
The first North American Basketball League (NABL) was a professional basketball league. The NABL played four full seasons, 1964 to 1968, until the league folded after the 1967–68 season.
History
The North American Basketball League began play in 1964–65 with five charter franchises, some of whom had been members of the Midwest Professional Basketball League (1961–1964): Chicago Bombers, Grand Rapids Tackers, Muskegon Panthers, Pontiac Nationals and Twin City Sailors.[1] Chicago and Grand Rapids had been members of the MWL.[2][3][4]
In 1965–66, the Holland Carvers replaced the Pontiac Nationals and the league remained at five teams.[3]
In 1966–67, the league expanded from five to eight teams, adding the Battle Creek Braves (former MBL city), Columbus Comets and Lansing Capitals.[1]
In 1967–68 the league lost the Muskegon Panthers and the Twin City Sailors. Pontiac returned and the league played in two divisions. Columbus, Battle Creek, Lansing and Pontiac were the Eastern Division and Chicago, Grand Rapids and Holland in the Western Division.[1]
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.[1]
American Basketball League Franchises (1964–68)
- Battle Creek Braves (1964–68)
- Chicago Bombers (1964–68)
- Columbus Comets (1964–68)
- Grand Rapids Tackers (1964–68)
- Holland Carvers (1965–68)
- Lansing Capitals (1965–68)
- Muskegon Panthers (1964–67)
- Pontiac Nationals (1964–65, 1967–68)
- Twin City Sailors (1964–67)
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
- ^ a b c d "North American Basketball League Standings". www.apbr.org.
- ^ "Eastern Basketball Association Teams". www.nasljerseys.com.
- ^ a b "Eastern Basketball Association Teams". www.nasljerseys.com.
- ^ "Eastern Basketball Association Rosters". www.nasljerseys.com.