National Basketball League Yearly Standings

Complete National Basketball League standings and postseason results from the NBL's first season in 1937-38 through its final season in 1948-49.

1937-38 1938-39 1939-40 1940-41 1941-42 1942-43 1943-44 1944-45 1945-46 1946-47 1947-48 1948-49

1937-38 NBL

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Akron Firestone Non-Skids*	14	4	.778	8	1	5	3	—
Akron Goodyear Wingfoots	13	5	.722	8	1	5	4	1
Pittsburgh Pirates	8	5	.615	5	1	3	4	3.5
Buffalo Bisons	3	6	.333	2	2	1	4	6.5
Warren Penns	3	9	.250	2	3	1	6	8
Columbus Athletic Supply*	1	12	.091	1	3	0	7	10.5

*Akron Firestone includes one forfeit win. Columbus includes two forfeit losses.

Western Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Oshkosh All-Stars	12	2	.857	9	1	2	1	—
Whiting Ciesar All-Americans	12	3	.800	7	0	5	3	0.5
Fort Wayne General Electrics*	13	7	.650	9	1	2	6	2.0
Indianapolis Kautskys*	4	9	.308	4	2	0	6	7.5
Richmond King Clothiers / Cincinnati Comellos*	3	7	.300	3	1	0	5	7
Kankakee Gallagher Trojans	3	11	.214	1	4	0	7	9
Dayton Metropolitans	2	11	.154	2	4	0	5	9.5

*Richmond moved to Cincinnati on January 5, 1938.
*Fort Wayne includes two forfeit wins. Indianapolis includes one forfeit loss.

Eastern Division Playoff

Akron Goodyear 26, Akron Firestone 21
Akron Goodyear 31, Akron Firestone 31

Western Division Playoff

Oshkosh 40, Whiting 33
Oshkosh 41, Whiting 38

NBL Championship

Akron Goodyear 29, Oshkosh 28
Oshkosh 39, Akron Goodyear 31
Akron Goodyear 37, Oshkosh 35

1938-39 NBL

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Akron Firestone Non-Skids	24	3	.889	11	2	13	1	—
Akron Goodyear Wingfoots	14	14	.500	7	7	7	7	10.5
Warren Penns / Cleveland White Horses*	14	14	.500	9	5	4	9	10.5
Pittsburgh Pirates	13	14	.481	9	5	4	9	11

*Warren moved to Cleveland on February 10, 1939.
*Warren/Cleveland includes one forfeit win.

Western Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Oshkosh All-Stars	17	11	.607	10	4	7	7	—
Indianapolis Kautskys	13	13	.500	9	4	4	9	3
Sheboygan Red Skins	11	17	.393	7	7	4	10	6
Hammond Ciesar All-Americans	4	24	.143	4	9	0	14	13

Hammond includes one forfeit loss.

NBL Championship

Akron Firestone 50, Oshkosh 38
Oshkosh 38, Akron Firestone 36
Akron Firestone 40, Oshkosh 29
Oshkosh 49, Akron Firestone 37
Akron Firestone 37, Oshkosh 30

1939-40 NBL

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Akron Firestone Non-Skids	18	9	.667	10	3	8	6	—
Detroit Eagles	17	10	.630	12	2	5	8	1
Akron Goodyear Wingfoots	14	14	.500	8	6	6	8	4.5
Indianapolis Kautskys	9	19	.321	6	8	3	11	9.5

Western Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Oshkosh All-Stars	15	13	.536	12	2	3	11	—
Sheboygan Red Skins	15	13	.536	11	3	4	10	—
Chicago Bruins	14	14	.500	10	4	4	10	1
Hammond Ciesar All-Americans	9	19	.321	7	7	2	12	6

Eastern Division Playoff

Akron Firestone 48, Detroit 35
Detroit 49, Akron Firestone 37
Akron Firestone 46, Detroit 35

Western Division Playoff

Oshkosh 41, Sheboygan 24
Sheboygan 43, Oshkosh 42
Oshkosh 31, Sheboygan 29

NBL Championship

Oshkosh 47, Akron Firestone 37
Oshkosh 60, Akron Firestone 46
Akron Firestone 35, Oshkosh 32
Akron Firestone 41, Oshkosh 40
Akron Firestone 61, Oshkosh 60

1940-41 NBL

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Oshkosh All-Stars	18	6	.750	11	1	7	5	—
Sheboygan Red Skins	13	11	.542	7	5	6	6	5
Akron Firestone Non-Skids	13	11	.542	7	5	6	6	5
Detroit Eagles	12	12	.500	8	4	4	8	6
Chicago Bruins	11	13	.458	8	4	3	9	7
Akron Goodyear Wingfoots	11	13	.458	6	6	5	7	7
Hammond Ciesar All-American	6	18	.250	2	6	8	0	12

NBL Semifinals

Oshkosh 30, Akron Firestone 28
Oshkosh 47, Akron Firestone 41 [OT]
Detroit 43, Sheboygan 32
Sheboygan 22, Detroit 19
Sheboygan 54, Detroit 40

NBL Championship

Oshkosh 53, Sheboygan 38
Oshkosh 54, Sheboygan 36

1941-42 NBL

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Oshkosh All-Stars	20	4	.833	13	1	7	3	—
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons	15	9	.625	11	3	4	6	5
Akron Goodyear Wingfoots	15	9	.625	11	2	4	7	5
Indianapolis Kautskys	12	11	.522	10	1	2	10	7.5
Sheboygan Red Skins	10	14	.417	8	5	2	9	10
Chicago Bruins*	8	15	.348	4	8	3	8	11.5
Toledo Jim White Chevrolets*	3	21	.125	2	4	0	16	17

Chicago includes one forfeit win and one forfeit loss.
Toledo includes one forfeit win and one forfeit loss.

NBL Semifinals

Oshkosh 40, Indianapolis 33
Oshkosh 64, Indianapolis 48
Akron Goodyear 46, Fort Wayne 30
Fort Wayne 51, Akron Goodyear 48
Fort Wayne 49, Akron Goodyear 43

NBL Championship

Fort Wayne 61, Oshkosh 43
Oshkosh 68, Fort Wayne 60
Oshkosh 52, Fort Wayne 46

1942-43 NBL

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons	17	6	.739	10	2	7	4	—
Sheboygan Red Skins	12	11	.522	9	4	3	7	5
Oshkosh All-Stars	11	12	.478	7	5	4	7	6
Chicago Studebaker Flyers	8	15	.349	5	6	3	9	9
Toledo Jim White Chevrolets*	0	4	.000	0	0	0	4	—

*Toledo disbanded on December 14, 1942.

NBL Semifinals

Fort Wayne 49, Chicago 37
Chicago 45, Fort Wayne 32
Fort Wayne 44, Chicago 32
Sheboygan 50, Oshkosh 26
Sheboygan 56, Oshkosh 47

NBL Championship

Sheboygan 55, Fort Wayne 50
Fort Wayne 50, Sheboygan 45 [OT]
Sheboygan 30, Fort Wayne 29

1943-44 NBL

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons	18	4	.818	9	2	9	2	—
Sheboygan Red Skins	14	8	.636	8	3	6	5	4
Oshkosh All-Stars	7	15	.318	6	5	1	10	11
Cleveland Chase Brassmen	3	15	.167	3	6	0	9	13

NBL Semifinals

Fort Wayne 64, Cleveland 37
Fort Wayne 42, Cleveland 31
Sheboygan 32, Oshkosh 31
Oshkosh 34, Sheboygan 32
Sheboygan 40, Oshkosh 27

NBL Championship

Fort Wayne 55, Sheboygan 53
Fort Wayne 36, Sheboygan 26
Fort Wayne 48, Sheboygan 38

1944-45 NBL

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons	25	5	.833	14	1	11	4	—
Cleveland Allmen Transfers	13	17	.433	8	7	5	10	12
Pittsburgh Raiders	7	23	.233	5	9	2	14	18

Western Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Sheboygan Red Skins	19	11	.633	12	3	7	8	—
Chicago American Gears	14	16	.467	5	11	4	3	12
Oshkosh All-Stars	12	18	.400	10	6	2	12	7

Eastern Division Playoff

Fort Wayne 78, Cleveland 50
Fort Wayne 58, Cleveland 51

Western Division Playoff

Chicago 50, Sheboygan 49
Sheboygan 49, Chicago 36
Sheboygan 57, Chicago 27

NBL Championship

Sheboygan 65, Fort Wayne 53
Sheboygan 50, Fort Wayne 47
Fort Wayne 58, Sheboygan 47
Fort Wayne 58, Sheboygan 41
Fort Wayne 59, Sheboygan 49

1945-46 NBL

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons	26	8	.765	14	3	12	5	—
Rochester Royals	24	10	.706	14	3	10	7	2
Youngstown Bears	13	20	.394	9	8	4	12	12.5
Cleveland Allmen Transfers	4	29	.121	4	11	0	18	21.5

Western Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Sheboygan Red Skins	21	13	.618	12	6	9	7	—
Oshkosh All-Stars	19	15	.559	13	5	6	10	2
Chicago American Gears	17	17	.500	10	7	7	10	4
Indianapolis Kautskys	10	22	.313	4	11	6	11	10

Eastern Division Playoff

Fort Wayne 54, Rochester 44
Rochester 58, Fort Wayne 52
Rochester 58, Fort Wayne 52
Rochester 70, Fort Wayne 54

Western Division Playoff

Sheboygan 46, Oshkosh 45
Oshkosh 53, Sheboygan 41
Sheboygan 58, Oshkosh 52
Oshkosh 68, Sheboygan 42
Sheboygan 65, Oshkosh 46

NBL Championship

Rochester 60, Sheboygan 50
Rochester 61, Sheboygan 54
Rochester 66, Sheboygan 48

1946-47 NBL

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Rochester Royals	31	13	.705	19	3	12	10	—
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons	25	19	.568	17	5	8	14	6
Toledo Jeeps	21	23	.477	13	9	8	14	10
Syracuse Nationals	21	23	.477	14	8	7	15	10
Tri-City Blackhawks	19	25	.432	12	10	7	15	12
Youngstown Bears	12	32	.273	10	12	2	20	19

Western Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	GB
Oshkosh All-Stars	28	16	.636	19	3	9	13	—
Indianapolis Kautskys	27	17	.614	19	3	8	14	1
Chicago American Gears	26	18	.591	15	7	11	11	2
Sheboygan Red Skins	26	18	.591	20	2	6	16	2
Anderson Duffey Packers	24	20	.545	16	6	8	14	4
Detroit Gems	4	40	.091	4	18	0	22	24

Eastern Division Opening Round

Rochester 66, Syracuse 64
Syracuse 64, Rochester 61
Rochester 54, Syracuse 48
Rochester 62, Syracuse 57
Fort Wayne 65, Toledo 38
Fort Wayne 54, Toledo 31
Toledo 56, Fort Wayne 46
Toledo 58, Fort Wayne 53
Fort Wayne 64, Toledo 46

Western Division Opening Round

Sheboygan 54, Oshkosh 48
Oshkosh 45, Sheboygan 40
Oshkosh 53, Sheboygan 44
Oshkosh 53, Sheboygan 45
Oshkosh 49, Sheboygan 47
Chicago 74, Indianapolis 72
Chicago 69, Indianapolis 61
Indianapolis 68, Chicago 67
Indianapolis 55, Chicago 54
Chicago 76, Indianapolis 62

Eastern Division Semifinals

Chicago 60, Oshkosh 54
Chicago 61, Oshkosh 60

Western Division Semifinals

Rochester 58, Fort Wayne 49
Fort Wayne 56, Rochester 49
Rochester 76, Fort Wayne 47

NBL Championship

Rochester 71, Chicago 66
Chicago 67, Rochester 63
Chicago 78, Rochester 70
Chicago 79, Rochester 68

1947-48 NBL

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	NW	NL	GB
Rochester Royals	44	16	.733	26	4	17	11	1	1	—
Anderson Duffey Packers	42	18	.700	27	2	13	15	2	1	2
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons	40	20	.667	24	3	14	16	2	1	4
Syracuse Nationals	24	36	.400	15	14	7	19	2	3	20
Toledo Jeeps	22	37	.373	15	13	6	22	1	2	21.5
Flint Dow A.C.'s / Midland Dow A.C.'s*	8	52	.133	7	22	1	26	0	4	36

*Flint moved to Midland during the season.

Western Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	NW	NL	GB
Minneapolis Lakers	43	17	.717	23	5	15	11	5	1	—
Tri-City Blackhawks	30	30	.500	17	9	11	19	2	2	13
Oshkosh All-Stars	29	31	.483	20	8	8	20	1	3	14
Indianapolis Kautskys	24	35	.407	17	10	5	25	2	0	17.5
Sheboygan Red Skins	23	37	.383	13	14	8	21	2	2	20

Eastern Division Opening Round

Rochester 65, Fort Wayne 56
Fort Wayne 68, Rochester 65
Rochester 64, Fort Wayne 47
Rochester 71, Fort Wayne 71
Anderson 73, Syracuse 56
Anderson 72, Syracuse 54
Anderson 79, Syracuse 68

Western Division Opening Round

Minneapolis 80, Oshkosh 68
Minneapolis 88, Oshkosh 65
Oshkosh 69, Minneapolis 51
Oshkosh 66, Minneapolis 61
Tri-City 77, Indianapolis 67
Indianapolis 89, Tri-City 70
Tri-City 70, Indianapolis 59
Tri-City 74, Indianapolis 61

Eastern Division Semifinals

Rochester 71, Anderson 66
Anderson 76, Rochester 69
Rochester 74, Anderson 48

Western Division Semifinals

Minneapolis 98, Tri-City 79
Minneapolis 83, Tri-City 59

NBL Championship

Minneapolis 80, Rochester 72
Minneapolis 82, Rochester 67
Rochester 74, Minneapolis 60
Minneapolis 75, Rochester 65

1948-49 NBL

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	NW	NL	GB
Anderson Duffey Packers	49	15	.766	32	2	17	13	0	0	—
Syracuse Nationals	40	23	.656	27	4	7	19	6	0	8.5
Hammond Calumet Buccaneers	21	41	.339	15	16	5	25	1	0	30.5
Detroit Vagabond Kings / Dayton Rens*	16	43	.271	5	9	9	30	2	4	30.5

*Detroit disbanded on December 17, 1948, and was replaced by Dayton.

Western Division

Team	W	L	Pct.	HW	HL	RW	RL	NW	NL	GB
Oshkosh All-Stars	37	27	.578	27	8	9	18	1	1	—
Tri-City Blackhawks	36	28	.563	25	10	10	17	1	1	1
Sheboygan Red Skins	35	29	.547	24	7	10	21	1	1	2
Waterloo Hawks	30	32	.484	23	6	7	22	0	4	6
Denver Nuggets	18	44	.290	15	15	3	28	0	1	18

NBL Opening Round

April 2, 1949 — Syracuse 80, Hammond 69
April 3, 1949 — Syracuse 72, Hammond 66
April 2, 1949 — Tri-City 75, Sheboygan 60
April 3, 1949 — Tri-City 59, Sheboygan 51

Eastern Division Semifinals

April 8, 1949 — Anderson 89, Syracuse 74
April 10, 1949 — Syracuse 80, Anderson 62
April 11, 1949 — Anderson 76, Syracuse 59
April 13, 1949 — Anderson 90, Syracuse 84

Western Division Semifinals

April 6, 1949 — Oshkosh 68, Tri-City 66
April 9, 1949 — Oshkosh 73, Tri-City 73
April 10, 1949 — Tri-City 70, Oshkosh 64
April 12, 1949 — Oshkosh 70, Tri-City 69

NBL Championship

April 16, 1949 — Anderson 74, Oshkosh 70
April 17, 1949 — Anderson 72, Oshkosh 70
April 19, 1949 — Anderson 88, Oshkosh 64

1937-38 1940-41 1944-45 1948-49 Back to Top