1968–69 Miami Floridians season

1968–69 Miami Floridians season
Head coach	Jim Pollard
Arena	Miami Beach Convention Center Convention Center Annex
Results
Record	43–35 (.551)
Place	Division: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Lost in the Eastern Division Finals

The 1968–69 Miami Floridians season was the first season of the Floridians in the American Basketball Association. The team had moved from Minnesota after one season as the Muskies. The Floridians finished one game behind the Pacers, for a second-place finish. They faced the replacement for them in Minnesota, the Pipers. They beat them in a close 7-game series to set up a chance to go to the ABA Finals. In the Eastern Division Finals, they lost to the Indiana Pacers 4 games to 1.

Roster

1968–69 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 SG 20 Donnie Freeman 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) July 18, 1944 Illinois PF 41 Les Hunter 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) August 16, 1942 Loyola Chicago SG 24 Ervin Inniger 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) January 16, 1945 Indiana PG 21 Willie Iverson 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) October 8, 1945 Central Michigan G 23 Nick Jones 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) March 28, 1945 Oregon C 42 Gary Keller 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) June 13, 1944 Florida 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 PG 22 Ron Perry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) December 29, 1943 Virginia Tech 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 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

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

Final standings

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	PCT.	GB
Indiana Pacers	44	34	.564	-
Miami Floridians	43	35	.551	1
Kentucky Colonels	42	36	.538	2
Minnesota Pipers	36	42	.462	8
New York Nets	17	61	.218	27

Playoffs

Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Minnesota Pipers

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	April 7	Miami	119–110	1–0	4,103
2	April 9	Miami	99–106	1–1	1,688
3	April 10	Minnesota	93–109	1–2	1,520
4	April 12	Minnesota	116–109	2–2	2,532
5	April 13	Miami	122–107	3–2	4,206
6	April 15	Minnesota	100–105	3–3	1,345
7	April 19	Miami	137–128	4–3	5,702

Floridians win series, 4–3

Eastern Division Finals vs Indiana Pacers

Game	Date	Location	Result	Record	Attendance
1	April 20	Indiana	110–126	0–1	8,721
2	April 22	Indiana	116–131	0–2	7,243
3	April 23	Miami	105–119	0–3	2,112
4	April 25	Miami	114–110	1–3	2,846
4	April 26	Indiana	105–127	1–4	3,528

Floridians lose series, 4–1

Awards and honors

1969 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 28, 1969)

• Donnie Freeman
• Les Hunter
• Skip Thoren

References

• Floridians on Basketball Reference

External links

• RememberTheABA.com 1968-69 regular season and playoff results
• Miami Floridians page