National Basketball League (United States)
Encyclopedia
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
(BAA) to form the National Basketball Association
(NBA) in 1949.
, Firestone
and Goodyear
. It was primarily made up of Great Lakes area
small-market and corporate teams. The NBL lasted twelve years before merging with the three-year-old Basketball Association of America
in 1949, with the resulting combination being renamed the National Basketball Association
.
The league began rather informally. Scheduling was left to the discretion of each of the nine teams, as long as the team played at least ten games and four of them were on the road. Games consisted either of four ten-minute quarters or three fifteen-minute periods. The choice was made by the home team. Some of the teams were independent, while others were owned by companies that also found jobs for their players.
The history of the NBL falls into three eras, each contributing significantly to the growth of professional basketball and the emergence of the NBA. The first dynasty centered on the Oshkosh All-Stars
. The middle years saw the emergence of the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
, who were later instrumental in the survival of the NBA during its infancy. The final period of note during the NBL's existence centered around George Mikan
and the emergence of the big man in basketball.
. He led the NBL in scoring three consecutive years (1937–40).
—so nicknamed because they were owned by Fred Zollner
, whose company made pistons for engines—were led by tough veteran Bobby McDermott
. The Pistons finished second in 1942 and 1943 and won the league title in 1944 and 1945. Like many teams of that era, it wasn't uncommon for Fort Wayne to play its games in taverns, armories, high-school gyms or ballrooms.
Under Zollner, the Pistons would eventually play an important role in the survival and growth of the NBA. Zollner's financial support of the NBA helped the league stay afloat during its tumultuous formative years.
Challenging the Zollner Pistons for supremacy were the Sheboygan Red Skins. Beginning in 1941, the season before Fort Wayne joined the NBL, Sheboygan appeared in five championship series in six seasons. They lost to Oshkosh in the 1941 finals, beat Fort Wayne for the title in 1943, but lost to the Zollner Pistons in 1944 and 1945. In 1946, Sheboygan was swept in the finals by the league's newest member, the powerhouse Rochester Royals
, who boasted Hall of Famers Al Cervi
, Bob Davies and Red Holzman
.
who would emerge as the dominant player in the game. As a rookie, Mikan led the Chicago American Gears
to the 1947 NBL title, but before the next season, owner Maurice White pulled his team out of the league and formed his own 24-team circuit called the National Professional Basketball League. That venture quickly failed, and Mikan was signed by the NBL's Minneapolis Lakers
, where he teamed with the versatile Jim Pollard to win the 1948 championship.
After the 1947–48 season, Mikan's Lakers and three other NBL clubs left to join the Basketball Association of America
(Rochester, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis).
Stripped of its best teams and prime gate attraction, the NBL lasted only one more season, the Anderson Duffey Packers
winning the league's last championship before six of its members were absorbed by the BAA, which changed its name to the National Basketball Association.
The NBL added an all-black team in December of its final season, when one of its replacement clubs folded, the Detroit Vagabond Kings. That franchise was awarded to a famous barnstorming team, the New York Rens, composed entirely of African Americans, to play out the season in Dayton, Ohio
as the Dayton Rens
. (The BAA was still all-white and the NBA continued as an all-white league.)
would break baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Neither team fared well. Toledo signed several black players to start the season, including Bill Jones
, who had starred at the University of Toledo
, but the team lost its first four games and folded due to financial difficulties. Chicago stocked its roster with several members of the Harlem Globetrotters
, who worked during the week at the Studebaker
plant, but it also folded after compiling an 8–15 record.
Five current NBA
teams trace their history back to the NBL. Three teams joined the NBA in 1948
: the Minneapolis Lakers (now the Los Angeles Lakers
), the Rochester Royals
(now the Sacramento Kings
), and the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (now the Detroit Pistons
). Two more teams joined the NBA in 1949: the Buffalo Bisons/Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the Atlanta Hawks
), and the Syracuse Nationals
(now the Philadelphia 76ers
).
Five former NBA teams also trace their history back to the NBL: the Anderson Packers
, Denver Nuggets
, Indianapolis Jets
(as the Kautskys), Sheboygan Red Skins and Waterloo Hawks
played in the BAA/NBA.
The NBL also created the Indianapolis Olympians
for the 1949-50 NBA season
. When the NBL and BAA merged, this team joined the NBA without playing a single NBL game.
Also still surviving are the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
, the initial NBL Champion in 1938
. The Wingfoots suspended operations for World War II
and were not included in the NBL/BAA merger. Instead, they remained in the National Industrial Basketball League
(NIBL), which in 1961
became the National AAU Basketball League (NABL). The Wingfoots are still an AAU Elite team in the NABL.
|-
! Year
! Winner
! Finals Loser
! Games
|-
| 1937–38
| Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
| Oshkosh All-Stars
| 2–1
|-
| 1938–39
| Akron Firestone Non-Skids
| Oshkosh All-Stars
| 3–2
|-
|1939–40
| Akron Firestone Non-Skids
| Oshkosh All-Stars
| 3–2
|-
|1940–41
| Oshkosh All-Stars
| Sheboygan Red Skins
|3–0
|-
|1941–42
| Oshkosh All-Stars
| Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
| 2–1
|-
|1942–43
| Sheboygan Red Skins
| Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
| 2–1
|-
|1943–44
| Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
| Sheboygan Red Skins
| 3–0
|-
|1944–45
| Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
| Sheboygan Red Skins
| 3–2
|-
|1945–46
| Rochester Royals
| Sheboygan Red Skins
| 3–0
|-
|1946–47
| Chicago American Gears
| Rochester Royals
| 3–2
|-
|1947–48
| Minneapolis Lakers
| Rochester Royals
| 3–1
|-
|1948–49
| Anderson Packers
| Oshkosh All-Stars
| 3–0
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background-color:#FFFF99; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"| *
|Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
|-
|}
!Season
!Player
!class=unsortable|Team(s)
!Points
!PPG
|-
|1937–38
|
|Oshkosh All-Stars
|210
|16.2
|-
|1938–39
| (2)
|Oshkosh All-Stars
|334
|11.9
|-
|1939–40
| (3)
|Oshkosh All-Stars
|361
|12.9
|-
|1940–41
|
|Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|265
|11.0
|-
|1941–42
|
|Toledo Jim White Chevrolets
|406
|18.5
|-
|1942–43
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
|316
|13.7
|-
|1943–44
|
|Cleveland Chase Brassmen
|323
|17.9
|-
|1944–45
| (2)
|Cleveland Allmen Transfers
|607
|20.2
|-
|1945–46
|
|Oshkosh All-Stars
|473
|13.9
|-
|1946–47
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * &
*
|Rochester Royals
&
Chicago American Gears
|632
|16.5
|-
|1947–48
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * (2)
|Minneapolis Lakers
|1195
|21.3
|-
|1948–49
|
|Tri-Cities Blackhawks
|899
|14.0
|}
!Season
!MVP
!Team
|-
|1937–38
|
|Oshkosh All-Stars
|-
|1938–39
| (2)
|Oshkosh All-Stars
|-
|1939–40
| (3)
|Oshkosh All-Stars
|-
|1940–41
|
|Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|-
|1941–42
|
|Toledo Jim White Chevrolets
|-
|1942–43
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
|-
|1943–44
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * (2)
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
|-
|1944–45
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * (3)
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
|-
|1945–46
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * (4)
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
|-
|1946–47
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Rochester Royals
|-
|1947–48
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Minneapolis Lakers
|-
|1948–49
|
|Tri-Cities Blackhawks
|}
!Season
!Coach
!Team
|-
|1937–38
|
|Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|-
|1938–39
|
|Akron Firestone Non-Skids
|-
|1939–40
| (2)
|Akron Firestone Non-Skids
|-
|1940–41
|
|Oshkosh All-Stars
|-
|1941–42
|
|Oshkosh All-Stars
|-
|1942–43
|
|Sheboygan Red Skins
|-
|1943–44
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
|-
|1944–45
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * (2)
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
|-
|1945–46
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Rochester Royals
|-
|1946–47
|
|Oshkosh All-Stars
|-
|1947–48
|
|Anderson Duffey Packers
|-
|1948–49
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Syracuse Nationals
|}
!Season
!Rookie
!Team
|-
|1937–38
|
|Indianapolis Kautskys
|-
|1938–39
|
|Indianapolis Kautskys
|-
|1939–40
|
|Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|-
|1940–41
|
|Indianapolis Kautskys
|-
|1941–42
|
|Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|-
|1942–43
|
|Sheboygan Red Skins
|-
|1943–44
|
|Cleveland Chase Brassmen
|-
|1944–45
|
|Rochester Royals
|-
|1945–46
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Minneapolis Lakers
|-
|1946–47
|
|Sheboygan Red Skins
|-
|1947–48
|
|Sheboygan Red Skins
|-
|1948–49
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Syracuse Nationals
|}
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...
league in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The league would later merge with 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 ...
(BAA) to form 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 1949.
League history
The NBL started with thirteen previously independent teams in 1937. The league began as the Midwest Basketball Conference in 1935, but changed its name in 1937 in an attempt to attract a larger audience. The league was created by three corporations: General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, Firestone
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company...
and Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
. It was primarily made up of Great Lakes area
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
small-market and corporate teams. The NBL lasted twelve years before merging with the three-year-old 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 ...
in 1949, with the resulting combination being renamed 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...
.
The league began rather informally. Scheduling was left to the discretion of each of the nine teams, as long as the team played at least ten games and four of them were on the road. Games consisted either of four ten-minute quarters or three fifteen-minute periods. The choice was made by the home team. Some of the teams were independent, while others were owned by companies that also found jobs for their players.
The history of the NBL falls into three eras, each contributing significantly to the growth of professional basketball and the emergence of the NBA. The first dynasty centered on 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...
. The middle years saw the emergence of the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, who were later instrumental in the survival of the NBA during its infancy. The final period of note during the NBL's existence centered around George Mikan
George Mikan
George Lawrence Mikan, Jr. , nicknamed Mr. Basketball, was an American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball Association...
and the emergence of the big man in basketball.
Early years
The Oshkosh All-Stars, who appeared in the championship series five consecutive years (1938–42) and won two titles, were led by rugged 6' 4" (1.93 m) center Leroy "Cowboy" EdwardsLeRoy Edwards
Leroy Edwards , nicknamed "Cowboy" and "Lefty", was one of the greatest basketball players of his era. He was an NCAA All-American at the University of Kentucky and also one of the most lauded professional players in the United States' National Basketball League's history.-High school:Edwards was...
. He led the NBL in scoring three consecutive years (1937–40).
Middle years
The Fort Wayne Zollner PistonsDetroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
—so nicknamed because they were owned by Fred Zollner
Fred Zollner
Fred Zollner was called "Mr. Pro Basketball" as the founder and longtime owner along with his sister Janet of the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons and a key figure in the merger of National Basketball League and Basketball Association of America into the National Basketball Association in 1949.Zollner,...
, whose company made pistons for engines—were led by tough veteran Bobby McDermott
Bobby McDermott
Robert "Bobby" McDermott was an American professional basketball player, in the 1930s and 1940s....
. The Pistons finished second in 1942 and 1943 and won the league title in 1944 and 1945. Like many teams of that era, it wasn't uncommon for Fort Wayne to play its games in taverns, armories, high-school gyms or ballrooms.
Under Zollner, the Pistons would eventually play an important role in the survival and growth of the NBA. Zollner's financial support of the NBA helped the league stay afloat during its tumultuous formative years.
Challenging the Zollner Pistons for supremacy were the Sheboygan Red Skins. Beginning in 1941, the season before Fort Wayne joined the NBL, Sheboygan appeared in five championship series in six seasons. They lost to Oshkosh in the 1941 finals, beat Fort Wayne for the title in 1943, but lost to the Zollner Pistons in 1944 and 1945. In 1946, Sheboygan was swept in the finals by the league's newest member, the powerhouse Rochester Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, who boasted Hall of Famers Al Cervi
Al Cervi
Alfred Nicholas Cervi was an American professional basketball player and coach in the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . One of the strongest backcourt players of the 1940s and 1950s, he was always assigned to defend against the opposing team's best scoring threat...
, Bob Davies and Red Holzman
Red Holzman
William "Red" Holzman was an NBA basketball player and coach probably best known as the head coach of the New York Knicks from 1967 to 1982. Holzman helped lead the Knicks to two NBA Championships in 1970 and 1973, and was elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985...
.
Later years
The NBL's third era was dominated by Mikan, the 6'10" (2.08 m), three-time All-American center from DePaulDePaul Blue Demons men's basketball
The DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois...
who would emerge as the dominant player in the game. As a rookie, Mikan led the Chicago American Gears
Chicago American Gears
The Chicago American Gears were a National Basketball League team who played from 1944 to 1947.Led by George Mikan and Bobby McDermott, they defeated the Rochester Royals to win the 1947 NBL Championship....
to the 1947 NBL title, but before the next season, owner Maurice White pulled his team out of the league and formed his own 24-team circuit called the National Professional Basketball League. That venture quickly failed, and Mikan was signed by the NBL's Minneapolis Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, where he teamed with the versatile Jim Pollard to win the 1948 championship.
After the 1947–48 season, Mikan's Lakers and three other NBL clubs left to join 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 ...
(Rochester, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis).
Stripped of its best teams and prime gate attraction, the NBL lasted only one more season, the Anderson Duffey Packers
Anderson Packers
The Anderson Packers also known as the Anderson Duffy Packers was a professional basketball team based in Anderson, Indiana, in the 1940s and 1950s....
winning the league's last championship before six of its members were absorbed by the BAA, which changed its name to the National Basketball Association.
The NBL added an all-black team in December of its final season, when one of its replacement clubs folded, the Detroit Vagabond Kings. That franchise was awarded to a famous barnstorming team, the New York Rens, composed entirely of African Americans, to play out the season in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
as the Dayton Rens
Dayton Rens
The Dayton Rens were a member of the USA National Basketball League for the 1948-49 season and were the only all-black team to play in a white league. This milestone came just one year after Jackie Robinson, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball...
. (The BAA was still all-white and the NBA continued as an all-white league.)
Legacy
The NBL obviously contributed significantly to the foundation of the NBA, but it also had major accomplishments in other areas, most notably in offering opportunities for African-American players. In the 1942–43 season, with many players in the armed forces, two NBL clubs, the Toledo Jim White Chevrolets and the Chicago Studebakers, filled their rosters by signing African-Americans—five years before Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
would break baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Neither team fared well. Toledo signed several black players to start the season, including Bill Jones
Bill Jones
William Leon Jones is a U.S. politician from California who served in the California State Assembly and later served as California's 27th Secretary of State...
, who had starred at the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
, but the team lost its first four games and folded due to financial difficulties. Chicago stocked its roster with several members of the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
, who worked during the week at the Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
plant, but it also folded after compiling an 8–15 record.
Five current NBA
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...
teams trace their history back to the NBL. Three teams joined the NBA in 1948
1948 in sports
-American football:* University of Michigan wins college football national championship.* Cleveland Browns 49–7 Buffalo Bills in the All-America Football Conference championship game....
: the Minneapolis Lakers (now the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
), the Rochester Royals
Rochester Royals
The franchise that would become the Sacramento Kings initially started in the city of Rochester, New York, as the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League....
(now the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
), and the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (now the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
). Two more teams joined the NBA in 1949: the Buffalo Bisons/Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
), and the Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
(now the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
).
Five former NBA teams also trace their history back to the NBL: the Anderson Packers
Anderson Packers
The Anderson Packers also known as the Anderson Duffy Packers was a professional basketball team based in Anderson, Indiana, in the 1940s and 1950s....
, 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...
, Indianapolis Jets
Indianapolis Jets
The Indianapolis Jets were a Basketball Association of America team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team lasted for one season and was later replaced by a new franchise.-Franchise history:...
(as the Kautskys), Sheboygan Red Skins and Waterloo Hawks
Waterloo Hawks
The Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of the Big Four Leagues.- Franchise history :...
played in the BAA/NBA.
The NBL also created 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 1949-50 NBA season
1949-50 NBA season
The 1949–50 NBA season was officially the 4th season of the National Basketball Association. However, it is the first season that the league is officially called the National Basketball Association...
. When the NBL and BAA merged, this team joined the NBA without playing a single NBL game.
Also still surviving are the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
Akron Wingfoots
The Akron Wingfoots are one of the oldest basketball teams in the United States. They were founded in 1918 by the workers at the Goodyear Tire Company in Akron, Ohio...
, the initial NBL Champion in 1938
1938 in sports
-American football:* New York Giants 23–17 Green Bay Packers for the NFL title.* First High School Oil Bowl is played.-Association football:World Cup* 1938 World Cup held in France – Italy retain their title, beating Hungary 4-2 in the final....
. The Wingfoots suspended operations for 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...
and were not included in the NBL/BAA merger. Instead, they remained in the National Industrial Basketball League
National Industrial Basketball League
The National Industrial Basketball League was founded in 1947, to enable mill workers a chance to compete in basketball. The league was founded out of the teams that did not join the newly formed NBA...
(NIBL), which in 1961
1961 in sports
1961 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* AFL Championship – Houston Oilers won 10-3 over the San Diego Chargers* NFL Championship – Green Bay Packers won 37-0 over the New York Giants...
became the National AAU Basketball League (NABL). The Wingfoots are still an AAU Elite team in the NABL.
All-time NBL teams
Note: * denotes a team currently playing in the NBA.- Akron Firestone Non-Skids (1937–41)
- Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (1937–42)
- Anderson Duffey PackersAnderson PackersThe Anderson Packers also known as the Anderson Duffy Packers was a professional basketball team based in Anderson, Indiana, in the 1940s and 1950s....
(1946–49) - Buffalo BisonsAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
(1946)* - Chicago BruinsChicago BruinsThe Chicago Bruins were an American basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois that was a member of the American Basketball League. The Bruins later played in the National Basketball League and World Professional Basketball Tournament....
(1939–42) - Chicago Studebaker FlyersChicago Studebaker FlyersThe Chicago Studebaker Flyers were a National Basketball League team from 1942 to 1943. They were funded by the United Auto Workers and replaced George Halas' Chicago Bruins, who folded in 1942....
(1942–43) - Chicago American GearsChicago American GearsThe Chicago American Gears were a National Basketball League team who played from 1944 to 1947.Led by George Mikan and Bobby McDermott, they defeated the Rochester Royals to win the 1947 NBL Championship....
(1944–47) - Cincinnati Comellos (1937–38)
- Cleveland Chase Brassmen (1943–44)
- Cleveland Allmen Transfers (1944–46)
- Columbus Athletic Supply (1938–39)
- Dayton Metropolitans (1937–38)
- Denver NuggetsDenver 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...
(1948–49) - Detroit EaglesDetroit EaglesThe Detroit Eagles were a professional basketball team based in Detroit, Michigan. Managed by Dutch Dehnert, they played in the National Basketball League from 1939 to 1941, then became a barnstorming team...
(1939–41) - Detroit GemsLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(1946–47)* - Detroit Vagabond Kings/Dayton RensDayton RensThe Dayton Rens were a member of the USA National Basketball League for the 1948-49 season and were the only all-black team to play in a white league. This milestone came just one year after Jackie Robinson, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball...
(1948–49) - Flint Dow A.C.'s/Midland Dow A.C.'s (1947–48)
- Fort Wayne General Electrics (1937–38)
- Fort Wayne Zollner PistonsDetroit PistonsThe Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
(1941–48)* - Hammond Ciesar All-Americans (1938–41)
- Hammond Calumet Buccaneers (1948–49)
- Indianapolis KautskysIndianapolis JetsThe Indianapolis Jets were a Basketball Association of America team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team lasted for one season and was later replaced by a new franchise.-Franchise history:...
(1937–48) - Kankakee Gallagher Trojans (1937–38)
- Minneapolis LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(1947–48)* - Oshkosh All-StarsOshkosh All-StarsThe 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...
(1937–49) - Pittsburgh Pirates (1937–39)
- Pittsburgh Raiders (1944–45)
- Richmond King Clothiers became Cincinnati Comellos (1937–38)
- Rochester RoyalsSacramento KingsThe Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
(1945–48)* - Sheboygan Red Skins (1938–49)
- Syracuse NationalsSyracuse NationalsThe Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
(1946–49)* - Toledo Jim White Chevrolets (1941–43)
- Toledo Jeeps (1946–48)
- Tri-Cities BlackhawksAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
(1946–49)* - Warren Penns (1937–38)
- Warren Penns/Cleveland White Horses (1938–39)
- Waterloo HawksWaterloo HawksThe Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of the Big Four Leagues.- Franchise history :...
(1948–49) - Whiting Ciesar All-Americans (1937–38)
- Youngstown Bears (1945–47)
All-time scoring leaders
| * | Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| Rank | Player | Team(s) | Games | Points Point (basketball) Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws .... |
PPG Points per game Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * | Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, Chicago American Gears Chicago American Gears The Chicago American Gears were a National Basketball League team who played from 1944 to 1947.Led by George Mikan and Bobby McDermott, they defeated the Rochester Royals to win the 1947 NBL Championship.... , Sheboygan Redskins Sheboygan Redskins The Sheboygan Red Skins were a National Basketball League, National Basketball Association, National Professional Basketball League and professional independent team based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA.- Barnstorming roots :... , Tri-Cities Blackhawks |
287 | 3,583 | 12.48 | |
| 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... , Indianapolis Kautskys |
322 | 3,221 | 10.00 | ||
| 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... |
238 | 2,600 | 10.92 | ||
| Sheboygan Redskins Sheboygan Redskins The Sheboygan Red Skins were a National Basketball League, National Basketball Association, National Professional Basketball League and professional independent team based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA.- Barnstorming roots :... , 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... |
321 | 2,490 | 7.76 | ||
| * | Buffalo Bisons, Richmond King Clothiers, Syracuse Nationals Syracuse Nationals The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in... |
187 | 2,326 | 12.44 | |
| Buffalo Bisons, Tri-Cities Blackhawks | 168 | 2,292 | 13.64 | ||
| Chicago American Gears Chicago American Gears The Chicago American Gears were a National Basketball League team who played from 1944 to 1947.Led by George Mikan and Bobby McDermott, they defeated the Rochester Royals to win the 1947 NBL Championship.... , Sheboygan Redskins Sheboygan Redskins The Sheboygan Red Skins were a National Basketball League, National Basketball Association, National Professional Basketball League and professional independent team based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA.- Barnstorming roots :... , Syracuse Nationals Syracuse Nationals The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in... |
267 | 2,279 | 8.54 | ||
| 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... , Hammond Ciesar All-Americans |
209 | 2,140 | 10.24 | ||
| Akron Goodyear Wingfoots, Rochester Royals Rochester Royals The franchise that would become the Sacramento Kings initially started in the city of Rochester, New York, as the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League.... , Indianapolis Kautskys, Hammond Calumet Buccaneers |
202 | 2,138 | 10.58 | ||
| Akron Goodyear Wingfoots, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons | 226 | 1,949 | 8.62 | ||
| Akron Firestone Non-Skids, 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... , Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, Waterloo Hawks Waterloo Hawks The Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of the Big Four Leagues.- Franchise history :... |
376 | 1,935 | 5.15 | ||
| Chicago ?, Midland Dow A.C.'s, Hammond Calumet Buccaneers | 212 | 1,765 | 8.33 | ||
| * | Chicago American Gears Chicago American Gears The Chicago American Gears were a National Basketball League team who played from 1944 to 1947.Led by George Mikan and Bobby McDermott, they defeated the Rochester Royals to win the 1947 NBL Championship.... , Minneapolis Lakers |
81 | 1,608 | 19.85 | |
| * | Indianapolis Kautskys, Rochester Royals Rochester Royals The franchise that would become the Sacramento Kings initially started in the city of Rochester, New York, as the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League.... , Toledo Jeeps |
123 | 1,606 | 13.06 | |
| Anderson Packers Anderson Packers The Anderson Packers also known as the Anderson Duffy Packers was a professional basketball team based in Anderson, Indiana, in the 1940s and 1950s.... |
165 | 1,600 | 9.70 | ||
Championships
{|{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"|-
! Year
! Winner
! Finals Loser
! Games
|-
| 1937–38
| Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
Akron Wingfoots
The Akron Wingfoots are one of the oldest basketball teams in the United States. They were founded in 1918 by the workers at the Goodyear Tire Company in Akron, Ohio...
| 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...
| 2–1
|-
| 1938–39
| Akron Firestone Non-Skids
| 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...
| 3–2
|-
|1939–40
| Akron Firestone Non-Skids
| 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...
| 3–2
|-
|1940–41
| 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...
| Sheboygan Red Skins
|3–0
|-
|1941–42
| 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...
| Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
| 2–1
|-
|1942–43
| Sheboygan Red Skins
| Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
| 2–1
|-
|1943–44
| Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
| Sheboygan Red Skins
| 3–0
|-
|1944–45
| Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
| Sheboygan Red Skins
| 3–2
|-
|1945–46
| Rochester Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| Sheboygan Red Skins
| 3–0
|-
|1946–47
| Chicago American Gears
Chicago American Gears
The Chicago American Gears were a National Basketball League team who played from 1944 to 1947.Led by George Mikan and Bobby McDermott, they defeated the Rochester Royals to win the 1947 NBL Championship....
| Rochester Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 3–2
|-
|1947–48
| Minneapolis Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| Rochester Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 3–1
|-
|1948–49
| Anderson Packers
Anderson Packers
The Anderson Packers also known as the Anderson Duffy Packers was a professional basketball team based in Anderson, Indiana, in the 1940s and 1950s....
| 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...
| 3–0
|}
Season leaders and awards
Source{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background-color:#FFFF99; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"| *
|Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
|-
|}
Scoring leader
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"!Season
!Player
!class=unsortable|Team(s)
!Points
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
!PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
|-
|
|
|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...
|210
|16.2
|-
|
| (2)
|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...
|334
|11.9
|-
|
| (3)
|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...
|361
|12.9
|-
|
|
|Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|265
|11.0
|-
|
|
|Toledo Jim White Chevrolets
|406
|18.5
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
|316
|13.7
|-
|
|
|Cleveland Chase Brassmen
|323
|17.9
|-
|
| (2)
|Cleveland Allmen Transfers
|607
|20.2
|-
|
|
|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...
|473
|13.9
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * &
*
|Rochester Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
&
Chicago American Gears
Chicago American Gears
The Chicago American Gears were a National Basketball League team who played from 1944 to 1947.Led by George Mikan and Bobby McDermott, they defeated the Rochester Royals to win the 1947 NBL Championship....
|632
|16.5
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * (2)
|Minneapolis Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|1195
|21.3
|-
|
|
|Tri-Cities Blackhawks
|899
|14.0
|}
Most Valuable Player
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"!Season
!MVP
!Team
|-
|
|
|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...
|-
|
| (2)
|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...
|-
|
| (3)
|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...
|-
|
|
|Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|-
|
|
|Toledo Jim White Chevrolets
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * (2)
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * (3)
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * (4)
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Rochester Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Minneapolis Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|-
|
|
|Tri-Cities Blackhawks
|}
Coach of the Year
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"!Season
!Coach
!Team
|-
|
|
|Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|-
|
|
|Akron Firestone Non-Skids
|-
|
| (2)
|Akron Firestone Non-Skids
|-
|
|
|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...
|-
|
|
|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...
|-
|
|
|Sheboygan Red Skins
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| * (2)
|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Rochester Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
|-
|
|
|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...
|-
|
|
|Anderson Duffey Packers
Anderson Packers
The Anderson Packers also known as the Anderson Duffy Packers was a professional basketball team based in Anderson, Indiana, in the 1940s and 1950s....
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
|}
Rookie of the Year
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"!Season
!Rookie
!Team
|-
|
|
|Indianapolis Kautskys
|-
|
|
|Indianapolis Kautskys
|-
|
|
|Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|-
|
|
|Indianapolis Kautskys
|-
|
|
|Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|-
|
|
|Sheboygan Red Skins
|-
|
|
|Cleveland Chase Brassmen
|-
|
|
|Rochester Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Minneapolis Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|-
|
|
|Sheboygan Red Skins
|-
|
|
|Sheboygan Red Skins
|-
|
|style=background-color:#FFFF99| *
|Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
|}