1947–48 Minneapolis Lakers season
| 1947–48 Minneapolis Lakers season | |
|---|---|
NBL champions | |
| Results | |
| Record | 43–17 (.717) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Western) |
| Playoff finish | NBL Champions (Defeated Royals 3–1) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
The 1947–48 Minneapolis Lakers season was the inaugural season for the Lakers. The Lakers won the National Basketball League championship against the Rochester Royals. George Mikan led the team with 21.3 points per game and was the league's MVP. After the season, both the Lakers and Royals would leave the NBL to join the Basketball Association of America (BAA) along with two other NBL clubs, the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons and the Indianapolis Kautskys.[1] The Lakers would also participate in the final World Professional Basketball Tournament, winning the final championship over the independent New York Renaissance that year,[2] behind George Mikan's tournament record 40 points.[3]
Regular season[edit]
Western Division standings[edit]
| Pos. | Western Division | Wins | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis Lakers | 43 | 17 | .717 |
| 2 | Tri-Cities Blackhawks | 30 | 30 | .500 |
| 3 | Oshkosh All-Stars | 29 | 31 | .483 |
| 4 | Indianapolis Kautskys | 24 | 35 | .407 |
| 5 | Sheboygan Red Skins | 23 | 37 | .383 |
Playoffs[edit]
- Won NBL NBL Championship (3–1) over Rochester Royals
- Won NBL Western Division Semifinals (2–0) over Tri-Cities Blackhawks
- Won NBL Western Division Opening Round (3–1) over Oshkosh All-Stars
Awards and records[edit]
- George Mikan, MVP, All-NBL First Team
- Jim Pollard, All-NBL First Team[4]
References[edit]
- ^ Sachare, Alex. "The Dynasties: Minneapolis Lakers". nba.com. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- ^ Bill Carlson (April 12, 1948). "Lakers 'World Champions' now". The Minneapolis Star. p. 23. Retrieved March 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Edward Prell (April 12, 1948). "Lakers defeat Rens, 75 to 71, for pro title". Chicago Tribune. p. 57. Retrieved April 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
Mikan's 40 points, on 14 field goals and 12 of 15 free throws, broke the tournament individual scoring record.
- ^ 1947-48 NBL Season Summary
