The Carolina Cougars were a basketball franchise in the American Basketball Association that existed from 1969 through 1974. The Cougars were originally a charter member of the ABA as the Houston Mavericks in 1967. The Mavericks moved to North Carolina in late 1969 after two unsuccessful seasons in Houston at the Sam Houston Coliseum.
Carolina Cougars
Cunningham in 1972
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a men's professional basketball league from 1967 to 1976. The ABA merged into the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1976, resulting in four ABA teams joining the NBA and the introduction of the NBA 3-point shot in 1979.
Doug Moe of the Carolina Cougars, 1969–70
Julius Erving performing a slam dunk against the Spirits of St. Louis, 1974
Hall of Famer Rick Barry played for the ABA's Oakland Oaks
Connie Hawkins of the Pittsburgh Pipers won the 1967–68 ABA MVP award