Los Angeles Jets

The Los Angeles Jets, based in Los Angeles, California, played in the original American Basketball League in 1961-62, the league's first season. Jack Blanck and Len Corbosiero founded the team. Bill Sharman was both player and head coach, and he was later elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and as a coach. George Yardley, Hal Lear and Bill Spivey were also on the roster.

Home games were split between the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and the Olympic Auditorium. The Jets opened on October 27, 1961, with a 99-96 loss at San Francisco and won their home opener over the Chicago Majors 119-116. Four games were shown on KTTV.

The team was 24-15 and in fourth place in the West when it stopped. The crowds were small. The Jets competed with a big-league team that had just moved to the city and with local college teams. The Jets disbanded on January 18, 1962, midway through the season.