| Anaheim Amigos Los Angeles Stars Utah Stars | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | None |
| Division | Western Division |
| Founded | 1967 |
| History | Anaheim Amigos 1967–1968 Los Angeles Stars 1968–1970 Utah Stars 1970–1975 |
| Arena | Anaheim Convention Center L.A. Memorial Sports Arena |
| Location | Anaheim, California Los Angeles, California |
| Team colors | Black and orange (1967–68) Scarlet, white and powder blue (1968–70) |
| Head coach | Al Brightman (1967) Harry Dinnel (1967–68) |
| Ownership | Art Kim (1967–68) James Ackerman (1967–68) James J. Kirst (1968–70) |
TheAnaheim Amigos were a charter memberAmerican Basketball Association (ABA) team based inSouthern California. They were the first professional sports team to identify with the city ofAnaheim, California.[1] After their first season in Anaheim, the team moved to Los Angeles to become theLos Angeles Stars. In 1970, it moved toSalt Lake City and became theUtah Stars.
The Amigos were the first professional team in any sport to bill themselves as representing the city ofAnaheim, California, and were the only team to do so until theNational Hockey League'sMighty Ducks of Anaheim began play in 1993. TheCalifornia Angels ofMajor League Baseball played atAnaheim Stadium during the Amigos' existence, but they would not use "Anaheim" in their name until 1997.
With the founding of the ABA on February 2, 1967, a charter franchise in Anaheim was awarded toArt Kim and James Ackerman for $30,000.[2] Kim had been behind basketball ventures for the past two decades, which started with leagues for serviceman stationed inHawaii. He then organized games with theHarlem Globetrotters that would see his teams lose starting in 1946. He was also behind theHawaii / Long Beach Chiefs of theAmerican Basketball League that had folded alongside the rest of the league in 1963. He was encouraged byOrange County and the support that they gave to the Angels at the time. On May 25, 1967, Kim announced that the team would be named the Amigos.[3] The team played most of its home games at theAnaheim Convention Center. Five home games were scheduled elsewhere inCalifornia and three home games were scheduled inHonolulu, Hawaii.Al Brightman was the first head coach.[4]
The Amigos played the first game in ABA history, facing the Oakland Oaks at Oakland Coliseum to start the inaugural 67-68 season, with close to 5,000 fans in attendance. They lost 132-129, by only one possession, despite surrendering 70 points to the Oaks in the first half.[5]
The Amigos' roster was highlighted by guardsLes Selvage,Jeff Congdon andSteve Chubin, former NBA playerBen Warley and 7 foot centerLarry Bunce. Chubin led the team in scoring and assists and was a fan favorite. Selvage led the league in three-point field goal attempts. Warley led the team in rebounds and was an effective outside shooter. Congdon played well but was traded in mid-season to theDenver Rockets forWillis Thomas. Bunce did not live up to expectations despite his height, but played in the1968 ABA All-Star Game, as did Warley.
The Amigos were not successful on the court, particularly on defense. They lost their first five games, including the first ever ABA game, a 134–129 loss to theOakland Oaks on the road. After losing two thirds of their first 36 games Brightman was fired and replaced as head coach byHarry Dinnel. During the season the Amigos lost eight straight games in one stretch and had two other stretches of six losses each. The team finished the season with 25 wins and 53 losses, good for fifth place in Western Division but not good enough to make the playoffs.[4] So dismal was the team thatDick Lee, a public-relations worker, was recruited to play to make for a full roster, where he even made appearances in two games.
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The Amigos suffered from poor attendance. They averaged 1,293 fans per home game and their games were broadcast on radio and sometimes on television. High school games were outdrawing them and Kim admitted he was not particularly keen on spending money on the team despite doing promotional efforts to try and drum interest. However, they lost approximately $500,000 on the season and were sold for $450,000 toJames J. Kirst who moved the team to nearbyLos Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, where they became the Stars. Kirst also brought inBill Sharman as the new head coach. Sharman had just completed two years coaching the NBA's San Francisco Warriors, taking them to the playoffs both years. With Sharman associated with the team, they were able to sign thirteen of their top fifteen draft picks including All-AmericansLarry Miller andMerv Jackson. Playing with a roster that contained eight rookies, Los Angeles finished in 5th place and failed to make the playoffs in 1968–69.[6]1969-70 started out a little better for the Stars with some new veterans joining the best of the previous seasons returning players, but the team was still out of the playoff picture on March 5 when they were sold to cable television entrepreneur Bill Daniels. Following the sale the team came alive, making the playoffs on the last day of the season. Despite a fourth-place finish, Sharman,George Stone, andMack Calvin led the Stars to the Western Conference Championship.[7] In the1970 ABA Finals, despite being heavy underdogs, they then stretched the Indiana Pacers to a sixth game before losing.[8]
For a newspaper article in theLos Angeles Times in 1988, Kim was reported to have settled as being a teacher, doing so since 1973.[9]
After the 1969–70 season, the franchise once again relocated, this time toSalt Lake City, and became theUtah Stars.
| Playoff berth |
| Season | League | Division | Finish | W | L | Win% | Playoffs | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim Amigos | ||||||||
| 1967–68 | ABA | Western | 5th | 25 | 53 | .321 | — | — |
| Los Angeles Stars | ||||||||
| 1968–69 | ABA | Western | 5th | 33 | 45 | .423 | — | — |
| 1969–70 | ABA | Western | 4th | 43 | 41 | .512 | WonDivision Semifinals (Chaparrals) 4–2 WonDivision Finals (Rockets) 4–1 LostABA Finals (Pacers) 2–4 | Bill Sharman (ABA COY) |
