Puneet Varma (Editor)

1970–71 Utah Stars season

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Head coach
  
Bill Sharman

Record
  
57–27 (.679)

Playoff finish
  
Won ABA Championship

Arena
  
Salt Palace

Place
  
Division: 2nd

The 1970–71 Utah Stars season was the first season for the Stars in Utah. After one season in Anaheim and two seasons in Los Angeles, the team moved to Utah in June 1970. The Stars finished second in the Western Division and won their first and only ABA title. In the Semifinals, the Stars swept the Texas Chaparrals in four games. In the Division Finals, they beat the Indiana Pacers in seven games (including Game 7 in Indiana) to advance to the ABA Finals. In seven games, they beat the Kentucky Colonels, to give the state of Utah its first pro championship.

Contents

Roster

  • 10 Mervin Jackson (Point guard, University of Utah)
  • 11 Dick Nemelka (Shooting guard, Brigham Young University)
  • 12 Mike Butler (Shooting guard, University of Memphis)
  • 14 Roderick McDonald (Power Forward, Whitworth)
  • 20 Donnie Freeman (Shooting guard, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign)
  • 21 Red Robbins (Power forward, University of Tennessee)
  • 22 Tom Workman (Forward/Center, Seattle University)
  • 23 Jeffrey Congdon (Point guard, Brigham Young University)
  • 24 Ron Boone (Shooting guard, Idaho State University)
  • 31 Zelmo Beaty (Center, Prairie View A&M University)
  • 33 George Stone (Small forward, Marshall University)
  • 35 Wayne Hightower (Power forward, University of Kansas)
  • 40 Glen Combs (Shooting guard, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
  • 42 Willie Wise (Small forward, Drake University)
  • 54 Sam Smith (Small forward, Kentucky Wesleyan College)
  • Bold indicates the player was on the final roster prior to the playoffs.

    Playoffs

    Western Division Semifinals

    Stars win series, 4–0

    Division Finals

    Stars win series, 4–3

    ABA Finals

    Stars win series, 4–3

    Zelmo Beaty scored 23.2 points per game and rebounded 14.6 rebounds per game, which earned him the Playoffs MVP.

    Awards, records, and honors

  • 1971 ABA All-Star Game
  • Zelmo Beaty
  • Glen Combs
  • Red Robbins
  • Ron Boone
  • References

    1970–71 Utah Stars season Wikipedia