by This article is dedicate to the memory of the late great Joe Tait. Thank you for your time and mentorship towards my career as a writer.
In 1970, Cleveland businessman Nick Mileti created the NBA professional expansion team known as the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was part of an ownership group in which he spent 3.7 million dollars of his own money to bring professional basketball back to Cleveland. Mileti grew up in Cleveland and attended college at Bowling Green State University. He went on to open a profitable law firm which earned him the needed funds to purchase the Cleveland Barons hockey team. Along with the building they played in, the Cleveland Arena.
Mileti knew that the struggling Barons franchise would need a co -tenant, and decided to create the Cavaliers. His first act of business was to hire Bill Fitch as the head coach. Fitch, had coached in the college ranks but this would be his venture into the pro level. He had his work cut out for him as no one expected much out of the expansion Cavs.
The team would be donned in sharp looking wine and gold uniforms, although some insist they were maroon and gold. Either way, the jerseys looked nice and had the city buzzing about pro basketball in Cleveland.
The team got off to a slow start by losing their first 15 games before securing their first win by beating the Portland Trailblazers on Nov 12, 1970 by a score of 105 – 103. They followed the win by losing their next twelve after that and falling to a league worst 1 – 27 record. It was all part of a long season that saw them endure several growing pains. They ended the season with a dismal record of 15 – 67.
The had several bright spots to build with for the future despite the lousy record. Young and talented players such as Bobby “Bingo” Smith who averaged 15 points a game, would be a key building piece for the future. The bad record did allow them to pick first in the upcoming draft at the end of the season. All eyes were on the man, who eventually became known as Mr. Cavalier.
Austin Carr was a 6-foot 4-inch shooting guard out of the University of Notre Dame. He performed incredibly in college as he averaged 34.5 points per game, ranking him fifth all-time in college basketball history at the time of his departure. Carr achieved several NCAA tournament records. Including most points in one game, most field goals in one game and most field goals attempted in one game. He is widely regarded as one of the top twenty five college players of all time.
Austin Carr explains the emotions he felt being drafted by the Cavaliers,”It was a joy because I finally realized one of my dreams, which was playing professional basketball. Once I accomplished my degree, pro ball was the next step I wanted to reach. Being drafted number one was an honor and it was something that I really cherished. It was the second year of the franchise and my intention was to be on a team that could develop a winning attitude. I wanted to help get things going and keep things going. We started that, and then the great teams after us helped keep it going, as far as something being positive basketball wise in Cleveland.
Unfortunely for the Cavs, Carr’s first season was hampered by a series of injuries that limited his production. During the 1971 preseason, he broke his foot and missed the first month of the season. Less than one month after returning to the court, he was sidelined again by another foot injury, missing another seven weeks. When he returned, he began to display the skills which made him the top selection in the NBA draft and was named to the 1972 all rookie team. The addition of Carr helped the Cavs improve their previous season win total by eight games and finish with a record of 23 – 59.
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