Historical Moments:
1967/68: For the upstart ABA who had their league offices in Minneapolis, it was only natural
to place one of the first 11 teams in Minnesota. That team was the Muskies.
Coached by Jim Pollard, the Muskies landed a major star when they signed Center
Mel Daniels, who chose the ABA over the NBA's Cincinnati Royals. The Muskies
would stumble out of the gate, losing three of their first four games, including
their first game a 104-9 loss to the Kentucky Colonels at the Met Center on October
22nd. However, they would soon get things turnaround as they won 10 of their
next 11 games. The Muskies would be one of the top teams in the ABA all season,
as they were one of only two ABA teams to win 50 games, posting a record
of 50-28. However, they would lose out on the division title to the Pittsburgh
Pipers by four games. Mel Daniels, who led the league in rebounds, would be named
the first league's rookie of the Year. In the playoffs the Muskies would have
an unexpected tough time with the Colonels, as they needed the full five games
to reach the Eastern Division Finals. With a trip to the ABA Championship on
the line, the Muskies would once get bested by the Pipers, who won the series in
five games. Despite their success on the court, the Muskies struggled to draw
any fans, leaving ownership to seek other playing locations, which led them to
move the team to Miami. Minnesota would not be without team for long, as they
would be immediately replaced by the ABA Champion Pittsburgh Pipers, as the league
did not want to leave the city that held their league offices, without a team.
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