Floyd Volker
Encyclopedia
Floyd W. Volker was an American
basketball
player. He played professionally in the National Basketball League
(NBL), the National Professional Basketball League (NPBL), and in the National Basketball Association
(NBA) in the early days of professional basketball.
Volker, a 6'4 forward from Casper High School
in Casper, Wyoming
, went on to play collegiately at the University of Wyoming
. He was a starting forward on the Cowboys' 1943 national championship team
as a junior. After a pause in his career to serve in the US military during World War II
, Volker returned to campus for his senior year in 1946–47.
After his college playing days, Volker signed with the Oshkosh All-Stars
of the NBL in 1947. In 1949, when the NBL and the Basketball Association of America
merged to form the NBA, the All-Stars were disbanded and Volker was assigned to the Indianapolis Olympians
for the inaugural season of the NBA. During the season, his rights were sold to the Denver Nuggets
. He averaged 7.4 points and 2.1 assists in his lone NBA season. He then played one season in the short-lived NPBL in 1950–51 until the demise of that league at the end of the season.
Volker died on January 5, 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He played professionally in the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
(NBL), the National Professional Basketball League (NPBL), and in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) in the early days of professional basketball.
Volker, a 6'4 forward from Casper High School
Natrona County High School
Natrona County High School is a public secondary school located in Casper, Wyoming, and serves Natrona County School District #1, which encompasses all of Natrona County, Wyoming. The school remains a rival of Kelly Walsh High School, one of Casper's other two high schools along with Roosevelt...
in Casper, Wyoming
Casper, Wyoming
Casper is the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United States.. Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming , according to the 2010 census, with a population of 55,316...
, went on to play collegiately at the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
. He was a starting forward on the Cowboys' 1943 national championship team
1942–43 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team
The 1942–43 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team represented the University of Wyoming in NCAA men's competition in the 1942–43 season. The Cowboys won the Mountain States Conference championship and were the first basketball team from the Rocky Mountains to win an NCAA Basketball Championship...
as a junior. After a pause in his career to serve in the US military during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Volker returned to campus for his senior year in 1946–47.
After his college playing days, Volker signed with the Oshkosh All-Stars
Oshkosh All-Stars
The Oshkosh All-Stars were a professional basketball team based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. From 1937 to 1948 they played in the National Basketball League, a forerunner to the NBA. The team appeared in the NBL finals five consecutive years , winning twice...
of the NBL in 1947. In 1949, when the NBL and the Basketball Association of America
Basketball Association of America
The Basketball Association of America was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. The league merged with the National Basketball League in 1949, forming the National Basketball Association ...
merged to form the NBA, the All-Stars were disbanded and Volker was assigned to the Indianapolis Olympians
Indianapolis Olympians
The Indianapolis Olympians were a National Basketball Association team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. They were founded in 1949 and folded in 1953. Their home arena was the Hinkle Fieldhouse.-Franchise history:...
for the inaugural season of the NBA. During the season, his rights were sold to the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets (original)
This article is about the original Denver Nuggets NBL/NBA team from 1948-1950. For the current NBA team see Denver Nuggets.The Denver Nuggets were a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado, The United States of America...
. He averaged 7.4 points and 2.1 assists in his lone NBA season. He then played one season in the short-lived NPBL in 1950–51 until the demise of that league at the end of the season.
Volker died on January 5, 1995.