ABA 2000 Announces Start Date

The proposed ABA 2000 professional basketball league Thursday announced plans to begin play with eight teams in late December, and left the door open for the Anaheim Roadrunners to become the ninth.

Al Howell, president of the proposed Anaheim franchise, said he “reached an agreement in principle” Thursday for his team to play at the Arrowhead Pond.

Mike O’Donnell, the Pond’s assistant general manager, confirmed the agreement.

Earlier in the day, league Commissioner Joe Newman announced commitments for franchises in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Mo.; Memphis, Tenn.; Tampa, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla., and Hampton Roads, Va.

Paul Westhead, the former Laker and Loyola Marymount coach, will coach the Los Angeles Stars, and former Laker Jamaal Wilkes will be the team’s vice president for basketball operations.

The league announced that two former NBA players have signed on as coaches. Darryl Dawkins will coach Tampa Bay, and George Gervin will coach Detroit. Bob Gottlieb of Orange, a former college coach at Jacksonville and Wisconsin Milwaukee who is now director of the Anaheim-based Branch West Basketball Academy, said Thursday he has reached an agreement to coach and be director of basketball operations for Hampton Roads.

Richard “Sonny” Lee, a former coach at Compton College and a former player agent, earlier was hired to coach the proposed Anaheim franchise.

Neither the Anaheim nor Los Angeles teams have signed any players. However, former Alabama guard Schea Cotton, the top college selection by Anaheim in the league’s draft in August, said he has a contract offer, which is being handled by his agent. Cotton, who attended the news conference, said he expects to sign this week. Cotton played at Mater Dei and Bellflower St. John Bosco high schools.