1969–70 Miami Floridians season

The 1969–70 Miami Floridians season was the second season of the Miami Floridians in the American Basketball Association. The team notably tried gimmicks to attract fans. November 5's game would be Ladies Night, with free honey colored pantyhose (originally $2 value) given to the first 500 ladies, provided it fit anyone from 5 feet to 5 feet, 9 inches in size, with nothing extra needed to buy. For the November 10th game, if one bought a ticket (for $5), they would be allowed to walk to the Auditorium to see Jimmy Ellis (who had just lost the World Heavyweight title to Joe Frazier) box Roberto Davila, with the fight being after the game. The team faltered to a dead last finish, with constant trades and scant profits. Ned Doyle, an advertising executive became majority owner of the team, and he decided to make the team a regional franchise, named the Floridians, playing in Miami Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa-St. Petersburg and West Palm Beach.

1969–70 Miami Floridians season
Head coachJim Pollard (5–-15)
Harold Blitman (18–46)
ArenaMiami Beach Convention Center
Convention Center Annex
Dinner Key Auditorium
Miami-Dade Junior College North
Results
Record23–61 (.274)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
< 1968–69

Roster

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  • 23 Andrew Anderson - Shooting guard
  • 41 Butch Booker - Center
  • 22 Walter Byrd - Power forward
  • 30 Larry Cannon - Shooting guard
  • 42 Al Cueto - Center
  • 20 Donnie Freeman - Point guard
  • 32 Art Heyman - Shooting guard
  • 34 Simmie Hill - Small forward
  • 14 Wil Jones - Power forward
  • 26 George Lehmann - Point guard
  • 22 Maurice McHartley - Point guard
  • 44 Willie Murrell - Small forward
  • 23 Lynn Shackelford - Small forward
  • 33 Donald Sidle - Power forward
  • 32 Daniel Sparks - Power forward
  • 24 Erv Staggs - Small forward
  • 43 George Sutor - Center
  • 43 Skip Thoren - Center
  • 34 Dallas Thornton - Small forward
  • 22 Stephen Vacendak - Point guard
  • 32 Hubie White - Shooting guard
  • -- Bob Woollard - Center

Final standings

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Eastern Division

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Eastern Division W L PCT GB
Indiana Pacers * 59 25 .702 -
Kentucky Colonels * 45 39 .536 14.0
Carolina Cougars * 42 42 .500 17.0
New York Nets * 39 45 .464 20.0
Pittsburgh Pipers 29 55 .345 30.0
Miami Floridians 23 61 .274 36.0

Awards and honors

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1970 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 24, 1970)

References

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