Montana Golden Nuggets

The Montana Golden Nuggets, based in Great Falls, Montana, played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) from 1980 to 1983. The league then had teams scattered across the western states and beyond, and Great Falls was one of its far-flung stops.

George Karl was the head coach, and the team won right away. It went 27-15 in 1980-81 and finished first in the Western Division, then reached the finals and was swept four games to none by the Rochester Zeniths. In 1981-82 the Nuggets went 30-16 and lost the conference finals to the Billings Volcanos, another Montana club.

The best record came in 1982-83: 33-11, first in the West again. The finals went to seven games, and Detroit won the last one. Karl was named coach of the year in both seasons the team reached the finals. The sources reviewed do not say why the franchise stopped after 1983.