- 1967
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Muskies Team Formation with ABA Offices
The ABA first located its league office in Minneapolis and the future looked bright for the Muskies, who shared the same offices as the league. Their first draft pick was talented center Mel Daniels, who would go on to become one of the ABA’s most celebrated players. Daniels was also a first-round draft pick of the NBA’s Cincinnati Royals, but ...
History of the Muskies
The Minnesota Muskies were a member of the American Basketball Association, born with the league's creation on February 2, 1967. L.P. Shields and Fred Jefferson were the owners after paying a franchise fee of $30,000. The team then played one season in Minnesota before moving to Miami, Florida to become The Floridians. The team colors were blue and gold and games were played in the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, which they shared with the Minnesota North Stars.
The ABA first located its league office in Minneapolis and the future looked bright for the Muskies (named after the Muskellunge; also known as the muskie, one of the regions the fish is found in Minnesota), who shared the same offices as the league. Their first draft pick was talented center Mel Daniels, who would go on to become one of the ABA's most celebrated players. Daniels was also a first-round draft pick of the NBA's Cincinnati Royals, but he decided to cast his lot with the upstart league. The selection of Daniels paid off for the team as he led the league in field goal attempts, field goals made, and offensive and defensive rebounds and was named the league's Rookie of the Year. Daniels, Donnie Freeman, and Les Hunter all represented the Muskies in the first ABA All-Star Game, and shooting guard Ron Perry finished fifth in the league in three-point field goals made and attempted and fourth in three-point field goal percentage. The head coach was Jim Pollard, a former teammate of ABA Commissioner George Mikan from their days with the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers. The Muskies would win 50 games in their lone season.
Established
1967
City
Minneapolis – Miami
League History
1967 – 1972 / American Basketball Association
Team History
1970 – 1972 / The Floridians
1968 – 1970 / Miami Floridians
1967 – 1968 / Minnesota Muskies
Nickname
Muskies – A musky is a kind of large and rare fresh water fish from North America prominently found in Minnesota. These fish are the largest members of the pike family and usually have three distinct colors.
Championship
ABA Championships 0
Arena
*Miami*
1968 – 1972 / Miami Beach Convention Center
*Tampa-St. Petersburg*
1970 – 1972/ Bayfront Arena
*Jacksonville*
1970 – 1972 / Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum
*Minnesota*
1967 – 1968 / Met Center
Owner
1970 – 1972 / Ned Doyle
1967 – 1969 / L.P. Shields & Fred Jefferson
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Coaches
1969 – 1972 / Jim Pollard/Harold Blitman
1967 – 1969 / Jim Pollard
*Blue is this team’s history