Continental Basketball Association (1982-1983)
Tombstone
Born: May 1982 – CBA expansion franchise
Moved: February 9, 1983 (Albuquerque Silvers)1Latta, Dennis. “CBA Basketball Comes to Town”. The Journal (Albuquerque, NM). February 10, 1983
First Game: December 3, 1982 (W 115-109 vs. Reno Bighorns)
Last Game: February 6, 1983 (L 120-110 @ Wyoming Wildcatters)
CBA Championships: None
Arenas
Las Vegas Convention Center (6,300)21982-83 Las Vegas Silvers Program
Tropicana Hotel Sports Complex (3,000)31982-83 Las Vegas Silvers Program
Branding
Team Colors: Silver, Royal Blue & Burnt Orange41982-83 Las Vegas Silvers Program
Ownership
Owners: Pat Shimbashi & Ken Ford
OUR FAVORITE STUFF
Continental Basketball Association
Logo T-Shirt
This Old School Shirts release is strictly for the hardcore hoop heads.
Before the NBA had the G-League, it had the CBA with teams stretched from Puerto Rico to Honolulu. During the CBA’s 1980’s and 90’s heyday, the league provided a launching pad for future NBA All-Stars such as John Starks and Michael Adams as well as coaching legends Phil Jackson and George Karl.
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Background
The Las Vegas Silvers were a Midseason Meltdown club that lasted only two months in the Continental Basketball Association during the winter of 1982-83. The CBA was a developmental minor league for the National Basketball Association at the time, but all clubs operated independently.
Co-owner Pat Shimbashi hailed from Alberta, Canada where he owned junior hockey teams. Shimbashi originally acquired rights to the franchise in May 1982. He hoped to keep the club in Lethbridge, Alberta, where the city’s previous CBA team, the Alberta Dusters, had recently folded. After failing to reach a lease agreement for Lethbridge’s Arena, he put the team in Las Vegas instead. The long distance proved untenable and Shimbashi could not reach agreement with Silvers co-owner Ken Ford on a plan to adequately capitalize the team.
Midseason Move
On February 9, 1983 the CBA seized the franchise due to the management problems and unpaid bills. The league relocated the Silvers immediately to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Silvers were 11-21 at the time of their abrupt departure from Las Vegas. As the Albuquerque Silvers, they would finish out the 1982-83 season and then play two more campaigns before folding in 1985.
Former ABA and NBA Coach-of-the-Year Tom Nissalke was originally supposed to be the Head Coach of the Las Vegas Silvers. But he was hired away for the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers job shortly before the CBA season got underway.
Downloads
12-7-1982 Silvers vs. Reno Bighorns Roster
12-7-1982 Las Vegas Dealers vs. Reno Bighorns Roster
Links
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