1969–70 Pittsburgh Pipers season

The 1969–70 Pittsburgh Pipers season was the second season of the Pipers franchise out in Pittsburgh (third overall season when including their previous season that they had in the state of Minnesota while using the Pipers name) in the American Basketball Association.

1969–70 Pittsburgh Pipers season
Head coach	John Clark (14–25) Buddy Jeannette (15–30)
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Results
Record	29–55 (.345)
Place	Division: 5th (Eastern)
< 1968–69 1970–71 >

History

The Pipers, having moved back to Pittsburgh after one season played up in Minnesota, faltered without Connie Hawkins (who had gone to the Phoenix Suns following the NBA's decision to unban him after previously being considered a player to have been permanently banned from the NBA at the time due to alleged involvement with Jack Molinas during the period of the 1961 NCAA University Division men's basketball gambling scandal back when Molinas was considered the ringleader of that operation) alongside injuries and middling attendance due to locals being more apathetic about the team's sudden return after previously being jaded with the team's departure a season earlier. The Pipers lost the first 9 games of the 1970 calendar year, with their biggest win streak being 3 games (done twice). Near the end of their season, on April 10, 1970, the Pipers would allow an ABA record-high 177 points scored to the Indiana Pacers in a 177–135 defeat.^[1] As of March 27, 2025, it remains the highest-scoring effort the Pacers have ever had either in the ABA or the NBA (with their most recent highest-scoring game in the NBA occurring on March 27, 2025 with a 162–109 blowout win over the Washington Wizards).^[2] The team finished 8th in points per game (112.4 per game) and points allowed (117 per game). After the season, the team was bought by Haven Industries, Inc. - the owners of the "Jack Frost" brand of sugar products. Subsequently, they decided to rebrand the team as the Pittsburgh Condors for the 1970 season.

Roster

1969–70 Pittsburgh Pipers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From PF 15 Larry Bergh 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) April 2, 1945 Weber State SF 23, 45 John Brisker 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) June 15, 1947 Toledo SG 34 Steve Chubin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) February 8, 1944 Rhode Island PF 13 Warren Davis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 212 lb (96 kg) June 30, 1943 North Carolina A&T PF 12 Dennis Hamilton 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) May 8, 1944 Arizona State F 12 Art Heyman 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) June 24, 1941 Duke PF 13 Stew Johnson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) August 19, 1944 Murray State PG 14 Arvesta Kelly 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) November 20, 1945 Lincoln (MO) F 35 Wilbur Kirkland 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1947 Cheyney C 24 Mike Lewis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) March 18, 1946 Duke SF 15 Lonnie Lynn 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) May 24, 1943 Wilberforce C Bill McGill 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) September 16, 1939 Utah SG 34 Maurice McHartley 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) August 1, 1942 North Carolina A&T PG 22 Barry Orms 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) May 1, 1946 Saint Louis C 21 Craig Raymond 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) April 5, 1945 BYU C John Smith 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) May 24, 1944 CSU Pueblo SG 11 Justus Thigpen 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) August 13, 1947 Weber State SG 25 George Thompson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) November 29, 1947 Marquette PG 22 Steve Vacendak 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) August 15, 1944 Duke SG 10 Chico Vaughn 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) February 19, 1940 Southern Illinois PF 32 Trooper Washington 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) April 21, 1944 Cheyney PG 44 Charlie Williams 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) September 5, 1943 Seattle

Head coach John Clark Buddy Jeannette Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

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)

• Charlie Williams