Owned by businessman T. C.

Morrow, and group of minority partners that included Bud Adams who had success with Houston Oilers, the Houston Mavericks were one of two teams in Texas for the ten team start up ABA. Playing their games at the Sam Houston Coliseum, the Mavericks who were named after a team from the old Professional Basketball League of America got off to an inauspicious start when coach Slater Martin showed up at the first ABA draft without the required $30,000 bond to select players.

By the time Martin was able to get the money through other channels; he'd missed the first four rounds and was forced to recruit players from the Eastern Basketball Association. The Mavericks would win their first game against the Denver Rockets 102-85 on October 17th, but struggled right afterward losing their next eight games, including their home opener at the Sam Houston Coliseum against the Dallas Chaparrals.

The Mavericks would also struggle to draw fans, as their average attendance of 1,543 was the worst in the ABA. The two best players on the Mavericks were Willie Sommerset and Art Becker who averaged 21.

7 ppg and 18. 8 ppg respectively.

The Mavericks would finish the season with a 29-49 record good enough for fourth place in the Western Division, earning a playoff spot. The Mavericks stay in the playoffs would be a short one as they are swept by the Dallas Chaparrals.