Los Angeles Jets
LeaguesAmerican Basketball League(1961–63)
Founded1961
Folded1963
ArenaLos Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Olympic Auditorium
Team colorsgreen& White
   

The Los Angeles Jets were an American basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, founded by Jack Blanck and Len Corbosiero, that was a member of the American Basketball League in the league's 1961–62 season.

History

The American Basketball League played one full season, 1961–1962, and part of the next season until the league folded on December 31, 1962. The ABL was the first basketball league to have a three point shot for baskets scored far away from the goal. Other rules that set the league apart were a 30-second shooting clock and a wider free throw lane, 18 feet instead of the standard 12.

The American Basketball League was formed when Abe Saperstein did not get the Los Angeles National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise he sought. His Harlem Globetrotters had strong NBA ties. When Minneapolis Lakers owner Bob Short was permitted to move the Lakers to Los Angeles, Saperstein reacted by convincing National Alliance of Basketball Leagues (NABL) team owner Paul Cohen (Tuck Tapers) and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Champion Cleveland Pipers owner George Steinbrenner to take the top NABL and AAU teams and players and form a rival league.[1]

League franchises were: the Chicago Majors (1961-1963); Cleveland Pipers (1961-1962); Kansas City Steers (1961–63); Long Beach Chiefs (1961-1963), as Hawaii Chiefs in 1961-62; Los Angeles Jets (1961–62, disbanded during season); Oakland Oaks (1961-1963, as San Francisco Saints in 1961-1962; Philadelphia Tapers 1961-1963, as Washington Tapers in 1961-62; moved to New York during 1961-62 season; as New York Tapers in 1961-62 and the Pittsburgh Rens (1961-1963).[1]

The team's only coach was Bill Sharman. The assistant coach was Edwin A. "Scotty" McDonald, a former Loyola (of Los Angeles) coach, and coach of many AAU teams, NBA scout, and advisor.

The team was competing for ticket buyers in a market that included the recently relocated Lakers, as well as the college teams of USC and UCLA. Partway through their first and only season, with a respectable record of 24–15, the Jets franchise found itself unable to draw enough spectators to continue. The team disbanded during its only season on January 18, 1962.

The Jets played at both the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.[2]

Year-by-year

Year League Reg. Season Playoffs
1961/62 ABL 4th, Western N/A

Game log

October

Record: 1-1 ; Home: 1-0 ; Road: 0-1

# Date H/A/N Opponent W/L Score Record Attendance Site
1October 27ASan Francisco SaintsL96-990-15,137Cow Palace
2October 30HChicago MajorsW119-1161-18,384Los Angeles Sports Arena

November

Record: 7-7 ; Home: 3-3; Road: 2-3; Neutral: 2-1

# Date H/A/N Opponent W/L Score Record Attendance Site
3November 6HSan Francisco SaintsL113-1161-21,364Olympic Auditorium
4November 7HSan Francisco SaintsW110-982-21,788Olympic Auditorium
5November 10Nvs. Chicago MajorsW121-1063-22,016Municipal Auditorium
6November 12AKansas City SteersL109-1133-31,869Municipal Auditorium
7November 13HCleveland PipersW108-994-33,176Olympic Auditorium
8November 14HCleveland PipersW106-905-32,630Olympic Auditorium
9November 17HKansas City SteersL109-1155-42,016Olympic Auditorium
10November 19HKansas City SteersL85-1005-53,227Olympic Auditorium
11November 21AChicago MajorsW142-1196-53,000 (EST)Chicago Stadium
12November 22Avs. Chicago MajorsL90-1186-62,895Milwaukee Arena
13November 24AKansas City SteersL108-1216-73,347Municipal Auditorium
14November 26AKansas City SteersW81-727-72,225Municipal Auditorium
15November 27Nvs. San Francisco SaintsW97-768-73,596Civic Arena
16November 29Nvs. Washington TapersL100-1038-83,872Civic Arena

December

Record: 12-5 ; Home: 5-2 ; Road: 5-3 ; Neutral: 2-0

# Date H/A/N Opponent W/L Score Record Attendance Site
17December 1Avs. Cleveland PipersL92-1138-9755Columbus Fairgrounds Coliseum
18December 2ACleveland PipersW116-1099-93,254Public Hall
19December 3APittsburgh RensW88-7610-92,733Civic Arena
20December 6Nvs. Pittsburgh RensW104-9311-9Chicago Stadium
21December 7APittsburgh RensL93-10711-102,342Civic Arena
22December 9HPittsburgh RensW115-9912-10938Olympic Auditorium
23December 10HPittsburgh RensL100-10112-111,773Olympic Auditorium
24December 12HChicago MajorsW96-8913-111,562Olympic Auditorium
25December 13Nvs. Hawaii ChiefsW90-8914-11Cow Palace
26December 16HSan Francisco SaintsW111-8815-11522Olympic Auditorium
27December 17HSan Francisco SaintsW115-10316-11256Olympic Auditorium
28December 19AWashington TapersW108-9017-11Washington Coliseum
29December 20Avs. Washington TapersW93-8918-11at Norfolk, VA
30December 21AWashington TapersW102-9619-11Washington Coliseum
31December 27HSan Francisco SaintsL110-11419-12Olympic Auditorium
32December 28ASan Francisco SaintsL103-10419-134,084San Francisco Civic Auditorium
33December 31HPittsburgh RensW119-10820-131,798Olympic Auditorium

January

Record: 4-2 ; Home: 3-0 ; Road: 0-1 ; Neutral: 1-1

# Date H/A/N Opponent W/L Score Record Attendance Site
34January 2HWashington TapersW112-10421-13583Olympic Auditorium
35January 4HWashington TapersW107-10422-131,165Olympic Auditorium
36January 5Nvs. Chicago MajorsL103-106 (OT)22-145,500 (EST)Wichita, Kansas
37January 6AChicago MajorsL89-10522-152,352Chicago Stadium
38January 9HHawaii ChiefsW140-10323-152,791Olympic Auditorium
39January 10Nvs. Hawaii ChiefsW123-12224-152,684Cow Palace

References

  1. 1 2 "History of the American Basketball League". www.apbr.org.
  2. ↑ "History of the American Basketball League". www.apbr.org.
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