Continental Basketball Association (1980-1983)
Tombstone
Born: 1980 – CBA expansion franchise
Folded: 1983
First Game: November 21, 1980 (W 138-126 vs. Alberta Dusters)
Last Game: April 2, 1983 (L 106-102 vs. Detroit Spirits)
CBA Championships: None
Arenas
1980-1981: C.M. Russell Fieldhouse (5,100)
1980-1981: Carroll College Fieldhouse (4,600)
1981-1983: Bison Fieldhouse (3,100)
Branding
Team Colors: Gold, Brown & White11980-81 Montana Golden Nuggets Program
Ownership
Owners:
- 1980-1981: Ron Iverson
- 1981-1983: Dick Dzivi, L.D. Nybo, Jack Stevens, et al.
Trophy Case
CBA Most Valuable Player
- 1980-81: Willie Smith
- 1981-82: Ron Valentine
- 1982-83: Robert Smith
CBA Rookie of the Year
- 1982-83: Mike Sanders
CBA Coach of the Year
- 1980-81: George Karl
- 1982-83: George Karl
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Background
The Montana Golden Nuggets were a stellar minor league basketball team that played out of Great Falls, Montana during the early 1980’s. The Nuggets lasted three seasons in the Continental Basketball Association, the top minor league in North America at the time.
Ex-San Antonio Spurs guard George Karl coached the Golden Nuggets for their entire existence. He led the team to the 1981 and 1983 CBA championship series and was named the league’s Coach-of-the-Year in both of those seasons. Montana was swept in four games by the Rochester Zeniths in 1981 and lost 4-3 in a best-of-seven series to the Detroit Spirits in 1983.
The Golden Nuggets produced the CBA’s Player-of-the-Year in each of their three seasons. Guard Willie Smith took home the award in 1981. Forward Ronnie Valentine earned MVP honors in 1982. Guard Robert Smith was CBA Player-of-the-Year in 1983.
Montana played teams from as far away as Anchorage, Alaska and Bangor, Maine. But the Golden Nuggets also had an in-state rival in the CBA – the Billings Volcanos – from their inception in 1980 until both teams folded in the summer of 1983.
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Continental Basketball Association
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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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In Memoriam
Center Geff Crompton (Golden Nuggets ’80-’83) died of leukemia on January 7, 2002 at age 46.
Links
Continental Basketball Association Media Guides
Continental Basketball Association Programs
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