Originally set to be called the Oakland Americans, the ABA team in Northern California owned by a group of celebrities led by Singer Pat Boone decided to take the name of the old Minor League Baseball team from the PCL the Oakland Oaks. The name was also used by a team in the American Basketball League in 1962.

Other celebrities that owned part of the Oaks included Bill Cosby, Rafer Johnson, Gardner McKay, Don Murray, and Denny "Tarzan" Miller. The Oaks were in direct competition with the NBA's San Francisco Warriors, and took a shot across the bow, by signing Warriors star Rick Barry to a multiyear six figure deal that included 15% of the Oaks.

The Oaks would even hire Barry's Coach from the University of Miami Bruce Hale, who was also his Father In-Law. However, a court injunction kept Rick Barry from joining the Oaks in their first season, as he was ruled to be property of the Warriors.

Without Rick Barry, the Oaks roster was full of Eastern League Players that included Steve "Snapper" Jones, Jim Hadnot and Levern Tart. The Oaks started the season with a 134-129 win over the Anaheim Amigos at the Oakland Coliseum Arena on October 13th.

The Oaks were near . 500 for most of the first six weeks.

However, their mostly minor league roster would soon be exposed as they struggled after Thanksgiving. Eventually settling into last place the Oaks would become the punching bag of the first year ABA as wins became scarcer as the season wore on.

The Oaks, would win just two of their final 28 games, including a season ending 17 game losing streak, as they finished with the worst record in the league at 22-56.