Abe Saperstein and the American Basketball League, 1960-1963: The Upstarts Who Shot for Three and Lost to the NBAThis book examines the American Basketball League and its short history, beginning with its conception in 1959-60 and its two seasons of play, 1961-1963. The league was the first to use a trapezoidal, wider lane and a 30-second shot clock, as well as the 3-point shot. With a team in Hawaii, the league created an adjusted schedule to accommodate the outsize distance. Many players such as Connie Hawkins and Bill Bridges and coaches such as Jack McMahon and Bill Sharman later found their way to the NBA after the collapse of the league, but it took more than 15 years for wide acceptance of the 3-point shot. John McLendon and Ermer Robinson were the first two African American coaches in a major professional league as they both debuted in the ABL. |
Contents
1 | |
One The ABLthe Run Up | 13 |
Two The Formation of a New League Rules Constitution Referees and More | 29 |
Three ABL Financing Expectations Hopes Realities | 37 |
Four The Exiles and the Deserters | 51 |
Five The Coaches and the Starting Fives | 70 |
Six Chicago Battleground of the ABL and the NBA | 97 |
Seven The 19611962 Season First Half | 109 |
Ten The ABL and Then What? | 158 |
Appendix 1 Team Standings 19611962 | 167 |
Appendix 2 ABL Scoring 19611962 | 168 |
Appendix 3 Team Standings 19621963 | 177 |
Appendix 4 ABL Scoring 19621963 | 178 |
Appendix 5 ABL Most Valuable Player and AllLeague Teams 19611962 | 182 |
Chapter Notes | 185 |
197 | |