There was an AAU team in SE Portland sponsored by Claudia's tavern that was dominating local basketball. Like explained in the article the NBA only had 10 teams and no international play available at the time as many top basketball players needed an outlet and semi pro basketball gave them that outlet with ex pros and ex college players mixing together to play in a very competitive basketball league. As a kid I went to see many of their games with my dad as they often played at Mt.Scott Community Center. Also got to catch some games in the 60's at U of P in Howard Hall (not knowing I would be playing baseball there many years later) and watched Cozy Powell dazzle the hardwood. Some good times. Any of you other old timers ever catch any of their games? The league folded in the early 80's so the team disbanded and then a few years later Pudge Hunt, one of the stars of the team owned the East Bank Saloon where a masters AAU team was formed that went on to set records every year winning masters championships at all the different age levels. That team was led by ex Blazer Leroy Ellis. Just a little history of basketball before the Blazers. https://www.opb.org/artsandlife/ser...ers-portland-rooted-claudias-basketball-team/ http://oregonsportshall.org/timeline/east-bank-saloon-basketball-teams/
