Historical Moments:
1967/68: Led by Player/Coach Cliff Hagan the Dallas Chaparrals were one of 11 teams to take
the floor in the inaugural season of the upstart American Basketball Association.
Along with Hagan, Bob Verga and John Beasley all averaged around 20 points
per game the Chaps were one of the premier teams in the new league finishing 2nd
in the Western Division with a 46-32 record. In the playoffs the Chaps made
quick work sweeping the Houston Mavericks in 3 straight. However, in the Western
Finals the Chaps would be knocked off by the New Orleans Buccaneers 4 games to
1.
1968/69: The Chaps second season was a bit of a disappointment despite a solid season from
rookie Ron Boone, as the team finished in 4th place with a mediocre 41-37 record.
In the playoffs the Chaparrals quickly fell behind 3 games to 1 to the New
Orleans Buccaneers. However the Chaps would not go down quietly they won the next
2 games convincingly, before losing by 6 points in Game 7.
1969/70: Cliff Hagan retires from playing to concentrate solely on coaching. However, the
move does not work out as players reject Hagan's coaching style, and he is fired
in the middle of the season. With Max Williams taking the coaching reins the
rest of the way the Chaps would finish in 2nd place with a 45-39 record. However,
in the playoffs the Chaparrals would fall in 6 games to the Los Angeles Stars.
1970/71: The Dallas Chaparrals become the Texas Chaparrals playing games in Fort Worth, and
Lubbock besides Dallas. However, with sparse crowds the Chaps would return to
playing exclusively in Dallas by season's end. On the court the team was failure
as well finishing with a 30-54 record. However, by 4th they would still qualify
for the playoffs where they would be swept in 4 straight by the Utah Stars.
1971/72: Once again known as the Dallas Chaparrals the team shows some improvement finishing
with a 42-42 record under new Coach Tom Nisslake, who wins Coach of the Year,
while leading the Chaps to 3rd place. However in the playoffs the Chaparrals
would be swept for the 2nd year in a row by the Utah Stars in 4 straight. Following
the year Nisslake would leave the Chaps for a job in the NBA with Seattle
Supersonics.
1972/73: Under new Coach Babe McCarthy the Chaparrals floundered from the start of the season.
Desperate to turn thing around McCarthy was fired and replaced by Dave Brown.
However, the Chaps would not fair much better finishing in 5th place with a
terrible 28-56 record, missing the playoff for the first time in their history.
Following the season the struggling franchise would be sold to a group who would
move them across the state to San Antonio.
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