1976–77 Buffalo Braves season

The 1976–77 NBA season was the Braves seventh season in the NBA. The Braves were purchased by John Y. Brown, Jr., the former owner of the Kentucky Colonels in the now defunct American Basketball Association for $6.2 million.[1] As part of an agreement with the Braves' former owner, Paul Snyder, Brown would give Snyder money received in player deals to reduce the purchase price.[1] The sell-off began shortly after the season, as the Braves sold newly acquired Moses Malone. Malone was acquired in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers after the ABA dispersal draft. Malone was now off to the Houston Rockets. The selling of players continued into the season as Bob McAdoo was sold to the New York Knicks.[1] While the deals helped Brown pay virtually nothing for the franchise, it turned a promising franchise into a rebuilding one. Attendance fell off as the Braves finished in 4th place with a 30–52 record. The only spotlight was rookie Adrian Dantley, who captured Rookie of the Year honors with 20.3 points per game. However Dantley himself was traded following the season to the Indiana Pacers for Billy Knight.[1]

1976–77 Buffalo Braves season
Head coachTates Locke
ArenaBuffalo Memorial Auditorium
Results
Record30–52 (.366)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Atlantic)
Conference: 10th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWBEN-TV
RadioWBEN

Offseason

Coach Ramsay had been hired in 1972 to a three-year contract. He served the 1975–76 season on a one-year extension. His contract was not renewed. Ramsay had guided the Braves to the playoffs three years in a row after enduring a 21–61 season, accumulating a 158–170 overall record. Local reports noted a personality conflict with owner Snyder.[2][3] The Braves promoted assistant coach Tates Locke and signed him to a two-year contract.[4][5][6]

Snyder threatened to sell the Braves if they did not sell 5,000 season tickets by June 12, 1976. However the season ticket drive by the Chamber of Commerce and other civic groups only resulted in 2,552 sales by the deadline date.[7] In June 1976, Diplomat Hotel owner Irving Cowan obtained an option to purchase the Braves for $6.1 million, and planned to bring them to South Florida and the Hollywood Sportatorium.[8] Pledges of more than 8,000 season tickets were received in Florida.[9] On June 15, Snyder announced the planned sale.[10][11] The Wall Street Journal estimated the sale price to be in the $7–8 million range.[12] However, the next day the city of Buffalo sued the Braves for breach of contract and sought a restraining order preventing the move. The suit was filed in New York Supreme Court for seeking $10 million from the Braves and the NBA for breaking a promise to sign a new 15-year lease. Another suit was filed as an anti-trust case in United States district court against the rest of the NBA seeking $48 million in damages in the event of a move. The anti-trust case alleged that the move was an attempt to eliminate competition against a future Toronto NBA franchise and to discourage expansion of the American Basketball Association to southern Florida. The damages arose as treble damages related to a March 1 promise to sign a lease.[10] Although Cowan claimed the move would still take place, the effort collapsed under the weight of the lawsuit and the Braves ended up signing a new lease with the city of Buffalo.[13][14] In July, the Braves signed a new lease with the city for the Memorial Auditorium with the understanding that there was an ongoing effort to sell the team to local interests.[15] The signing of the lease settled the lawsuits.[16]

NBA draft
Main article: 1976 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
16Adrian DantleyForward United StatesNotre Dame
348Gary BrewsterForward United StatesUTEP
6100Danny OdumsGuard United StatesFairfield
7118Frank JonesGuard United StatesTennessee Tech
8136Mark McAndrewGuard United StatesProvidence College
9153Bob RozyczkoForward United StatesSt. Bonaventure
10169Tim StokesGuard United StatesCanisius College

ABA Dispersal Draft

The American Basketball Association joined the NBA with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976. Of the teams remaining in the ABA, four joined the NBA. The remaining two ABA teams that did not join the NBA, the Kentucky Colonels and the Spirits of St. Louis, had their players assigned to a dispersal draft for draft purposes.

Pick Player Nationality NBA Team ABA Team Purchase Price
7 Bird Averitt (PG)  United States Buffalo Braves Kentucky Colonels $125,000

Roster
Buffalo Braves 1976–77 roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHt.Wt.From
F 35 United States Abdul-Aziz, Zaid 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Iowa State
F 10 United States Adams, Don 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Northwestern
G 14 United States Averitt, Bird 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Pepperdine
G 44 United States Dantley, Adrian 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Notre Dame
G 15 United States DiGregorio, Ernie 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Providence
G 5 United States Foster, Fred 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Miami (OH)
F 22 United States Gerard, Gus 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Virginia
C 40 United States Gianelli, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Pacific
C 52 United States Johnson, George 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Dillard
C 22 United States Malone, Moses 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Petersburg H.S.
F 22 United States Mayes, Clyde 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Furman
C 11 United States McAdoo, Bob 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) North Carolina
C 52 United States McMillen, Tom 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Maryland
G 21 United States Neumann, John 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Mississippi
G 25 United States Price, Jim 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Louisville
F 34 United States Shumate, John 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Notre Dame
G 9 United States Smith, Randy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Buffalo State
G 12 United States Terry, Claude 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Stanford
G 11 United States Williams, Chuck 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Colorado
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Philadelphia 76ers 5032.610–32–918–2311–5
x-Boston Celtics 4438.537628–1316–259–7
New York Knicks 4042.4881026–1514–278–8
Buffalo Braves 3052.3662023–187–346–10
New York Nets 2260.2682810–3112–296–10
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Philadelphia 76ers5032.610–
2 y-Houston Rockets4933.5981
3 x-Washington Bullets4834.5852
4 x-Boston Celtics4438.5376
5 x-San Antonio Spurs4438.5376
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4339.5247
7 New York Knicks4042.48810
8 New Orleans Jazz3547.42715
9 Atlanta Hawks3151.37819
10 Buffalo Braves3052.36620
11 New York Nets2260.26828

Record vs. opponents
1976–77 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NOJ NYK NYN PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS
Atlanta —0–44–02–22–22–20–40–41–30–41–22–22–21–31–33–11–30–43–14–01–21–3
Boston 4–0—3–12–21–33–12–21–32–21–23–12–13–12–22–23–11–32–21–34–02–20–4
Buffalo 0–41–3—1–32–22–23–10–31–31–30–31–33–13–11–32–22–23–11–30–43–10–4
Chicago 2–22–23–1—3–11–32–22–21–32–22–23–13–14–02–22–12–22–20–43–12–21–2
Cleveland 2–23–12–21–3—2–21–32–21–32–13–12–24–02–22–23–11–32–12–22–23–11–3
Denver 2–21–32–23–12–2—3–12–23–03–13–12–23–13–12–23–11–33–12–21–24–02–2
Detroit 4–02–21–32–23–11–3—3–12–22–24–01–33–13–11–23–12–22–22–21–21–31–3
Golden State 4–03–13–02–22–22–21–3—2–14–01–32–21–31–31–33–13–14–01–32–21–33–1
Houston 3–12–23–13–13–10–32–21–2—4–02–22–23–12–22–22–21–33–13–12–23–13–1
Indiana 4–02–13–12–21–21–32–20–40–4—2–21–32–22–22–24–02–22–20–42–22–20–4
Kansas City 2–11–33–02–21–31–30–43–12–22–2—1–32–22–24–04–01–33–12–21–31–32–2
Los Angeles 2–21–23–11–32–22–23–12–22–23–13–1—3–13–01–34–02–23–13–13–13–14–0
Milwaukee 2–21–31–31–30–41–31–33–11–32–22–21–3—1–21–33–11–21–32–23–11–31–3
New Orleans 3–12–21–30–42–21–31–33–12–22–22–20–32–1—3–12–20–43–12–21–31–32–2
N.Y. Knicks 3–12–23–12–22–22–22–13–12–22–20–43–13–11–3—2–21–32–21–31–31–22–2
N.Y. Nets 1–31–32–21–21–31–31–31–32–20–40–40–41–32–22–2—1–32–20–31–31–31–3
Philadelphia 3–13–12–22–23–13–12–21–33–12–23–12–22–14–03–13–1—1–22–21–32–23–1
Phoenix 4–02–21–32–21–21–32–20–41–32–21–31–33–11–32–22–22–1—1–31–33–11–3
Portland 1–33–13–14–02–22–22–23–11–34–02–21–32–22–23–13–02–23–1—2–23–11–2
San Antonio 0–40–44–01–32–22–12–12–22–22–23–11–31–33–13–13–13–13–12–2—3–12–2
Seattle 2–12–21–32–21–30–43–13–11–32–23–11–33–13–12–13–12–21–31–31–3—3–1
Washington 3–14–04–02–13–12–23–11–31–34–02–20–43–12–22–23–11–33–12–12–21–3—

Season Schedule

source

Player stats
Legend
GP Games played MPG Minutes per game FG Field-goals per game FGA Field-goals attempted per Game
FG% Field-goal percentage FT Free-throws per game FTA Free-throws attempted per Game FT% Free-throw percentage
ORPG Offensive rebounds per game DRPG Defensive rebounds per game RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game
SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game PFPG Personal fouls per game PPG Points per game
Player GP MPG FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% ORPG DRPG RPG APG SPG BPG PFPG PPG
Bob McAdoo2038.49.120.00.4555.57.90.6963.39.913.23.30.81.73.723.7
Randy Smith8237.78.618.30.4673.64.70.7621.63.95.65.42.10.13.220.7
Adrian Dantley7736.67.113.60.5206.27.60.8183.34.47.61.91.20.22.820.3
John Shumate7435.15.510.90.5024.16.10.6712.27.39.52.11.21.12.715.1
Ernie DiGregorio8128.04.510.80.4171.71.80.9450.61.62.34.70.70.01.910.7
George Johnson3927.13.27.20.4481.21.70.6873.07.310.32.00.62.73.67.6
John Gianelli5722.53.07.00.4311.01.40.7141.63.65.21.00.41.22.17.0
Don Adams7722.22.86.80.4111.72.20.7461.73.14.81.91.00.22.67.3
Jim Price2016.72.25.20.4230.91.00.8500.31.51.71.91.30.32.65.3
Bird Averitt7515.13.18.30.3781.62.30.7160.30.81.01.80.40.11.77.9
Gus Gerard4114.42.46.00.4101.01.50.6561.21.62.91.00.60.82.25.9
Tom McMillen2013.52.34.60.4891.31.80.7221.52.23.60.80.10.11.55.8
Chuck Williams4412.61.02.70.3680.91.10.7920.41.11.52.00.50.10.82.8
Johnny Neumann412.33.88.50.4411.31.50.8331.31.02.31.00.80.51.88.8
Fred Foster5911.71.74.20.4010.50.70.6820.60.71.30.80.30.01.63.9
Claude Terry339.21.53.20.4710.50.70.7830.10.70.81.00.30.00.83.5
Zaid Abdul-Aziz228.91.13.40.3381.52.00.7671.92.24.10.30.10.41.03.8
Clyde Mayes23.50.01.5.0001.01.50.6670.01.51.50.00.00.01.01.0
Moses Malone23.00.00.00.00.00.00.50.50.00.00.00.50.0

Awards and honors
  • Ernie DiGregorio, Led NBA, Free Throw Percentage, .945

Transactions

The Braves sent Ken Charles and Dick Gibbs and cash to the Atlanta Hawks for Tom Van Arsdale.[17][18] Van Arsdale never played for the Braves who traded him in August to the Phoenix Suns for a 1977 NBA draft 2nd round pick.[19]

The Braves were involved in the following transactions during the 1976–77 season.

Coaching Change
Offseason
Outgoing Coach Date Removed 1975-76 Record Incoming Coach
Jack Ramsay Fired, May 3, 1976 46–36 Tates Locke
In-season
Outgoing coach Date Removed 1976-77 Record Incoming coach
Tates Locke Fired, January 25, 1977 16–30 Bob MacKinnon (interim)
Bob MacKinnon (interim) Demoted to assistant, February 16, 1977 3–4 Joe Mullaney (interim)

Trades
June 16, 1976 To Buffalo Braves
 To Atlanta Hawks
August 5, 1976 To Buffalo Braves
 To Milwaukee Bucks
  • 1977 2nd round draft pick
August 25, 1976 To Buffalo Braves
  • 1977 2nd round draft pick
 To Phoenix Suns
October 18, 1976 To Buffalo Braves
 To Portland Trail Blazers
  • 1978 1st round draft pick
October 24, 1976 To Buffalo Braves
  • 1977 & 1978 1st round draft picks
 To Houston Rockets
November 22, 1976 To Buffalo Braves
 To Milwaukee Bucks
  • 1977 1st round draft pick
December 9, 1976 To Buffalo Braves
 To New York Knickerbockers
December 15, 1976 To Buffalo Braves
 To Denver Nuggets
January 8, 1977 To Buffalo Braves
 To Golden State Warriors
  • 1977 1st round draft pick

Free agents

References
  1. Buffalo Braves (1970-1978)
  2. "Buffalo Braves Won't Rehire Ramsay as Coach". The Palm Beach Post. May 4, 1976. p. D4. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  3. "People in Sports; Jack Ramsay Is Out, Janet Guthrie Is In". The New York Times. May 4, 1976. p. 52. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  4. "Tates Locke New Coach Of Braves". The New York Times. May 7, 1976. p. 25. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  5. "Assistant Is Coach of Braves". The Milwaukee Journal. May 7, 1976. p. 13, part 2. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  6. "Tates Locke takes new job as Buffalo Braves coach". The Dispatch. May 7, 1976. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  7. "Snyder Criticized on Proposed Move of Buffalo Braves". Palm Beach Post. June 12, 1976. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  8. Goldpaper, Sam (June 15, 1976). "Braves of N.B.A. Sold; Seek a Shift to Florida". The New York Times. p. 47.
  9. Aronson, Peter (September 29, 1985). "Aging Sportatorium Keeps on Rocking". Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  10. "Buffalo files suit to halt Braves move". Anchorage Daily News. June 16, 1976. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  11. Goldaper, Sam (June 15, 1976). "Braves of N.B.A. Sold; Seek a Shift to Florida; Braves Sold; Would Shift To Florida". The New York Times. p. 59. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  12. "NBA's Buffalo Braves Bought by Florida Man". The Wall Street Journal. June 15, 1976. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  13. Altaner, David (September 23, 1988). "Sportatorium Is Scheduled To Be Closed". Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  14. Seiden, Henry (June 17, 1976). "Cowan: Nothing's blocking shift now". The Miami News. p. 1C. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  15. "Braves Nix Hollywood, Sign New Lease In Buffalo". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 7, 1976. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  16. "Braves remain in Buffalo". Star-News. July 6, 1976. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  17. "Ken Charles". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  18. "Dick Gibbs". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  19. "Tom Van Arsdale". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
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