The American Basketball League played one full season,
1961–
1962, and part of the next season until the league folded on December 31, 1962. The ABL was the first basketball league to have a
three point shot for baskets scored far away from the goal. Other rules that set the league apart were a
30-second shooting clock and a wider
free throw lane, 18 feet instead of the standard 12. The American Basketball League was formed when
Abe Saperstein did not get the Los Angeles
National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise he sought. His
Harlem Globetrotters had strong NBA ties. When
Minneapolis Lakers owner
Bob Short was permitted to move the Lakers to Los Angeles, Saperstein reacted by convincing
National Alliance of Basketball Leagues (NABL) team owner Paul Cohen (Tuck Tapers) and
Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Champion
Cleveland Pipers owner
George Steinbrenner to take the top NABL and AAU teams and players and form a rival league. League franchises were: the Chicago Majors (1961–1963);
Cleveland Pipers (1961–1962);
Kansas City Steers (1961–63);
Long Beach Chiefs (1961–1963), as
Hawaii Chiefs in 1961–62;
Los Angeles Jets (1961–62, disbanded during season);
Oakland Oaks (1961–1963, as
San Francisco Saints in 1961–1962;
Philadelphia Tapers 1961–1963, as
Washington Tapers in 1961–62; moved to New York during 1961–62 season; as
New York Tapers in 1961–62 and the
Pittsburgh Rens (1961–1963). Former Globetrotter
Ermer Robinson was the team's business manager for their two seasons. Chicago native
Ron Sobieszczyk came out of retirement to play for the Majors. ==The arena==