1974–75 Spirits of St. Louis season

The 1974-75 American Basketball Association season saw the Spirits of St. Louis, led by Marvin Barnes, Maurice Lucas, Gus Gerard and coach Bob MacKinnon, finish third in the ABA Eastern Division and defeat the New York Nets in the 1975 ABA Semifinals before losing in the Eastern Division Finals to the eventual ABA champion Kentucky Colonels.

1974–75 Spirits of St. Louis season
Head coachBob MacKinnon
ArenaCheckerdome
Results
Record32–52 (.381)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Eastern)
Conference: 3rd
Playoff finishWon the 1975 Eastern Division Semifinals, lost 1975 Eastern Division Finals
RadioKMOX

Offseason

Draft picks

The Spirits drafted John Lucas (who stayed in college), Gus Gerard and Mickey Johnson (who signed with the Chicago Bulls of the NBA), and in a special draft of NBA players selected Pete Maravich, Henry Bibby, Phil Jackson, Paul Westphal and Jeff Mullins, all of whom stayed in the NBA.[1]

Preseason transactions

Following the 1973-74 season the Carolina Cougars were purchased for $1.5 million by new owners including Ozzie Silna, Daniel Silna, Harry Weltman, Donald Schupak and Donald Schupak. The new owners moved the team to St. Louis and began play as the Spirits of St. Louis. Rudy Martzke was named Director of Operations.[1]

In May 1974 the Spirits sold Teddy McClain to the Kentucky Colonels.[1]

On May 10, 1974, the Spirits released Jim Chones. On June 20, 1974, the Spirits sold Mack Calvin to the Denver Nuggets, and that same month Billy Cunningham left the team to return to the NBA. On July 17, 1974, the Spirits signed Marvin Barnes, who had been drafted by the Denver Nuggets, to a seven-year, $2.1 million contract; the ABA awarded Denver an additional 1975 first-round draft choice as compensation. On September 27, 1974, the Spirits signed Don Chaney of the Boston Celtics to a three-year, $600,000 contract to begin with the 1975-76 season. Also in September 1974 the Spirits signed Maurice Lucas to a six-year contract.[1]

Bob McKinnon became the Spirits' coach prior to the season, replacing Larry Brown who left for the Denver Nuggets along with Carl Scheer.[1]

In September 1974 Bob Costas was hired as the Spirits' radio announcer.[1]

Preseason exhibition games

Unlike most ABA teams, the Spirits did not play preseason exhibition games against NBA opponents prior to the 1974-75 season, though they did before the 1975-76 season, and in prior seasons as the Carolina Cougars.[2]

Regular season

Roster
  • 24 Marvin Barnes
  • 34 Mike Barr
  • 27 Joe Caldwell
  • 7 Terry Driscoll
  • 15 Jimmy Foster
  • 12 Bernie Fryer
  • 11 Gus Gerard
  • 42 Tom Ingelsby
  • 22 Steve Jones
  • 55 Goo Kennedy
  • 1 Freddie Lewis
  • 20 Maurice Lucas
  • 14 Tom Owens
  • 54 Gene Moore
  • 35 Fly Williams
  • 44 Dennis Wuycik
  • 10 Don Adams

Season standings
1974-75 ABA Final Standings
Eastern DivisionWLPCT.GB
Kentucky Colonels5826.690-
New York Nets5826.690-
Spirits of St. Louis3252.38126
Memphis Sounds2757.32131
Virginia Squires1569.17943
Western DivisionWLPCT.GB
Denver Nuggets6519.774-
San Antonio Spurs5133.60714
Indiana Pacers4539.53620
Utah Stars3846.45227
San Diego Conquistadors3153.36934

[3][4]

Playoffs
Eastern Division Semifinals
Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1April 6New York105–1110–111,607
2April 9New York115–971–110,621
3April 11St. Louis113–1082–16,199
4April 13St. Louis100–893–17,719
5April 15New York108–1074–19,664

The Kentucky Colonels finished the season as the Eastern Division champions, and dispatched the Memphis Sounds in the Eastern Division Semifinals, 4 games to 1. The Spirits and Colonels met in the Eastern Division Semifinals.

Game 1 of the Eastern Division semifinals was played in Louisville on April 21. Kentucky won 112-99 despite Freddie Lewis' 35 points. Game 2 on April 23 saw the Colonels win at home 108-103 despite Marvin Barnes' 43 points.

The series then moved to St. Louis on April 25. The Spirits had lagged in attendance all season but outdrew the Colonels' first two crowds in the series as 10,142 showed up for Game 3. Freddie Lewis scored 32 points and St. Louis defeated Kentucky 103-97. Game 4 saw Artis Gilmore lead all scorers with 33 as the Colonels beat the Spirits 117-98 before 11,688 fans on April 27.

The Spirits and Colonels met for Game 5 in Louisville on April 28. Kentucky's crowd of 8,726 was less than either of the two St. Louis crowds, and Marvin Barnes scored 35 points for the Spirits. Kentucky still won 123-103 and the Colonels advanced to the ABA Finals for the third time.[4][5]

Eastern Division Finals
Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1April 21Kentucky109–1120–16,612
2April 23Kentucky103–1080–28,422
3April 25St. Louis103–971–210,142
4April 27St. Louis98–1171–311,688
5April 28Kentucky103–1231–48,726

Player statistics

Legend

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions

Draft and preseason signings
  • May 1974: the Colonels purchased Ted McClain from the Spirits (still under the Carolina Cougars name)

References
  1. "1974-75 Spirits of St. Louis notes at RememberTheABA.com". Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  2. "All-Time ABA vs. NBA Exhibition Game Results, RememberTheABA.com". Archived from the original on October 28, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  3. 1974-75 ABA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com
  4. "Remember the ABA: 1974-75 Regular Season Standings and Playoff Results". Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  5. 1974-75 ABA Game by Game Log- Part 4
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