First Game Played October 16, 1967
Last Game Played March 26, 1973
Moved to San Antonio in 1973
Historical Moments
1967/68: Led by Player/Coach Cliff Hagan the Dallas Chaparrals were one of 11 teams to take the floor in the inaugural season of the upstart American Basketball Association. Along with Hagan, Bob Verga and John Beasley all averaged around 20 points per game the Chaps were one of the premier teams in the new league finishing second in the Western Division with a 46-32 record. In the playoffs the Chaps made quick work sweeping the Houston Mavericks in three straight. However, in the Western Finals the Chaps would be knocked off by the New Orleans Buccaneers four games to one.
1968/69: The Chaps second season was a bit of a disappointment despite a solid season from rookie Ron Boone, as the team finished in 4th place with a mediocre 41-37 record. In the playoffs the Chaparrals quickly fell behind three games to one to the New Orleans Buccaneers. However the Chaps would not go down quietly they won the next two games convincingly, before losing by six points in Game 7.
1969/70: Cliff Hagan retires from playing to concentrate solely on coaching. However, the move does not work out as players reject Hagan’s coaching style, and he is fired in the middle of the season. With Max Williams taking the coaching reins the rest of the way the Chaps would finish in second place with a 45-39 record. However, in the playoffs the Chaparrals would fall in six games to the Los Angeles Stars.
1970/71: The Dallas Chaparrals become the Texas Chaparrals playing games in Fort Worth, and Lubbock besides Dallas. However, with sparse crowds the Chaps would return to playing exclusively in Dallas by season’s end. On the court the team was failure as well finishing with a 30-54 record. However, by fourth they would still qualify for the playoffs where they would be swept in four straight games by the Utah Stars.
1971/72: Once again known as the Dallas Chaparrals the team shows some improvement finishing with a 42-42 record under new Coach Tom Nisslake, who wins Coach of the Year, while leading the Chaps to third place. However in the playoffs the Chaparrals would be swept for the second year in a row by the Utah Stars in four straight games. Following the year Nisslake would leave the Chaps for a job in the NBA with Seattle Supersonics.
1972/73: Under new Coach Babe McCarthy the Chaparrals floundered from the start of the season. Desperate to turn thing around McCarthy was fired and replaced by Dave Brown. However, the Chaps would not fair much better finishing in fifth place with a terrible 28-56 record, missing the playoff for the first time in their history. Following the season the struggling franchise would be sold to a group who would move them across the state to San Antonio.
 Logo 1970-1973 |  Logo 1967-1970 |  |
Chaps Arenas
Classic Chaps
 Cliff Hagan 1967-1970 |  Cincy Powell 1967-1970 |  Ron Boone 1968-1970 |  John Smith 1968-1970 |
 Glen Combs 1968-1971 |  Manny Leaks 1968-1971 |  John Beasley 1967-1972 |  Donnie Freeman 1970-1972 |
 Gene Moore 1970-1972 |  Rich Jones 1969-1973 |  Joe Hamilton 1970-1973 |  Goo Kennedy 1971-1973 |
 Bob Netolicky 1972/73 |  A typical sparse crowd attending a Chaparrals game in Dalla |
All information, and team names are property of the American Basketball Association. This site is not affiliated with the Dallas Chaparrals or the ABA. This site is maintained for research purposes only.Page created on June 14, 2012. Last updated on June 14, 2012 at 12:05 am ET.
