1969–70 Miami Floridians season
The 1969–70 Miami Floridians season was the second season of the Floridians in the American Basketball Association. The team notably tried gimmicks to attract fans. November 5th'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 coach | Jim Pollard (5–-15) Harold Blitman (18–46) |
| Arena | Miami Beach Convention Center Convention Center Annex Dinner Key Auditorium Miami-Dade Junior College North |
| Results | |
| Record | 23–61 (.274) |
| Place | Division: 6th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Roster
- 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
Eastern Division
| 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
1970 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 24, 1970)