Fresno Stars
The Fresno Stars, based in Fresno, California, played the 1978-79 season in the Western Basketball Association (WBA), a seven-team minor league. They played at Selland Arena and were coached by Bucky Buckwalter. A five-person local group owned the team.
Fresno opened with a 111-108 win at Montana on November 12, 1978. The Stars finished 25-23 and fourth in the league. Guard Del Beshore made first-team All-WBA and went on to the big leagues the next year. Forward Major Jones also reached the big leagues, where he played six seasons.
The WBA planned to merge with the Continental Basketball Association. The deal fell through, and all seven WBA teams folded in the summer of 1979. The Stars' chairman cited a loss of $239,000.
