Long Beach Basketball: A History

Long Beach has a rich Basketball History dating back to the early days of the sport. From the early days of the game to the modern ERA Long Beach has been home to some of the greatest players and teams in Basketball History In this blog, we’ll take a look at the history of Long beach basketball from the early days to the present.

The Early Years

Before there was the Los Angeles Lakers, there was the Long Beach basketball team The Long Beach Basketball team was one of the original teams in the Basketball Association of America, which later became the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team was founded in 1946 by Ben Berger and William A. Reichart. The team played its home games at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium.

The Long Beach basketball team was not very successful in its early years. In fact, the team had a losing record in each of its first four seasons. However, the team began to turn things around in 1950-51, when it drafted Bob Cousy, who would go on to become one of the greatest players in NBA history The team also acquired Bill Sharman, who would become one of the best shooters in NBA history With Cousy and Sharman leading the way, the Long Beach Basketball team finished with a winning record for the first time in franchise history in 1951-52.

The ABA Years

The American Basketball Association was founded in 1967, and the Long Beach Jam were one of the league’s charter franchises. The ABA was known for its flashy style of play, and the Jam were no exception. Led by high-scoring guard Warren Jabali, the Jam were one of the most exciting teams in the league. They won the ABA championship in their first season, and they made it back to the finals in their second season.

However, financial problems forced the team to fold after just two seasons. The ABA then ceased operations in 1976.

The Move to the NBA

In 1970, the ABA added four teams, including the Long Beach Jam. The franchise was originally owned by Harry Ornest, who also owned the St. Louis Spirits. The team’s colors were green and white, and their home court was the Long Beach Convention Center. The Jam were coached by Joe Mullaney and featured players such as Warren Jabali, Larry Bunce, Frank Card, Glenn McDonald, and 6’11” rookie Julius Erving

Ornest moved the team to Los Angeles in 1971, and they became the Los Angeles Stars. The move was made in an effort to be closer to Ornest’s other business interests in Southern California The team struggled in Los Angeles finishing with a record of 30-54. Following the season, Mullaney retired from coaching and was replaced by Bill Sharman.

In 1972-73, the Stars made significant improvements, finishing with a 47-37 record. However, they were unable to make the playoffs. After the season, Ornest sold the team to trucking magnate James Garner. Garner then moved the team back to Long Beach for the 1973-74 season.

The ’80s and ’90s

In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the Long Beach basketball scene was defined by two teams: The Beach Bach classic rivals, the Lakers and the Clippers. The Clippers, in particular, were led by a young player named Kobe Bryant who would go on to become one of the greatest players of all time. The Lakers were also led by a young star, Shaquille O’Neal, who would become one of the most dominant players in NBA history

The New Millennium

The New Millennium
The early years of the new millennium were not kind to the Long beach basketball community. The JetBlue Conference realignment saw the departure of many of the schools that had been the mainstays of the conference, and with it went much of the interest in basketball. In addition, the conference’s decision to move away from a traditional round-robin schedule in favor of a more regional approach meant that there were fewer games against familiar opponents, which made it harder for fans to follow.

The Current Era

The current era of Long beach basketball began in the late 1990s, when the city’s team, the Dirtbags, made a name for themselves with a string of successful seasons. The Dirtbags were one of the top collegiate teams in the country during this time, and their success helped put Long Beach on the map as a basketball hotbed.

Since then, Long Beach has produced a number of successful players at both the collegiate and professional levels. Some of the most notable names to come out of the city in recent years include current NBA Stars Damian Lillard and Klay Thompson as well as former All-Star Amare Stoudemire.

Long Beach Basketball has a rich history, and it looks like the city is poised to continue producing Great players for years to come.

The All-Time Greats

In a storied history that dates back over 100 years, the Long Beach men’s Basketball Program has seen its share of great players come and go. Here is a look at some of the all-time greats who have graced the hardwood at Long Beach:

-Willie Asbury: A member of the inaugural Long Beach basketball team in 1915, Asbury was a three-time All-American and is widely considered to be the greatest player in program history. He led the team to four consecutive conference championships and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961.

--Karl Malone One of the most decorated players in NBA history Malone spent one year at Long Beach before being drafted by the Utah Jazz in 1985. He went on to win two NBA MVP awards and is one of only two players in league history to surpass 36,000 career points.

--Bobby Brown A local product from nearby Lakewood, Brown played for Long Beach from 2004-2008 and is the only player in program history to be named an All-American twice. He helped lead the team to its first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2007 and currently plays professionally overseas.

The Coaches

Since the early days of Long Beach Basketball the game has been coached by some of the sport’s most legendary figures. In the 1920s and 1930s, John Wooden and Clair Bee led the team to national prominence. Wooden, who would go on to become one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history, coached Long Beach for six years before moving on to Indiana State Bee, who also had a successful career as a College Coach led the team to its first conference championship in 1932.

In the 1960s and 1970s, BobCOMSTAT and Jerry Tarkanian built Long Beach into a national powerhouse. COMSTAT led the team to four straight conference championships from 1967 to 1970, and Tarkanian guided the team to its first NCAA Division I Championship game in 1971.

Since then, Long Beach has been coached by some of the biggest names in basketball, including Larry Brown and Phil Jackson Brown, who led the team to its second NCAA Division I Championship game in 1986, is currently the Head Coach of the Detroit Pistons Jackson, who coached the team from 1996 to 2000, is currently the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers

The Rivalries

Long Beach has a longstanding basketball rivalry with Los Angeles The two teams first played each other in 1909, with Long Beach winning 46-44. The next time the two teams played was in 1912, with Los Angeles winning 36-33. In 1913, the two teams played three times, with each team winning one game. Since then, the two teams have played each other nearly every year. The annual game is typically one of the most highly anticipated games of the season.

The Fans

Long Beach fans are some of the most passionate and dedicated in all of basketball. They have been known to pack the stands for games, no matter what the team’s record is. They also travel well, often following the team on the road.

The fans have a lot to be proud of when it comes to Long Beach basketball. The team has a long history of success, dating back to its days in the American Basketball Association In recent years the team has made it to the playoffs several times and even won a few championships.

No matter what happens on the court, the fans will always be there to support their team. That’s what makes Long Beach basketball so special.