2207:
2033:
1990:
1939:
299:. He left Kentucky after two years to pursue a professional basketball career, which was unheard of at the time. He led the NBL in scoring for three consecutive seasons, 1937-1940. He set numerous NBL and professional basketball scoring records and is generally credited with the introduction of the "3 second rule" in basketball which is still in existence today. Edwards played in all 12 NBL seasons with the Oshkosh All-Stars, and retired just prior to its merger with the BAA to form the NBA.
3212:
3223:
330:. Beginning in 1941, the season before Fort Wayne joined the NBL, Sheboygan appeared in five of six championship series. 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, and were swept in the 1946 finals by the league's newest member, the powerhouse
252:, president of the NBL, became the chairman. The new National Basketball Association (NBA) was made up of 17 teams that represented both small towns and large cities across the country. The NBA claims the BAA's history as its own and considers the 1949 deal as an expansion, not a merger. For example, at
259:
The NBA does not recognize NBL records and statistics except under certain circumstances. As such, the records and statistics of the BAA and NBL prior to the merger in 1949 are considered in official NBA history only if a player, coach, or team participated in the newly formed NBA after 1949 for one
419:
The NBL 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
217:
The league began rather informally. Scheduling was left to the discretion of each of the teams, as long as the team played at least ten games and four of them were on the road. Games played increased yearly as the popularity of professional basketball and the NBL grew in
America. Games consisted
228:
In 1946, the
Basketball Association of America (BAA) incorporated resulting in a three-year battle with the NBL to win both players and fans. The BAA played its games in larger cities and venues. However, NBL tended to have the bigger stars. NBL teams dominated the
2786:
319:. The Pistons finished second in 1942 and 1943 and won the league title in 1944 and 1945. Like many teams of that era, it was not uncommon for Fort Wayne to play its games in taverns, armories, high-school gyms or ballrooms.
218:
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.
322:
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.
1875:
1870:
3073:
395:
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
2800:
1865:
2397:
3277:
3061:
194:
The league was initially founded as the
Midwest Basketball Conference (MBC) in 1935. It changed its name in 1937 in an attempt to attract a larger audience and avoid confusion with the
515:
2850:
256:
online, its table of one-line "NBA Season Recaps" begins 1946–47 without comment. It celebrated "NBA at 50" in 1996, with announcement of its 50 Greatest
Players among other things.
2095:
514:
played in the NBL/BAA/NBA. The Jets played in the BAA for the 1948–49 season only; the remaining teams for the 1949–50 season only. Anderson, Sheboygan, and
Waterloo joined the
411:(BAA) for fans and players, the NBL merged with the BAA and became the National Basketball Association. A few years after the merger, the NBA adopted the BAA history as its own.
3262:
3252:
2927:
2922:
291:
The
Oshkosh All-Stars appeared in the championship series for five consecutive years (1938–42). They won two titles, they were led by a rugged 6' 4" (1.93 m) center named
3257:
3056:
3144:
2966:
2855:
3272:
1880:
3174:
2954:
2390:
2146:
1885:
643:
3267:
1890:
1151:
31:
3196:
2896:
373:
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
3068:
1459:
374:
2867:
3226:
3012:
2383:
1738:
230:
2996:
2959:
1742:
263:
The history of the NBL falls into three eras, each contributing significantly to the growth of professional basketball and the emergence of the
1050:
366:
359:
2071:
3051:
2981:
2944:
537:
296:
279:, who were later instrumental in the survival of the NBA during its infancy. The final period of note during the NBL's existence centered on
2701:
3031:
440:, but the team lost its first four games and folded due to financial difficulties. Chicago stocked its roster with several members of the
3109:
2949:
2881:
437:
433:
2048:
2891:
2771:
1391:
408:
389:
203:
159:
83:
2971:
536:. The Wingfoots suspended operations for World War II and were not included in the NBL/BAA merger. Instead, they remained in the
207:
2886:
2781:
2406:
1664:
909:
452:
264:
163:
2372:– including "The NBA Began in Akron!? The Midwest Basketball Conference, 1935–37", Murry Nelson, Pennsylvania State University
3129:
3046:
545:
2291:
705:
295:. Edwards was a consensus NCAA "All American" and Helms Foundation "College Player of the Year" as a member of the 1934–35
2939:
2684:
2162:
1909:
1851:
1826:
2003:
1964:
1417:
1248:
1222:
2183:
3114:
3085:
2986:
2934:
1631:
880:
525:
for the 1949–50 NBL season. When the NBL and BAA merged, this team joined the NBA without playing a single NBL game.
240:
On August 3, 1949, representatives from the 12-year-old NBL and 3 year old BAA met at the BAA offices in New York's
2991:
2976:
2738:
2316:
2141:
1762:
1600:
1529:
1259:
308:
276:
129:
1718:
951:
2840:
2125:
1552:
601:
499:
125:
1318:
860:
2805:
2631:
2555:
2544:
2502:
2415:
2369:
1360:
1329:
1177:
1171:
760:
754:
632:
1115:
725:
1380:
3036:
3003:
2426:
1837:
1104:
234:
3231:
2206:
2032:
1989:
1938:
2830:
2825:
2820:
2795:
2728:
2593:
2578:
2568:
2464:
1914:
1695:
1690:
1589:
694:
612:
522:
370:
1349:
3191:
3154:
3080:
2748:
2601:
2573:
2221:
1291:
476:
241:
70:
796:
2277:
3008:
2914:
2845:
2706:
2654:
2606:
2008:
1773:
1454:
1428:
1120:
791:
663:
441:
396:
35:
765:
158:, it changed its name to the NBL in 1937. After the 1948–49 season, its twelfth, it merged with the
2862:
2696:
2477:
2226:
2068:
1524:
1479:
1448:
1254:
1016:
982:
977:
674:
507:
421:
362:
327:
2096:"NBA's bogus birthday sweeps Syracuse's contributions under the confetti (Editorial Board Opinion"
3101:
3041:
2611:
2530:
2449:
1804:
1709:
1684:
1324:
1217:
1095:
1076:
1070:
488:
484:
460:
378:
195:
179:
175:
3216:
2711:
2691:
2659:
2649:
2515:
2169:. NBA.com. Reprinted(?) from "Early Professional Leagues" by Robin Deutsch and Douglas Stark,
2100:
1729:
1659:
1626:
1595:
1558:
1493:
1386:
1310:
1296:
1285:
1211:
1110:
920:
855:
669:
503:
432:. Neither team fared well. Toledo signed several black players to start the season, including
268:
133:
198:, ofted referred to as the Midwest Conference. The league was created by three corporations:
17:
3159:
3139:
2718:
2639:
2621:
2263:
2247:
2013:
1919:
1832:
1768:
1645:
1620:
1563:
1498:
1423:
1355:
1182:
1011:
996:
971:
946:
940:
495:
468:
464:
429:
331:
245:
199:
183:
114:
2357:
475:). Two more teams were part of the merger that created the NBA in 1949: the Buffalo Bisons/
2871:
2644:
2492:
2482:
2454:
2444:
2341:
2150:
2129:
2075:
2052:
2045:
1724:
1543:
1518:
1081:
915:
827:
822:
529:
472:
425:
316:
171:
2375:
3149:
3119:
2563:
2487:
2434:
2199:
2132:. The Association for Professional Basketball Research. APBR.org. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
2025:
1982:
1931:
1818:
1799:
1793:
1487:
849:
841:
816:
785:
731:
541:
533:
511:
456:
3246:
2525:
2510:
2472:
2439:
1030:
1005:
480:
292:
272:
167:
102:
2299:
3166:
2733:
2616:
1969:
1653:
1146:
1045:
1039:
886:
700:
400:
355:
312:
280:
1951:
392:(BAA), along with three other NBL clubs: Rochester, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis.
3186:
2812:
1140:
638:
607:
404:
382:
343:
222:
211:
2743:
2520:
445:
339:
249:
151:
50:
3124:
2679:
2583:
2363:
1733:
455:
teams trace their history back to the NBL. Three teams joined the BAA in
335:
233:, an annual invitational tournament held in Chicago and sponsored by the
2723:
166:(NBA). Five current NBA teams trace their history back to the NBL: the
2122:
424:, filled their rosters by signing African-Americans—five years before
3179:
388:
After the 1947–48 season, Mikan's Lakers quit the League to join the
494:
Five former NBA teams also trace their history back to the NBL: the
399:, composed entirely of African Americans, to play out the season in
326:
Challenging the Zollner Pistons and Oshkosh for supremacy were the
315:, whose company made pistons for engines—were led by tough veteran
377:. That venture quickly failed, and Mikan was signed by the NBL's
1578:
1574:
1474:
1470:
1406:
1402:
1274:
1270:
1237:
1233:
2379:
548:(NABL). The Wingfoots are still an AAU Elite team in the NABL.
2222:"How the NBA's 75th anniversary sweeps away its early history"
248:, the president of BAA, became the president of the NBA while
237:. NBL teams won seven out of ten editions of the tournament.
2123:"Basketball Association of America League Minutes 1946–1949"
2173:, chapter 8(?). Archived 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
448:
plant, but it also folded after compiling an 8–15 record.
2143:
2012–13 Official National Basketball Association Register
2082:(nba.com/history). August 26, 2011. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
154:
league in the United States. Established in 1935 as the
2090:
2088:
2059:(nba.com/history). July 1, 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
556:
Note: # denotes a team currently playing in the NBA.
2251:
The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949
3094:
3022:
2907:
2761:
2672:
2630:
2592:
2554:
2543:
2501:
2463:
2425:
2414:
121:
108:
98:
90:
76:
66:
56:
46:
2253:. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2009.
283:and the emergence of the big man in basketball.
30:For other organizations with similar names, see
3278:Defunct basketball leagues in the United States
2292:"National Basketball League 1937-38 to 1948-49"
471:), and the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (now the
2311:
2309:
1739:Flint Industrial Mutual Association Auditorium
428:would break baseball's color barrier with the
407:. In 1949, after a three-year battle with the
2391:
27:U.S. professional basketball league (1937–49)
8:
275:. The middle years saw the emergence of the
225:acted as president of the NBL from 1940–44.
41:
3263:1949 disestablishments in the United States
2358:Complete National Basketball League History
32:National Basketball League (disambiguation)
3253:National Basketball League (United States)
2551:
2422:
2398:
2384:
2376:
1860:Season leaders, awards, and championships
1460:Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory
910:Cleveland Chase Brassmen/Allmen Transfers
375:Professional Basketball League of America
311:—so nicknamed because they were owned by
3258:1937 establishments in the United States
2069:"NBA at 50 celebrates legends of league"
558:
231:World Professional Basketball Tournament
1901:
516:National Professional Basketball League
2278:"The Origins of All 30 NBA Team Names"
1051:The Field House (University of Toledo)
706:Montgomery County Fairgrounds Coliseum
40:
3273:Sports leagues disestablished in 1949
2317:"Warren Penns, Cleveland Whitehorses"
538:National Industrial Basketball League
381:, where he teamed with the versatile
354:The NBL's third era was dominated by
7:
2370:Abstracts of open papers, NASSH 2002
1006:Buffalo Bisons/Tri-Cities Blackhawks
444:, who worked during the week at the
369:in Chicago. As a rookie, he led the
267:. The first dynasty centered on the
2342:"Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1946-1951)"
3268:Sports leagues established in 1937
1876:List of NBL career scoring leaders
1871:List of NBL season scoring leaders
459:: the Minneapolis Lakers (now the
214:small-market and corporate teams.
25:
2220:Curtis Harris (21 January 2022).
2184:"NBL, BAA merge, end pro net war"
1965:"Cage peace: Form 18-team league"
1881:List of NBL Most Valuable Players
1152:Springfield High School Gymnasium
409:Basketball Association of America
390:Basketball Association of America
358:, the 6'10" (2.08 m), three-time
160:Basketball Association of America
3222:
3221:
3210:
2806:2007 Tim Donaghy betting scandal
2264:"NBL National Basketball League"
2205:
2031:
1988:
1937:
221:Chicago newspaper sports editor
42:National Basketball League (NBL)
3110:collective bargaining agreement
2407:National Basketball Association
2190:. UP. 4 August 1949. p. 11
1891:List of NBL Coaches of the Year
1886:List of NBL Rookies of the Year
297:University of Kentucky Wildcats
164:National Basketball Association
2078:. Announced October 29, 1996.
1665:Ferndale High School Gymnasium
1121:Dearborn High School Gymnasium
546:National AAU Basketball League
532:, the initial NBL Champion in
385:to win the 1948 championship.
210:. It was primarily made up of
1:
2171:The Official NBA Encyclopedia
2167:Hoopedia: the Basketball Wiki
528:Also still surviving are the
334:, who boasted Hall of Famers
156:Midwest Basketball Conference
18:Midwest Basketball Conference
2801:Criticisms and controversies
1963:Glenn Gaff (4 August 1949).
1841:
1808:
1777:
1746:
1699:
1668:
1635:
1604:
1567:
1533:
1502:
1463:
1432:
1418:Hammond Ciesar All-Americans
1395:
1364:
1333:
1300:
1263:
1249:Fort Wayne General Electrics
1226:
1186:
1155:
1124:
1085:
1054:
1020:
986:
955:
952:Youngstown South Field House
924:
893:
864:
831:
800:
769:
738:
709:
678:
647:
616:
2366:at Basketball-Reference.com
2016:. 4 August 1949. p. 13
2004:"Pro hoop war comes to end"
1922:. 6 October 1937. p. 5
1910:"Court league changes name"
1632:Anderson High School Wigwam
1223:South Park School Gymnasium
881:Toledo Jim White Chevrolets
3294:
2702:Martin Luther King Jr. Day
2364:National Basketball League
2128:November 25, 2010, at the
1763:Hammond Calumet Buccaneers
1601:International Amphitheatre
1530:North Side High School Gym
1519:Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
1319:Kankakee Gallagher Trojans
1260:North Side High School Gym
1207:
861:Detroit Light Guard Armory
597:
309:Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
277:Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
144:National Basketball League
130:Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
29:
3205:
2945:first overall draft picks
1844:
1811:
1780:
1749:
1702:
1671:
1638:
1607:
1570:
1553:Chicago Studebaker Flyers
1536:
1505:
1466:
1435:
1398:
1392:Richmond Civic Auditorium
1367:
1361:Freeman Avenue Armory Gym
1336:
1330:Gallagher Business School
1303:
1266:
1229:
1200:
1189:
1158:
1127:
1088:
1057:
1023:
989:
958:
927:
896:
867:
834:
803:
772:
741:
712:
681:
650:
619:
602:Akron Firestone Non–Skids
590:
521:The NBL also created the
436:, who had starred at the
126:Akron Firestone Non–Skids
1719:Flint/Midland Dow A.C.'s
1178:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1116:Holy Redeemer Church Gym
761:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
726:Columbus Athletic Supply
633:Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
530:Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
3037:Maurice Podoloff Trophy
1838:Denver Auditorium Arena
1743:Midland High School Gym
1621:Anderson Duffey Packers
1381:Richmond King Clothiers
810:Cleveland White Horses
235:Chicago Herald American
2796:Walter A. Brown Trophy
2579:Portland Trail Blazers
2569:Minnesota Timberwolves
2149:March 4, 2014, at the
2051:July 17, 2013, at the
1915:The South Bend Tribune
1696:Minneapolis Auditorium
1691:Minneapolis, Minnesota
1590:Chicago American Gears
1105:Detroit Vagabond Kings
817:Cleveland White Horses
523:Indianapolis Olympians
371:Chicago American Gears
293:Leroy "Cowboy" Edwards
273:Leroy "Cowboy" Edwards
244:to finalize a merger.
3217:Basketball portal
3057:Conference Finals MVP
2602:Golden State Warriors
2574:Oklahoma City Thunder
2074:May 22, 2012, at the
1866:List of NBL champions
1292:Indianapolis, Indiana
1286:Indianapolis Kautskys
1031:Tri-Cities Blackhawks
477:Tri-Cities Blackhawks
242:Empire State Building
150:) was a professional
3032:Larry O'Brien Trophy
2655:New Orleans Pelicans
2607:Los Angeles Clippers
2009:The Spokesman-Review
1774:Hammond Civic Center
1455:Sheboygan, Wisconsin
1429:Hammond Civic Center
1141:New York/Dayton Rens
921:Cleveland Auditorium
792:Warren, Pennsylvania
695:Dayton Metropolitans
442:Harlem Globetrotters
438:University of Toledo
162:(BAA) to create the
36:NBL (disambiguation)
3232:2024–25 season
2955:banned or suspended
2478:Cleveland Cavaliers
2227:The Washington Post
2046:"NBA Season Recaps"
1525:Fort Wayne, Indiana
1480:Sheboygan Red Skins
1449:Sheboygan Red Skins
1350:Cincinnati Comellos
1255:Fort Wayne, Indiana
1082:State Fair Coliseum
1017:Wharton Field House
983:Edgerton Park Arena
978:Rochester, New York
675:Broadway Auditorium
644:Akron Goodyear Hall
613:Firestone Clubhouse
508:Sheboygan Red Skins
506:(as the Kautskys),
422:Chicago Studebakers
360:NCAA "All-American"
328:Sheboygan Red Skins
43:
2940:race and ethnicity
2868:2019–20 suspension
2612:Los Angeles Lakers
2531:Washington Wizards
2450:Philadelphia 76ers
2104:. 28 November 2021
1805:McElroy Auditorium
1710:Minneapolis Lakers
1685:Minneapolis Lakers
1544:Fort Wayne Pistons
1325:Kankakee, Illinois
1218:Oshkosh, Wisconsin
1172:Pittsburgh Raiders
1096:Syracuse Nationals
1077:Syracuse, New York
1071:Syracuse Nationals
755:Pittsburgh Pirates
586:BAA/NBA successor
489:Philadelphia 76ers
485:Syracuse Nationals
461:Los Angeles Lakers
379:Minneapolis Lakers
196:Big Ten Conference
180:Philadelphia 76ers
176:Los Angeles Lakers
3240:
3239:
3081:Anniversary teams
2817:Former divisions
2668:
2667:
2660:San Antonio Spurs
2650:Memphis Grizzlies
2539:
2538:
2516:Charlotte Hornets
2101:The Post-Standard
1857:
1856:
1660:Detroit, Michigan
1627:Anderson, Indiana
1596:Chicago, Illinois
1559:Chicago, Illinois
1494:Chicago, Illinois
1387:Richmond, Indiana
1311:Indianapolis Jets
1297:Hinkle Fieldhouse
1212:Oshkosh All-Stars
1111:Detroit, Michigan
856:Detroit, Michigan
797:Beaty JR High Gym
670:Buffalo, New York
540:(NIBL), which in
504:Indianapolis Jets
367:DePaul University
271:and their center
269:Oshkosh All-Stars
260:or more seasons.
140:
139:
134:Oshkosh All-Stars
16:(Redirected from
3285:
3225:
3224:
3215:
3214:
3213:
2919:current rosters
2897:win–loss records
2707:All-Star weekend
2640:Dallas Mavericks
2622:Sacramento Kings
2552:
2423:
2400:
2393:
2386:
2377:
2346:
2345:
2338:
2332:
2331:
2329:
2327:
2321:NBA Hoops Online
2313:
2304:
2303:
2298:. Archived from
2288:
2282:
2281:
2274:
2268:
2267:
2260:
2254:
2248:Nelson, Murry R.
2245:
2239:
2238:
2236:
2234:
2217:
2211:
2210:
2209:
2203:
2197:
2195:
2180:
2174:
2160:
2154:
2139:
2133:
2120:
2114:
2113:
2111:
2109:
2092:
2083:
2066:
2060:
2043:
2037:
2036:
2035:
2029:
2023:
2021:
2014:Associated Press
2000:
1994:
1993:
1992:
1986:
1980:
1978:
1960:
1954:
1949:
1943:
1942:
1941:
1935:
1929:
1927:
1920:Associated Press
1906:
1833:Denver, Colorado
1769:Hammond, Indiana
1646:Anderson Packers
1564:Chicago Coliseum
1499:Chicago Coliseum
1424:Hammond, Indiana
1356:Cincinnati, Ohio
1203:
1202:Western Division
1183:Duquesne Gardens
1012:Moline, Illinois
997:Rochester Royals
972:Rochester Royals
947:Youngstown, Ohio
941:Youngstown Bears
891:Civic Auditorium
593:
592:Eastern Division
559:
496:Anderson Packers
469:Sacramento Kings
465:Rochester Royals
430:Brooklyn Dodgers
332:Rochester Royals
246:Maurice Podoloff
212:Great Lakes area
200:General Electric
184:Sacramento Kings
115:Anderson Packers
44:
21:
3293:
3292:
3288:
3287:
3286:
3284:
3283:
3282:
3243:
3242:
3241:
3236:
3211:
3209:
3201:
3130:team valuations
3115:jersey sponsors
3090:
3086:Retired numbers
3024:
3018:
2935:foreign players
2903:
2757:
2664:
2645:Houston Rockets
2626:
2588:
2546:
2535:
2497:
2493:Milwaukee Bucks
2483:Detroit Pistons
2459:
2455:Toronto Raptors
2445:New York Knicks
2417:
2410:
2404:
2354:
2349:
2340:
2339:
2335:
2325:
2323:
2315:
2314:
2307:
2296:members.aol.com
2290:
2289:
2285:
2276:
2275:
2271:
2262:
2261:
2257:
2246:
2242:
2232:
2230:
2219:
2218:
2214:
2204:
2193:
2191:
2182:
2181:
2177:
2161:
2157:
2151:Wayback Machine
2140:
2136:
2130:Wayback Machine
2121:
2117:
2107:
2105:
2094:
2093:
2086:
2076:Wayback Machine
2067:
2063:
2053:Wayback Machine
2044:
2040:
2030:
2019:
2017:
2002:
2001:
1997:
1987:
1976:
1974:
1962:
1961:
1957:
1950:
1946:
1936:
1925:
1923:
1908:
1907:
1903:
1899:
1862:
1728:
1201:
1119:
916:Cleveland, Ohio
828:Cleveland Arena
823:Cleveland, Ohio
591:
554:
473:Detroit Pistons
426:Jackie Robinson
417:
352:
317:Bobby McDermott
305:
289:
192:
172:Detroit Pistons
132:
128:
110:
81:
61:
39:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
3291:
3289:
3281:
3280:
3275:
3270:
3265:
3260:
3255:
3245:
3244:
3238:
3237:
3235:
3234:
3229:
3219:
3206:
3203:
3202:
3200:
3199:
3194:
3189:
3184:
3183:
3182:
3177:
3169:
3164:
3163:
3162:
3157:
3152:
3147:
3142:
3134:
3133:
3132:
3127:
3122:
3117:
3112:
3104:
3098:
3096:
3092:
3091:
3089:
3088:
3083:
3078:
3077:
3076:
3066:
3065:
3064:
3059:
3054:
3049:
3039:
3034:
3028:
3026:
3020:
3019:
3017:
3016:
3006:
3001:
3000:
2999:
2994:
2989:
2984:
2979:
2977:player-coaches
2974:
2964:
2963:
2962:
2957:
2952:
2947:
2942:
2937:
2932:
2931:
2930:
2925:
2911:
2909:
2905:
2904:
2902:
2901:
2900:
2899:
2894:
2889:
2884:
2882:regular season
2876:
2875:
2874:
2860:
2859:
2858:
2853:
2848:
2843:
2835:
2834:
2833:
2828:
2823:
2815:
2810:
2809:
2808:
2798:
2793:
2792:
2791:
2790:
2789:
2779:
2774:
2765:
2763:
2759:
2758:
2756:
2755:
2754:
2753:
2752:
2751:
2741:
2731:
2726:
2724:Cup tournament
2721:
2716:
2715:
2714:
2704:
2699:
2694:
2689:
2688:
2687:
2676:
2674:
2670:
2669:
2666:
2665:
2663:
2662:
2657:
2652:
2647:
2642:
2636:
2634:
2628:
2627:
2625:
2624:
2619:
2614:
2609:
2604:
2598:
2596:
2590:
2589:
2587:
2586:
2581:
2576:
2571:
2566:
2564:Denver Nuggets
2560:
2558:
2549:
2541:
2540:
2537:
2536:
2534:
2533:
2528:
2523:
2518:
2513:
2507:
2505:
2499:
2498:
2496:
2495:
2490:
2488:Indiana Pacers
2485:
2480:
2475:
2469:
2467:
2461:
2460:
2458:
2457:
2452:
2447:
2442:
2437:
2435:Boston Celtics
2431:
2429:
2420:
2412:
2411:
2405:
2403:
2402:
2395:
2388:
2380:
2374:
2373:
2367:
2361:
2353:
2352:External links
2350:
2348:
2347:
2333:
2305:
2302:on 1999-11-11.
2283:
2269:
2255:
2240:
2212:
2200:Newspapers.com
2175:
2155:
2134:
2115:
2084:
2061:
2038:
2026:Newspapers.com
1995:
1983:Newspapers.com
1955:
1944:
1932:Newspapers.com
1900:
1898:
1895:
1894:
1893:
1888:
1883:
1878:
1873:
1868:
1861:
1858:
1855:
1854:
1852:Denver Nuggets
1849:
1846:
1843:
1840:
1835:
1830:
1827:Denver Nuggets
1822:
1821:
1819:Waterloo Hawks
1816:
1813:
1810:
1807:
1802:
1800:Waterloo, Iowa
1797:
1794:Waterloo Hawks
1789:
1788:
1785:
1782:
1779:
1776:
1771:
1766:
1758:
1757:
1754:
1751:
1748:
1747:6,000 / ?
1745:
1736:
1722:
1714:
1713:
1707:
1704:
1701:
1698:
1693:
1688:
1680:
1679:
1676:
1673:
1670:
1667:
1662:
1657:
1649:
1648:
1643:
1640:
1637:
1634:
1629:
1624:
1616:
1615:
1612:
1609:
1606:
1603:
1598:
1593:
1585:
1584:
1581:
1572:
1569:
1566:
1561:
1556:
1548:
1547:
1541:
1538:
1535:
1532:
1527:
1522:
1514:
1513:
1510:
1507:
1504:
1501:
1496:
1491:
1488:Chicago Bruins
1483:
1482:
1477:
1468:
1465:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1444:
1443:
1440:
1437:
1434:
1431:
1426:
1421:
1413:
1412:
1409:
1400:
1397:
1394:
1389:
1384:
1376:
1375:
1372:
1369:
1366:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1345:
1344:
1341:
1338:
1335:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1314:
1313:
1308:
1305:
1302:
1299:
1294:
1289:
1281:
1280:
1277:
1268:
1265:
1262:
1257:
1252:
1244:
1243:
1240:
1231:
1228:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1208:
1205:
1204:
1198:
1197:
1194:
1191:
1188:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1167:
1166:
1163:
1160:
1157:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1136:
1135:
1132:
1129:
1126:
1123:
1113:
1108:
1100:
1099:
1093:
1090:
1087:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1066:
1065:
1062:
1059:
1056:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1035:
1034:
1028:
1025:
1022:
1019:
1014:
1009:
1001:
1000:
994:
991:
988:
985:
980:
975:
967:
966:
963:
960:
957:
954:
949:
944:
936:
935:
932:
929:
926:
923:
918:
913:
905:
904:
901:
898:
895:
892:
889:
884:
876:
875:
872:
869:
866:
863:
858:
853:
850:Detroit Eagles
845:
844:
842:Detroit Eagles
839:
836:
833:
830:
825:
820:
812:
811:
808:
805:
802:
799:
794:
789:
781:
780:
777:
774:
771:
768:
766:Duquesne U Gym
763:
758:
750:
749:
746:
743:
740:
737:
734:
732:Columbus, Ohio
729:
721:
720:
717:
714:
711:
708:
703:
698:
690:
689:
686:
683:
680:
677:
672:
667:
664:Buffalo Bisons
659:
658:
655:
652:
649:
646:
641:
636:
628:
627:
624:
621:
618:
615:
610:
605:
598:
595:
594:
588:
587:
584:
581:
578:
575:
572:
569:
566:
563:
553:
550:
512:Waterloo Hawks
500:Denver Nuggets
416:
413:
351:
348:
304:
301:
288:
285:
191:
188:
138:
137:
123:
119:
118:
112:
106:
105:
100:
96:
95:
92:
88:
87:
80:August 3, 1949
78:
74:
73:
68:
64:
63:
58:
54:
53:
48:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
3290:
3279:
3276:
3274:
3271:
3269:
3266:
3264:
3261:
3259:
3256:
3254:
3251:
3250:
3248:
3233:
3230:
3228:
3220:
3218:
3208:
3207:
3204:
3198:
3195:
3193:
3190:
3188:
3185:
3181:
3178:
3176:
3173:
3172:
3170:
3168:
3165:
3161:
3158:
3156:
3153:
3151:
3148:
3146:
3143:
3141:
3138:
3137:
3135:
3131:
3128:
3126:
3123:
3121:
3118:
3116:
3113:
3111:
3108:
3107:
3105:
3103:
3100:
3099:
3097:
3093:
3087:
3084:
3082:
3079:
3075:
3072:
3071:
3070:
3067:
3063:
3060:
3058:
3055:
3053:
3050:
3048:
3045:
3044:
3043:
3040:
3038:
3035:
3033:
3030:
3029:
3027:
3021:
3014:
3010:
3007:
3005:
3002:
2998:
2995:
2993:
2990:
2988:
2985:
2983:
2980:
2978:
2975:
2973:
2970:
2969:
2968:
2965:
2961:
2958:
2956:
2953:
2951:
2948:
2946:
2943:
2941:
2938:
2936:
2933:
2929:
2926:
2924:
2921:
2920:
2918:
2917:
2916:
2913:
2912:
2910:
2906:
2898:
2895:
2893:
2890:
2888:
2885:
2883:
2880:
2879:
2877:
2873:
2869:
2866:
2865:
2864:
2861:
2857:
2854:
2852:
2849:
2847:
2844:
2842:
2839:
2838:
2836:
2832:
2829:
2827:
2824:
2822:
2819:
2818:
2816:
2814:
2811:
2807:
2804:
2803:
2802:
2799:
2797:
2794:
2788:
2785:
2784:
2783:
2780:
2778:
2775:
2773:
2770:
2769:
2768:Predecessors
2767:
2766:
2764:
2760:
2750:
2747:
2746:
2745:
2742:
2740:
2737:
2736:
2735:
2732:
2730:
2727:
2725:
2722:
2720:
2717:
2713:
2710:
2709:
2708:
2705:
2703:
2700:
2698:
2695:
2693:
2692:Summer League
2690:
2686:
2683:
2682:
2681:
2678:
2677:
2675:
2673:Annual events
2671:
2661:
2658:
2656:
2653:
2651:
2648:
2646:
2643:
2641:
2638:
2637:
2635:
2633:
2629:
2623:
2620:
2618:
2615:
2613:
2610:
2608:
2605:
2603:
2600:
2599:
2597:
2595:
2591:
2585:
2582:
2580:
2577:
2575:
2572:
2570:
2567:
2565:
2562:
2561:
2559:
2557:
2553:
2550:
2548:
2542:
2532:
2529:
2527:
2526:Orlando Magic
2524:
2522:
2519:
2517:
2514:
2512:
2511:Atlanta Hawks
2509:
2508:
2506:
2504:
2500:
2494:
2491:
2489:
2486:
2484:
2481:
2479:
2476:
2474:
2473:Chicago Bulls
2471:
2470:
2468:
2466:
2462:
2456:
2453:
2451:
2448:
2446:
2443:
2441:
2440:Brooklyn Nets
2438:
2436:
2433:
2432:
2430:
2428:
2424:
2421:
2419:
2413:
2408:
2401:
2396:
2394:
2389:
2387:
2382:
2381:
2378:
2371:
2368:
2365:
2362:
2359:
2356:
2355:
2351:
2343:
2337:
2334:
2322:
2318:
2312:
2310:
2306:
2301:
2297:
2293:
2287:
2284:
2280:. 2018-10-17.
2279:
2273:
2270:
2265:
2259:
2256:
2252:
2249:
2244:
2241:
2229:
2228:
2223:
2216:
2213:
2208:
2201:
2189:
2185:
2179:
2176:
2172:
2168:
2164:
2159:
2156:
2152:
2148:
2145:
2144:
2138:
2135:
2131:
2127:
2124:
2119:
2116:
2103:
2102:
2097:
2091:
2089:
2085:
2081:
2077:
2073:
2070:
2065:
2062:
2058:
2054:
2050:
2047:
2042:
2039:
2034:
2027:
2015:
2011:
2010:
2005:
1999:
1996:
1991:
1984:
1972:
1971:
1966:
1959:
1956:
1953:
1948:
1945:
1940:
1933:
1921:
1917:
1916:
1911:
1905:
1902:
1896:
1892:
1889:
1887:
1884:
1882:
1879:
1877:
1874:
1872:
1869:
1867:
1864:
1863:
1859:
1853:
1850:
1847:
1839:
1836:
1834:
1831:
1829:
1828:
1824:
1823:
1820:
1817:
1814:
1806:
1803:
1801:
1798:
1796:
1795:
1791:
1790:
1786:
1783:
1775:
1772:
1770:
1767:
1765:
1764:
1760:
1759:
1755:
1752:
1744:
1740:
1737:
1735:
1731:
1726:
1723:
1721:
1720:
1716:
1715:
1711:
1708:
1705:
1697:
1694:
1692:
1689:
1687:
1686:
1682:
1681:
1677:
1674:
1666:
1663:
1661:
1658:
1656:
1655:
1651:
1650:
1647:
1644:
1641:
1633:
1630:
1628:
1625:
1623:
1622:
1618:
1617:
1613:
1610:
1602:
1599:
1597:
1594:
1592:
1591:
1587:
1586:
1582:
1580:
1576:
1573:
1565:
1562:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1554:
1550:
1549:
1545:
1542:
1539:
1531:
1528:
1526:
1523:
1521:
1520:
1516:
1515:
1511:
1508:
1500:
1497:
1495:
1492:
1490:
1489:
1485:
1484:
1481:
1478:
1476:
1472:
1469:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1450:
1446:
1445:
1441:
1438:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1419:
1415:
1414:
1410:
1408:
1404:
1401:
1393:
1390:
1388:
1385:
1383:
1382:
1378:
1377:
1373:
1370:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1351:
1347:
1346:
1342:
1339:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1320:
1316:
1315:
1312:
1309:
1306:
1298:
1295:
1293:
1290:
1288:
1287:
1283:
1282:
1278:
1276:
1272:
1269:
1261:
1258:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1250:
1246:
1245:
1241:
1239:
1235:
1232:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1213:
1209:
1206:
1199:
1195:
1192:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1173:
1169:
1168:
1164:
1161:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1142:
1138:
1137:
1133:
1130:
1122:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1106:
1102:
1101:
1097:
1094:
1091:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1072:
1068:
1067:
1063:
1060:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1041:
1037:
1036:
1032:
1029:
1026:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1008:
1007:
1003:
1002:
998:
995:
992:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
973:
969:
968:
964:
961:
953:
950:
948:
945:
943:
942:
938:
937:
933:
930:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
911:
907:
906:
902:
899:
890:
888:
885:
883:
882:
878:
877:
873:
870:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
851:
847:
846:
843:
840:
837:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
818:
814:
813:
809:
806:
798:
795:
793:
790:
788:
787:
783:
782:
778:
775:
767:
764:
762:
759:
757:
756:
752:
751:
747:
744:
735:
733:
730:
728:
727:
723:
722:
718:
715:
707:
704:
702:
699:
697:
696:
692:
691:
687:
684:
676:
673:
671:
668:
666:
665:
661:
660:
656:
653:
645:
642:
640:
637:
635:
634:
630:
629:
625:
622:
614:
611:
609:
606:
604:
603:
599:
596:
589:
585:
582:
579:
576:
573:
570:
567:
564:
561:
560:
557:
551:
549:
547:
543:
539:
535:
531:
526:
524:
519:
517:
513:
509:
505:
501:
497:
492:
490:
486:
482:
481:Atlanta Hawks
478:
474:
470:
466:
462:
458:
454:
451:Five current
449:
447:
443:
439:
435:
431:
427:
423:
414:
412:
410:
406:
402:
398:
397:New York Rens
393:
391:
386:
384:
380:
376:
372:
368:
364:
361:
357:
349:
347:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
324:
320:
318:
314:
310:
302:
300:
298:
294:
286:
284:
282:
278:
274:
270:
266:
261:
257:
255:
251:
247:
243:
238:
236:
232:
226:
224:
219:
215:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
189:
187:
185:
181:
177:
173:
169:
168:Atlanta Hawks
165:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
135:
131:
127:
124:
120:
116:
113:
107:
104:
103:United States
101:
97:
93:
89:
85:
82:(merged with
79:
75:
72:
69:
65:
62:1937 (as NBL)
60:1935 (as MBC)
59:
55:
52:
49:
45:
37:
33:
19:
3140:cheerleading
3069:Hall of Fame
3062:All-Star MVP
2967:Head coaches
2950:highest paid
2776:
2719:Global Games
2617:Phoenix Suns
2336:
2326:25 September
2324:. Retrieved
2320:
2300:the original
2295:
2286:
2272:
2258:
2250:
2243:
2231:. Retrieved
2225:
2215:
2198:– via
2192:. Retrieved
2188:The Republic
2187:
2178:
2170:
2166:
2158:
2142:
2137:
2118:
2106:. Retrieved
2099:
2079:
2064:
2056:
2041:
2024:– via
2018:. Retrieved
2007:
1998:
1981:– via
1975:. Retrieved
1973:. p. 20
1970:Star Tribune
1968:
1958:
1952:"The Merger"
1947:
1930:– via
1924:. Retrieved
1913:
1904:
1825:
1792:
1761:
1717:
1683:
1654:Detroit Gems
1652:
1619:
1588:
1551:
1517:
1486:
1447:
1416:
1379:
1348:
1317:
1284:
1247:
1210:
1170:
1147:Dayton, Ohio
1139:
1103:
1069:
1046:Toledo, Ohio
1040:Toledo Jeeps
1038:
1004:
970:
939:
908:
887:Toledo, Ohio
879:
848:
815:
786:Warren Penns
784:
753:
724:
701:Dayton, Ohio
693:
662:
657:(see above)
631:
600:
555:
527:
520:
493:
450:
418:
401:Dayton, Ohio
394:
387:
356:George Mikan
353:
325:
321:
313:Fred Zollner
306:
303:Middle years
290:
281:George Mikan
262:
258:
253:
239:
227:
220:
216:
193:
155:
147:
143:
141:
91:No. of teams
67:First season
3187:NBA Academy
2887:post-season
2685:eligibility
2163:"NBA Roots"
2108:30 December
2080:NBA History
2057:NBA History
639:Akron, Ohio
608:Akron, Ohio
544:became the
483:), and the
405:Dayton Rens
383:Jim Pollard
350:Later years
344:Red Holzman
287:Early years
254:NBA History
223:Leo Fischer
122:Most titles
117:(1st title)
111:champion(s)
3247:Categories
3155:superteams
3150:dress code
3120:salary cap
3052:Finals MVP
3042:NBA awards
3025:and honors
2547:Conference
2521:Miami Heat
2418:Conference
2153:. NBA.com.
1897:References
446:Studebaker
434:Bill Jones
340:Bob Davies
250:Ike Duffey
182:, and the
152:basketball
51:Basketball
3192:Rivalries
3125:NBA Store
3106:Business
2982:champions
2851:relocated
2846:expansion
2749:champions
2697:Christmas
2632:Southwest
2584:Utah Jazz
2556:Northwest
2503:Southeast
1848:1948-1949
1815:1948-1949
1784:1948-1949
1753:1947-1948
1706:1947-1948
1675:1946-1947
1642:1946-1949
1611:1944-1948
1540:1941-1948
1509:1939-1942
1439:1937-1941
1371:1937-1938
1340:1937-1938
1307:1937-1948
1193:1944-1945
1162:1948-1949
1131:1948-1949
1092:1946-1949
1061:1946-1948
1027:1946-1949
993:1945-1948
962:1945-1947
931:1943-1946
900:1941-1943
871:1939-1941
838:1938-1939
807:1937-1938
776:1937-1939
745:1937-1938
716:1937-1938
685:1937-1938
654:1937-1943
623:1937–1941
583:NBL Years
518:in 1950.
487:(now the
479:(now the
467:(now the
403:, as the
204:Firestone
3227:Category
3167:G League
3136:Culture
3009:Referees
2892:All-Star
2878:Records
2856:timeline
2813:Lockouts
2734:Playoffs
2427:Atlantic
2147:Archived
2126:Archived
2072:Archived
2049:Archived
1734:Michigan
574:Capacity
562:Division
336:Al Cervi
208:Goodyear
136:(2 each)
3145:mascots
3074:Members
2987:foreign
2972:current
2928:Western
2923:Eastern
2915:Players
2863:Seasons
2841:defunct
2831:Western
2826:Midwest
2821:Eastern
2762:History
2729:Play-in
2594:Pacific
2545:Western
2465:Central
2416:Eastern
2360:1937–49
2233:23 June
2194:21 June
2020:23 June
1977:23 June
1926:24 June
1730:Midland
580:Founded
463:), the
190:History
99:Country
71:1935–36
57:Founded
3180:NBA TV
3171:Media
3102:Arenas
3095:Others
3023:Awards
3004:Owners
2992:female
2908:People
2872:bubble
2837:Teams
2787:merger
2744:finals
1700:10,000
1301:15,000
925:10,000
415:Legacy
363:center
178:, the
174:, the
170:, the
77:Ceased
3160:sleep
2680:Draft
2409:(NBA)
1842:6,841
1809:5,155
1778:6,000
1725:Flint
1669:6,000
1636:4,800
1605:9,000
1568:6,000
1534:3,000
1503:6,000
1464:3,000
1433:6,000
1264:3,000
1227:2,000
1187:5,000
1156:1,200
1125:6,000
1086:7,500
1055:6,000
1021:6,000
987:4,500
956:3,500
894:3,600
832:6,000
710:4,200
679:7,500
648:5,000
617:1,500
571:Arena
552:Teams
365:from
47:Sport
3197:WNBA
3013:NBRA
2997:NBCA
2960:NBPA
2870:and
2739:list
2712:game
2328:2024
2235:2024
2196:2024
2110:2021
2022:2024
1979:2024
1928:2024
1845:1948
1812:1948
1781:1948
1750:1947
1703:1947
1672:1946
1639:1946
1608:1944
1579:1943
1575:1942
1571:1942
1537:1941
1506:1925
1475:1949
1471:1938
1467:1933
1436:1936
1407:1938
1403:1937
1399:1937
1368:1937
1337:1937
1304:1931
1275:1938
1271:1937
1267:1935
1238:1949
1234:1937
1230:1929
1190:1943
1159:1922
1128:1948
1089:1946
1058:1946
1024:1946
990:1923
959:1945
928:1943
897:1941
804:1926
773:1931
742:1936
713:1935
682:1925
651:1918
620:1932
577:Club
568:City
565:Team
542:1961
534:1938
510:and
457:1948
420:the
342:and
307:The
206:and
142:The
109:Last
34:and
3047:MVP
2782:ABA
2777:NBL
2772:BAA
801:900
491:).
453:NBA
265:NBA
148:NBL
84:BAA
3249::
3175:TV
2319:.
2308:^
2294:.
2224:.
2186:.
2165:.
2098:.
2087:^
2055:.
2012:.
2006:.
1967:.
1918:.
1912:.
1787:-
1756:-
1741:/
1732:,
1712:#
1678:-
1614:-
1583:-
1546:#
1512:-
1442:-
1411:-
1374:-
1343:-
1279:-
1242:-
1196:-
1165:-
1134:-
1098:#
1064:-
1033:#
999:#
965:-
934:-
903:-
874:-
779:-
748:-
719:-
688:-
626:–
502:,
498:,
346:.
338:,
202:,
186:.
94:38
3015:)
3011:(
2399:e
2392:t
2385:v
2344:.
2330:.
2266:.
2237:.
2202:.
2112:.
2028:.
1985:.
1934:.
1727:/
1577:–
1473:–
1405:–
1396:?
1365:?
1334:?
1273:–
1236:–
1118:/
868:-
865:?
835:-
770:?
739:?
736:?
146:(
86:)
38:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.