Continental Basketball Association (1983-1985)
Tombstone
Born: February 9, 1983 – The Las Vegas Silvers relocate to Albuquerque, NM
Folded: July 18, 1985
First Game: February 9, 1983 (W 113-108 @ Billings Volcanos)
Last Game: March 10, 1985 (L 130-126 vs. Bay State Bombardiers)
CBA Championships: None
Arena
Albuquerque Civic Auditorium (5,000)11983-84 Continental Basketball Association Official Guide
Marketing
Team Colors: Metallic Silver, Light Blue & Navy Blue21983-84 Continental Basketball Association Official Guide
Ownership
Owner: Pat McKernan
Our Favorite Stuff
Albuquerque Silvers
CBA Logo T-Shirt
The Silvers roamed the floor of the Albuquerque Civic Auditorium for three winters between 1983 and 1985. The Continental Basketball Association was the next best thing to the NBA at the time. Players & coaches endured endless bus rides, lousy motels and a steady diet of fast food, knowing their shot at Making It was only a phone call away.
The guys at Rebound Vintage Hoops have a nice line of Silvers throwback gear including long-sleeved t-shirts, women’s cut shirts and sweatshirts.
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Background
The Albuquerque Silvers were a short-lived minor league basketball team that landed abruptly in this New Mexico city during the winter of 1983.
The Las Vegas Silvers were a Continental Basketball Association expansion club for the 1982-83 season. The Silvers’ original owners soon fell into disagreement and stopped paying their bills. In the middle of a five-game road trip through Wyoming and Montana in early February 1983, the CBA expelled the Las Vegas group from the league. The same day, the CBA handed the Silvers franchise over to veteran Minor League Baseball operator Pat McKernan, the president of Albuquerque Dukes triple-A baseball team.
McKernan immediately named former University of New Mexico head coach Norm Ellenberger to coach the Silvers. The Lobos were wildly successful under Ellenberger during the 1970’s, but his tenure ended with the “Lobogate” scandal in 1979. Following a federal investigation into forged academic transcripts and grade-fixing, Ellenberger was indicted on both federal (acquitted) and state (convicted) fraud charges. The UNM men’s basketball program was decimated by players suspensions and sanctions. In spite of it all, Ellenberger stayed in the Albuquerque, kept a visible public profile and remained popular with many Lobos rooters.3Anderson, Dave. “In The Pit, Lobogate Lives.” The New York Times. April 3, 1983
Five days McKernan took control of the Silvers franchise, the team made its Albuquerque debut with a 147-138 Valentine’s day victory over the Wisconsin Flyers before an announced crowd of 1,395 at the Albuquerque Civic Auditorium.
Final Seasons
The Silvers went on to play two full (and dreadful) seasons in the CBA. With Ellenberger at the helm, Albuquerque posted consecutive last place finishes in the CBA’s Western Division in 1983-84 (11 wins, 33 losses) and 1984-85 (18 wins, 30 losses). In both seasons, the Silvers had the worst record in the CBA.
One bright spot during the 1984-85 season was the play of guard Dwight Anderson. The former University of Kentucky and University of Southern California star led the CBA in scoring with 26.4 points per game. Anderson was also the club’s leading scorer during the 1983-84 season (18.7 ppg).
In July 1985, Pat McKernan sold the money-losing franchise back to the CBA ending the team’s run after two-and-a-half seasons.
Albuquerque Silvers Shop
FWIL COFFEE SHOP
Albuquerque Silvers
Ceramic mug
Available now from our friends at Rebound Vintage Hoops, this fully-insulated porcelain mug is ideal for your morning brew.
Ceramic | Capacity: 11 fl oz
Dishwasher safe
Lead and Cadmium free
Imported; processed and printed in the U.S.A.
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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.
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
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