Short-Lived Swagger: The History of the Oakland Oaks

The Oakland Oaks were a professional basketball team that played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1967 to 1969. Though their time was brief, the Oaks left a unique imprint on basketball history, combining flamboyant ownership, major star power, and the ABA’s signature up-tempo flair.

Origins: A Star-Studded Launch (1967)

The Oaks were one of the original 11 franchises in the upstart ABA, founded in 1967 as part of a bold attempt to rival the NBA. The team was placed in Oakland, California—a city without an NBA presence at the time. Ownership included an eye-catching name: Pat Boone, the famous pop singer, who was a prominent financial backer and the public face of the franchise. Boone saw the ABA not just as a business opportunity but as a chance to bring top-tier basketball to the West Coast on his own terms.

To bolster credibility, the Oaks made a splash by signing NBA legend Alex Hannum as head coach and general manager. Hannum had just won an NBA championship with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967 and was considered one of the most respected coaches in the game. The biggest coup, however, came when the Oaks managed to sign superstar Rick Barry, who had just led the NBA in scoring in 1967 with the San Francisco Warriors.

Rick Barry’s Battle with the NBA

Barry’s signing was a landmark moment for the ABA. However, it also kicked off a major legal fight. Still under contract with the NBA, Barry was barred from playing for the Oaks during the 1967–68 season. Instead of suiting up, Barry served as a radio broadcaster for the team while sitting out the season, a testament to the bitter rivalry between the ABA and NBA.

Rick Barry Announces Switch to ABA

The Disastrous Inaugural Season (1967–68)

The Oaks’ first season was a disaster on the court. Without Barry and with a roster lacking depth, the team stumbled to a league-worst 22–56 record. Despite Hannum’s pedigree, the Oaks finished last in the Western Division, struggling to find a coherent identity or fanbase in a market that still leaned heavily toward the NBA’s San Francisco Warriors across the bay.

Attendance was dismal at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena. Even with flashy ABA rules—like the red, white, and blue ball and the three-point shot—the Oaks couldn’t generate excitement in a saturated sports market.

1969 ABA Finals Highlights

A Championship Turnaround (1968–69)

The 1968–69 season, however, brought an astonishing transformation.

Rick Barry, finally free of his legal shackles, joined the lineup along with key ABA veterans like Doug Moe, Larry Brown, and rookie big man Warren Jabali. Under Hannum’s disciplined coaching and Barry’s dynamic scoring, the Oaks gelled into a force.

Jabali, a fierce and talented guard, added toughness and versatility. He would go on to win ABA Rookie of the Year, providing the kind of athleticism that defined the ABA brand.

The Oaks tore through the league, finishing with a 60–18 regular season record—the best in the ABA. They dominated the playoffs, defeating the Denver Rockets, New Orleans Buccaneers, and finally the Indiana Pacers in the ABA Finals. The Oaks won the title in five games, with Jabali earning Playoffs MVP honors. Barry played through injuries but contributed critical leadership and scoring.

Oakland Oaks 1969 ABA Champions highlights

Collapse and Relocation: The End in Oakland

Despite winning the championship, the Oaks were hemorrhaging money. Their fan support was still poor, and playing in the shadow of the NBA remained a significant hurdle. The team lost an estimated $1.5 million during the championship season—an enormous amount for the time.

Ownership looked for a way out. In the summer of 1969, businessman Earl Foreman bought the franchise and relocated it to Washington, D.C., where it became the Washington Caps.

Just like that, the ABA’s reigning champions vanished from Oakland.

Legacy and Impact

Though the Oakland Oaks existed for only two seasons, their story encapsulates many of the ABA’s defining themes:

• Flashy marketing and star signings

• Tension with the NBA

• Financial instability despite on-court success

• A league unafraid to innovate and take risks

Rick Barry would continue to be a star, eventually returning to the NBA and leading the Golden State Warriors to a championship in 1975. Larry Brown and Doug Moe went on to have legendary coaching careers. Warren Jabali became a folk hero among ABA fans for his toughness and flair.

Meanwhile, the city of Oakland would soon find its NBA identity in the Warriors, who relocated to the city in 1971.

Conclusion

The Oakland Oaks were a fleeting but unforgettable chapter in basketball history. In two seasons, they went from laughingstock to league champions and then disappeared entirely. Though their time was short, the Oaks embodied the chaos, creativity, and charisma of the ABA—an experimental league that left a permanent mark on professional basketball.