The Dallas Chaparrals were charter members of the
American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967. Though successful on the court, the team drew poorly. In 1973, the team was acquired by a group of San Antonio businessmen in a deal that gave them a three-year option to buy. The team was at first renamed the Gunslingers, a name that would later be used by the city's
United States Football League team. It was changed to Spurs before the start of the 1973-74 season. As San Antonio's first, and at the time only, pro team, the city took to the Spurs and have been enamored ever since.
