mcdaniels was drafted by the seattle supersonics in the second round of the 1971 nba draft and no. one overall by the dallas chaparrals in the 1971 american basketball association draft, but he began his professional career with the carolina cougars of the american basketball association, who offered him a $1.35 million contract to be paid over twenty-five years. reportedly, the cougars first approached mcdaniels during november 1970, while he was still playing for western kentucky. mcdaniels averaged 26.8 points and 14 rebounds in 58 games with the cougars during the 1971–72 season and scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the 1972 aba all-star game. however, he feuded with the cougars while trying to renegotiate his contract – he wanted his salary to be spread over fifteen years, rather than twenty-five – and near the end of his rookie season he decided to leave the cougars for the supersonics.