History of the Miami Floridians and The Floridians

The Miami Floridians were one of the most unusual franchises in the history of the American Basketball Association (ABA). The organization began life as the Minnesota Muskies in 1967 before relocating to South Florida after just one season. Although the team featured several outstanding players and innovative ideas, financial struggles and inconsistent attendance prevented the franchise from achieving long-term success. After two seasons as the Miami Floridians, the club shortened its name to simply The Floridians and became a regional franchise, playing home games throughout the state of Florida before folding in 1972.

Relocation from Minnesota

Following the 1967-68 season, the Minnesota Muskies had one of the ABA's best records, finishing 50-28 and advancing to the Eastern Division Finals. Despite their success on the court, the franchise suffered heavy financial losses because of poor attendance and limited local support.

Ownership decided to relocate the club to Miami, hoping South Florida's growing population would provide a larger fan base. The move was announced in May 1968, and the franchise became the Miami Floridians for the 1968-69 ABA season.

The relocation also marked the beginning of major roster changes. The team's biggest star, rookie center Mel Daniels, was traded to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for players and cash. The move helped stabilize the franchise financially but cost the team one of the league's future superstars.

Basketball Comes to Miami

The Floridians played most of their home games at the Miami Beach Convention Hall while also scheduling contests in other South Florida arenas. Team officials hoped to establish professional basketball in a region that had never hosted a major league basketball franchise.

The club adopted one of the ABA's most colorful identities. Players wore bright uniforms trimmed in orange and green, reflecting Florida's citrus industry and tropical image. Their distinctive branding made them one of the league's most recognizable teams.

The 1968-69 Season

Under head coach Jim Pollard, the Miami Floridians struggled to replace Mel Daniels' production. The club finished with a 27-51 record, fourth in the Eastern Division.

Although the record was disappointing, several players enjoyed productive seasons. Donnie Freeman remained one of the team's offensive leaders, while Ron Perry, Les Hunter, and Gary Keller continued to provide veteran leadership.

The Floridians qualified for the ABA Playoffs despite their losing record, reflecting the league's playoff format during its early years. They faced the powerful Kentucky Colonels in the Eastern Division Semifinals and were swept in four games.

Entering the Joe Mullaney Era

Before the 1969-70 season, the franchise hired veteran coach Joe Mullaney. Mullaney had previously coached in both college basketball and the NBA and quickly transformed the Floridians into a competitive club.

The team improved dramatically, finishing 36-48 while narrowly missing a winning record. Although the Floridians again qualified for the playoffs, they were eliminated in the first round by the Indiana Pacers.

Mullaney emphasized a faster offensive style that better matched the ABA's reputation for exciting, high-scoring basketball.

Becoming "The Floridians"

Following the 1969-70 season, ownership made a unique decision. Rather than representing only Miami, the franchise shortened its name to simply The Floridians.

The new identity reflected an ambitious plan to represent the entire state of Florida. Instead of playing every home game in one arena, the club scheduled games throughout the state, including Miami Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa, St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, and other cities.

Management hoped a statewide identity would create a larger fan base than remaining tied to one metropolitan area.

The 1970-71 Season

The first season under the statewide identity proved to be the most successful in franchise history.

The Floridians finished with a 43-41 record, their first winning season since relocating from Minnesota. The improvement was fueled by outstanding performances from Warren Jabali, Larry Jones, and Mike Davis.

Warren Jabali quickly became one of the ABA's brightest stars. His athletic play, scoring ability, and defensive intensity made him one of the league's most exciting guards.

The Floridians qualified for the playoffs and pushed the powerful Virginia Squires to seven games before being eliminated in a highly competitive Eastern Division Semifinal series.

The Arrival of Artis Gilmore

The biggest moment in franchise history came before the 1971-72 season when the Floridians signed Artis Gilmore after selecting him in the ABA Draft.

Gilmore had starred at Jacksonville University and was one of the most highly sought-after players in professional basketball. Both the ABA and NBA competed for his services before he chose the Floridians.

The 7-foot-2 center immediately became one of the league's dominant players.

During his rookie season, Gilmore averaged 23.8 points, 17.8 rebounds, and nearly five blocked shots per game. He was named ABA Rookie of the Year, ABA Most Valuable Player, and ABA Playoff MVP while earning All-ABA First Team honors.

The Best Team in Franchise History

With Gilmore controlling the paint and Larry Jones leading the backcourt, the Floridians enjoyed their finest season.

The team finished 45-39 during the 1971-72 campaign and entered the playoffs with legitimate championship aspirations.

Gilmore was supported by Larry Jones, Mike Davis, Warren Jabali, Jim Ard, and veteran role players who gave the club one of the deepest rosters in the ABA.

Playoff Success

The Floridians defeated the Kentucky Colonels in the opening round of the 1972 ABA Playoffs, marking the franchise's greatest postseason achievement.

They advanced to the Eastern Division Finals against the Virginia Squires, led by Julius Erving. Although the Floridians played competitively throughout the series, Virginia defeated them in seven games.

The series marked the deepest playoff run in franchise history and showcased Gilmore's emergence as one of basketball's premier centers.

Attendance Problems Continue

Despite improved basketball, financial problems never disappeared.

The strategy of representing the entire state of Florida failed to generate consistent attendance. While some cities produced respectable crowds, others attracted only a few thousand spectators.

The constant travel prevented the team from developing a strong home-court advantage or building a loyal season-ticket base.

Without stable attendance or a lucrative television contract, ownership continued losing money.

Folding After the 1971-72 Season

Following the conclusion of the 1971-72 season, ownership decided the franchise could no longer continue operating.

The Floridians officially folded before the start of the 1972-73 season.

Unlike several other ABA franchises that relocated, the Floridians simply ceased operations. Their players entered a dispersal draft, allowing the remaining ABA teams to acquire much of the talented roster.

What Happened to the Players?

Artis Gilmore became the cornerstone of the Kentucky Colonels, leading them to the 1975 ABA Championship while winning another ABA Most Valuable Player Award.

Larry Jones continued his productive ABA career before later playing in the NBA.

Warren Jabali remained one of the league's premier guards and later played for several ABA clubs.

Many former Floridians players continued successful professional careers even though the franchise no longer existed.

Season-by-Season Results

Notable Players

• Artis Gilmore
• Larry Jones
• Warren Jabali
• Donnie Freeman
• Les Hunter
• Ron Perry
• Mike Davis
• Jim Ard
• Gary Keller

Head Coaches

The Legacy of the Floridians

Although the franchise lasted only four seasons in Florida, the Floridians played an important role in ABA history. They introduced major professional basketball to South Florida years before the arrival of the NBA's Miami Heat and helped establish several future stars.

The organization also demonstrated both the creativity and instability that defined the ABA. The colorful uniforms, statewide identity, and willingness to experiment with new markets reflected the league's innovative spirit. At the same time, the franchise's inability to generate sufficient revenue illustrated the financial challenges many ABA teams faced.

Today, the Miami Floridians and The Floridians remain one of the most fascinating franchises of the ABA era. Their story includes bold ideas, Hall of Fame talent, memorable playoff appearances, and a lasting place in the history of professional basketball in Florida.