1975–76 Baltimore Claws season

The 1975–76 American Basketball Association season saw the demise of the Baltimore Claws franchise.

1975–76 Baltimore Claws season
Head coachJoe Mullaney
ArenaBaltimore Civic Arena
Results
Record0–0
PlaceDivision: n/a (Eastern)
Conference: n/a
Playoff finishn/a

Offseason

Draft picks

Preseason transactions

On August 27, 1975, the Memphis Sounds franchise was dismantled and sold to a group of Baltimore businessmen headed by David Cohan. The franchise moved to Baltimore. It was first called the Baltimore Hustlers but the league objected to the name so the team was quickly rechristened as the Baltimore Claws.[1]

On September 19, 1975, the Claws obtained star center Dan Issel from the Kentucky Colonels, the team that won the 1975 ABA Championship.

The Claws also traded guard Rick Mount to the Utah Stars for guards Joe Hamilton and Tim VanBlommesteyn.

The Claws signed Skip Wise, the 6'3" star guard from Clemson University who the prior year became the first freshman ever to be named First Team All-ACC while averaging 18.9 points per game.[2]

Preseason exhibition games

The Claws played their first game, a preseason exhibition, in Salisbury, Maryland, on October 9, 1975, against the Virginia Squires. The Squires won 131–121; attendance was reported at 1,150.

Two days later the Claws lost to the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers 103–82 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

On October 17, 1975, the Claws played the Squires again, this time at Knott Arena, Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Squires won 100–88 in front of approximately 500 spectators.[2] http://www.remembertheaba.com/Baltimore-Claws.html[3]

Demise

The Claws only managed to sign up 300 season ticket holders. The franchise constantly had money problems. On October 16, 1975 ABA Commissioner Dave DeBusschere gave the Claws four days to send $500,000 to the ABA league office as a "performance bond" for team operations. While their players went unpaid, the Claws sent $250,000 of this amount. On October 20, 1975, five days before the start of the 1975–76 regular season, the ABA folded the Baltimore Claws.

Regular season

The Claws folded prior to the start of the regular season.

Roster

The above would have been the Baltimore Claws' regular season roster had the team continued into regular season play.

Season standings
1975-76 ABA Final Standings
TeamWLPCT.GB
Denver Nuggets6024.714-
New York Nets5529.6555
San Antonio Spurs5034.59510
Kentucky Colonels4638.54814
Indiana Pacers3945.46421
Spirits of St. Louis3549.41725
Virginia Squires1568.18144
San Diego Sails38.273-
Utah Stars412.250-
Baltimore Claws00.000-

[4][5]

Player statistics

Legend

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Draft and preseason signings

Signed Skip Wise of Clemson University to a five-year, $1,000,000 contract[6]

Drafted:

  • Lonnie Shelton (stayed in college)
  • Rich Kelley (signed with NBA's New Orleans Jazz)
  • Terry Furlow (stayed in college)[6]

Trades

Dispersal draft:

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  1. Remember the ABA: New Orleans Buccaneers Year-to-Year Rosters
  2. Remember the ABA: Baltimore Claws Archived 2015-06-27 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Remember the ABA: ABA vs. NBA Exhibition Game Results Archived 2009-10-05 at WebCite
  4. 1975-76 ABA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com
  5. Remember the ABA: 1975-76 Regular Season Standings and Playoff Results Archived 2010-11-29 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Remember the ABA: New Orleans Bucs/Memphis Pros/Memphis Tams/Memphis Sounds/Baltimore Claws Year-by-Year Notes Archived May 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
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