1969–70 Miami Floridians season

The 1969–70 Miami Floridians season was the second season of the Miami Floridians in the American Basketball Association and third season of the franchise when including their first season they played as the Minnesota Muskies. The team notably tried gimmicks to attract fans. The game they played on November 5 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 being 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 done after the game. The team faltered itself to a dead last finish, with constant trades and scant profits despite their best efforts to promote the team in the Miami area. The team's 61 losses would be the most losses held in the ABA until the 1973–74 Memphis Tams season occurred. 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
Radio	WGBS
< 1968–69 1970–71 >

Roster

1969–70 Miami Floridians roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From SG 23 Andrew Anderson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 184 lb (83 kg) July 6, 1945 Canisius C 41 Butch Booker 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) July 20, 1945 Cheyney PF 22 Walt Byrd 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Temple SG 30 Larry Cannon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) April 12, 1947 La Salle C 42 Al Cueto 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) August 2, 1946 Tulsa SG 20 Donnie Freeman 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) July 18, 1944 Illinois SG 32 Art Heyman 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) June 24, 1941 Duke SF 34 Simmie Hill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 233 lb (106 kg) November 14, 1946 West Texas A&M PF 14 Wil Jones 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) February 27, 1947 Albany State PG 26 George Lehmann 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) May 1, 1941 Campbell PG 22 Maurice McHartley 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) August 1, 1942 North Carolina A&T SF 44 Willie Murrell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) September 13, 1941 Kansas State SF 23 Lynn Shackelford 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) August 27, 1947 UCLA PF 33 Don Sidle 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) June 21, 1946 Oklahoma PF 32 Dan Sparks 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) April 17, 1945 Weber State SF 24 Erv Staggs 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) September 1, 1948 Cheyney C 43 George Sutor 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) September 14, 1943 La Salle C 43 Skip Thoren 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) April 5, 1943 Illinois SF 34 Dallas Thornton 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) September 1, 1946 Kentucky Wesleyan PG 22 Steve Vacendak 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) August 15, 1944 Duke SG 32 Hubie White 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) January 26, 1940 Villanova C Bob Woollard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) July 27, 1940 Wake Forest

Head coach Jim Pollard / Harold Blitman Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Final standings

Eastern Division

Team	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)

• Donnie Freeman