History of the Houston Mavericks

Founding the Houston Mavericks

The Houston Mavericks were a charter member of the American Basketball Association and played in Houston, Texas, during the league's first two seasons from 1967 through 1969. Although the Mavericks never reached the playoffs or established a large local following, they helped introduce the ABA to Texas and began a franchise lineage that later included the Carolina Cougars and Spirits of St. Louis.

The American Basketball Association was organized in 1967 as a competitor to the established National Basketball Association. The new league promoted an entertaining style of basketball built around the three-point field goal, a colorful red, white and blue basketball, fast-paced offense and opportunities for players who had been overlooked by the NBA.

Houston was selected as one of the ABA's original markets. The Mavericks joined the Anaheim Amigos, Dallas Chaparrals, Denver Rockets, New Orleans Buccaneers and Oakland Oaks in the Western Division.

The team was owned by Houston businessman T.C. Morrow and played its home games at Sam Houston Coliseum. The Mavericks wore blue and gold and attempted to build an audience in a city that had not yet become established as a major professional basketball market.

Slater Martin Becomes Head Coach

The Mavericks hired Slater Martin as their first head coach. Martin was a Texas basketball legend who had starred at the University of Texas before enjoying a successful NBA career.

Despite standing only about 5 feet 10 inches tall, Martin became one of the leading guards of his era. He won several NBA championships as a member of the Minneapolis Lakers and St. Louis Hawks and was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Martin brought professional experience and local recognition to the expansion franchise. However, like many first-year ABA teams, the Mavericks had difficulty assembling a deep and stable roster.

The First Mavericks Roster

The early Houston roster featured several productive players, including Willie Somerset, Art Becker, DeWitt Menyard, Leary Lentz, Tony Jackson and Hal Hale.

Somerset became the team's most recognizable guard. Although he stood approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, he was a powerful and aggressive scorer who could attack the basket, shoot from outside and create opportunities for his teammates.

Art Becker provided scoring and rebounding at forward. Becker had played briefly in the NBA before joining Houston and quickly became one of the Mavericks' most dependable players.

DeWitt Menyard gave the team size in the frontcourt, while Tony Jackson supplied outside shooting and experience. The roster possessed individual talent, but it lacked the depth enjoyed by the ABA's strongest clubs.

The 1967-68 Season

The Mavericks struggled during the ABA's inaugural season but remained competitive enough to stay in the Western Division playoff race for part of the year.

Houston finished the 1967-68 regular season with a 29-49 record. The Mavericks placed fourth in the Western Division but did not qualify for the playoffs under the ABA's postseason format.

Houston averaged 103.5 points per game, the lowest scoring average in the 11-team league. The Mavericks allowed 107.8 points per game, giving them one of the ABA's least productive offenses despite a more respectable defensive performance.

The team's relatively slow and controlled approach contrasted with the faster style used by many other ABA clubs. Houston frequently struggled to generate enough scoring to overcome stronger opponents.

Willie Somerset Emerges as a Star

Willie Somerset became the offensive leader of the inaugural Mavericks. He averaged 21.7 points per game during the 1967-68 season and also contributed as a rebounder and playmaker.

Somerset's small stature made his success especially memorable. He used strength, speed and determination to compete against much taller guards and forwards.

His performance earned him a place in the ABA All-Star Game. Somerset remained one of Houston's leading scorers during the franchise's second season and became one of the most notable players in Mavericks history.

Art Becker Earns All-ABA Recognition

Art Becker was another bright spot during Houston's first season. The versatile forward contributed scoring, rebounding and physical play while becoming one of the team's most consistent performers.

Becker was selected to the All-ABA First Team for the 1967-68 season. His recognition was a significant achievement for a player representing a losing expansion club.

Becker also represented Houston in the first ABA All-Star Game. His success gave the Mavericks one of the league's most respected forwards despite the team's poor overall record.

DeWitt Menyard and the Frontcourt

Center DeWitt Menyard provided much of Houston's interior presence. At approximately 6 feet 10 inches tall, he was one of the biggest players on the roster and served as a rebounder and defender.

Menyard also earned selection to the ABA All-Star Game during the Mavericks' inaugural season. His appearance gave Houston multiple representatives in the league's first showcase event.

The Mavericks nevertheless remained undersized and inconsistent in several areas. Their inability to score efficiently and control games against deeper opponents prevented them from earning a winning record.

Attendance Problems

Houston's most serious difficulties occurred away from the court. The Mavericks struggled to attract fans to Sam Houston Coliseum from the beginning of their existence.

The ABA was a new league without an established national television presence, and many Houston sports fans were unfamiliar with its teams and players. The Mavericks also competed for attention with successful college programs, professional football and other entertainment options.

Large sections of the Coliseum were frequently empty. Attendance declined as the team continued losing, creating a cycle in which poor gate revenue made it more difficult to improve the roster or promote the franchise.

The lack of support placed increasing financial pressure on owner T.C. Morrow. Although attendance problems affected several ABA teams, Houston became one of the league's most extreme examples.

The Pursuit of Elvin Hayes

The Mavericks attempted to transform their fortunes by pursuing University of Houston superstar Elvin Hayes in 1968.

Hayes had become a national sensation after leading the University of Houston to victory over Lew Alcindor and UCLA in the famous Game of the Century at the Astrodome. Signing the local college hero could have given the Mavericks immediate credibility and greatly increased attendance.

Houston reportedly offered Hayes a substantial contract to join the ABA. However, Hayes declined to sign with the Mavericks and entered the NBA instead.

The San Diego Rockets selected him with the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft. Hayes immediately became an NBA scoring star, while the Mavericks lost their best opportunity to secure a major local attraction.

Changes Before the Second Season

The Mavericks entered the 1968-69 season with continuing financial uncertainty and a changing roster.

Slater Martin began the season as head coach, but the team struggled through its opening games. Martin departed after Houston started with a 3-9 record.

Jim Weaver took over as head coach and guided the Mavericks for the remainder of the season. Weaver inherited a team that lacked stability both on the court and within the ownership group.

Art Becker also served in a leadership role during the transition. Despite the coaching changes, Houston could not reverse its decline.

The 1968-69 Season

The Mavericks finished their second season with a 23-55 record, placing sixth and last in the Western Division.

Houston's offense improved significantly, rising to 111.3 points per game. However, the defense deteriorated and allowed 117.0 points per contest.

The faster pace produced higher-scoring games but did not result in more victories. The Mavericks finished well behind the Oakland Oaks, New Orleans Buccaneers, Denver Rockets, Dallas Chaparrals and Los Angeles Stars.

Houston missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Mavericks completed their two-year existence with a combined regular-season record of 52-104.

Willie Somerset's Final Houston Season

Somerset remained Houston's leading attraction during the 1968-69 campaign. He averaged more than 23 points per game in his appearances with the team and was again selected to the ABA All-Star Game.

His scoring ability gave fans one of the few consistent reasons to watch the struggling franchise. Somerset could create offense despite being one of the shortest players in professional basketball.

Injuries and roster changes limited his availability, however, and the Mavericks lacked enough supporting talent to compete consistently.

Tony Jackson and Stew Johnson

Tony Jackson became an important scorer for the second-year Mavericks. Jackson was known for his outside shooting and benefited from the ABA's three-point line.

Forward Stew Johnson also emerged as a productive offensive player. Johnson later became one of the ABA's most durable players and played for several franchises during the league's history.

Don Carlos, George Carter, Randy Mahaffey and other players contributed during the season, but constant personnel changes prevented the club from developing continuity.

A Perfect Night at the Free-Throw Line

One of the most remarkable moments in Mavericks history occurred on January 17, 1969, against the New York Nets.

Houston made all 36 of its free-throw attempts during a 130-118 victory. The performance established an extraordinary professional basketball record for the most free throws made in a game without a miss.

The perfect shooting night formed part of a longer team streak of 43 consecutive successful free throws. The streak began during the previous game and continued into Houston's following contest.

The achievement remains one of the most unusual accomplishments associated with the Mavericks.

Ownership Abandons the Franchise

As attendance and financial losses continued, T.C. Morrow became unwilling to keep funding the organization.

During the 1968-69 season, Morrow informed the ABA that he would no longer provide the money needed to operate the club. The league intervened to prevent the Mavericks from folding before completing their schedule.

For a period, Houston effectively operated under league control. The ABA helped manage the team's finances and personnel while searching for a buyer who could move the franchise to a more promising market.

The situation demonstrated the instability faced by the young league. Several ABA teams lacked sufficient attendance, local sponsorship and ownership resources to survive without assistance.

Extremely Small Crowds

Attendance fell to exceptionally low levels during the final months of the Mavericks' existence.

Houston's final home game was played against the New York Nets on April 2, 1969. The Mavericks produced their highest-scoring game as a franchise, winning 149-132.

Despite the offensive explosion, the announced attendance was only 89 spectators. The contrast between the high-scoring victory and the nearly empty arena summarized the franchise's problems.

Houston played its final game the following night, losing to the Dallas Chaparrals. By that time, plans were already underway to relocate the organization.

Sale to Jim Gardner

North Carolina businessman and former congressman Jim Gardner agreed to purchase the Mavericks during the 1968-69 season.

Gardner believed a regional franchise could succeed in North Carolina by dividing its home schedule among several cities. The state had a strong college basketball culture but did not have a major professional team.

Following the season, Gardner moved the Mavericks to North Carolina and renamed them the Carolina Cougars.

The relocation ended Houston's first experience with a major professional basketball franchise after only two seasons.

Season-by-Season Results

Notable Houston Mavericks Players

• Willie Somerset
• Art Becker
• DeWitt Menyard
• Tony Jackson
• Stew Johnson
• Leary Lentz
• Hal Hale
• Don Carlos
• George Carter
• Randy Mahaffey
• Bob Riedy
• Roger Schurig

Houston Mavericks Honors

• Art Becker – 1967-68 All-ABA First Team
• Art Becker – 1968 ABA All-Star
• Willie Somerset – ABA All-Star
• DeWitt Menyard – 1968 ABA All-Star
• Houston made 36 consecutive free throws without a miss against the New York Nets on January 17, 1969

Sam Houston Coliseum

The Mavericks played at Sam Houston Coliseum, an indoor arena located in downtown Houston. The building hosted sporting events, concerts, conventions and other public gatherings during its long history.

Although the Coliseum was capable of holding thousands of spectators, the Mavericks rarely came close to filling it. The large number of empty seats made the club's attendance problems especially visible.

The building lacked the atmosphere and revenue-generating potential that a successful professional franchise required. Without a strong fan base, the Mavericks could not turn their arena into a meaningful home-court advantage.

From Houston to Carolina and St. Louis

The Mavericks franchise continued after leaving Texas. It operated as the Carolina Cougars from 1969 through 1974, playing home games in Greensboro, Charlotte and Raleigh.

The Cougars eventually developed into a competitive team. Under head coach Larry Brown, Carolina won 57 games during the 1972-73 season and reached the ABA Eastern Division Finals.

In 1974, the franchise moved again and became the Spirits of St. Louis. The Spirits featured players such as Marvin Barnes, Maurice Lucas, Moses Malone and Freddie Lewis.

The St. Louis franchise was not included in the 1976 ABA-NBA merger and ceased operations after the ABA's final season.

Franchise Timeline

Professional Basketball Returns to Houston

Houston did not remain without major professional basketball for long. The NBA's San Diego Rockets relocated to the city in 1971 and became the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets eventually established a permanent professional basketball presence in Houston and won NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.

The ABA Mavericks were unrelated to both the Houston Rockets and the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. The Dallas Mavericks did not begin play until 1980, more than a decade after the Houston ABA franchise had disappeared.

Legacy of the Houston Mavericks

The Houston Mavericks are remembered primarily as one of the ABA's least successful original franchises. They never produced a winning season, never reached the playoffs and played before some of the smallest crowds in major professional basketball history.

Nevertheless, the Mavericks occupied an important place in the development of professional basketball in Texas. They brought the ABA's red, white and blue ball and three-point line to Houston several years before the NBA Rockets arrived.

The team also featured notable players such as Willie Somerset and Art Becker. Somerset became one of the shortest All-Stars in professional basketball history, while Becker earned All-ABA First Team recognition.

Houston's pursuit of Elvin Hayes demonstrated the growing competition between the ABA and NBA for elite talent. Although the Mavericks failed to sign him, their reported offer reflected the aggressive methods used by the new league to challenge its established rival.

The franchise's financial struggles also illustrated the risks of the ABA's early expansion. A team could possess talented players and play entertaining basketball while still failing because of weak attendance, limited promotion and insufficient ownership resources.

The Houston Mavericks lasted only two seasons, but their franchise continued through the entire existence of the ABA. Their move to North Carolina produced the Carolina Cougars, and the organization later completed its history as the Spirits of St. Louis.

Although the Mavericks left behind few victories and no playoff appearances, they remain an important part of ABA history and the earliest chapter of major professional basketball in Houston.