The Chicago Stags last chance to be saved!
The Chicago Stags were one of the most successful early franchises in professional basketball history, but their story did not end when the team folded after the 1949-50 NBA season. Instead, the franchise became involved in one of the more unusual chapters of the NBA's early years involving legendary Harlem Globetrotters owner Abe Saperstein, a proposed regional basketball team, a dispute with the NBA, and the temporary disappearance of professional basketball from Chicago.
The Stags had been one of the original members of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1946 and became an NBA franchise after the BAA-NBL merger in 1949. Despite success on the court, including an appearance in the first BAA Finals and several playoff appearances, the team struggled financially. Like many early NBA franchises, the Stags faced difficulties with attendance, travel expenses, and the instability of professional basketball during the league's formative years.
Abe Saperstein Purchases the Stags
In June 1950, Abe Saperstein, the owner of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, purchased the Chicago Stags with the goal of keeping professional basketball alive in Chicago. Saperstein was one of the most influential figures in basketball history and had already built the Globetrotters into one of the most recognizable sports attractions in the world.
Saperstein believed he could create a unique basketball operation by combining the popularity of the Globetrotters with a competitive NBA franchise. In August 1950, he announced that the team would be renamed the Chicago Bruins. The Bruins were planned to play most of their home games as doubleheaders with the Harlem Globetrotters at Chicago Stadium, a setup that the Stags had already used on several occasions.
The idea was to create a regional basketball franchise rather than a traditional city-based team. The Bruins planned to play home games not only in Chicago but also in other Midwest markets, including Detroit, Milwaukee, Peoria, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Cincinnati. Saperstein believed this regional approach could help expand the team's fan base and create a financially successful basketball operation.
The connection between the Stags and the Globetrotters was already familiar to basketball fans. The Stags' final playoff appearance included a triple-header event at Chicago Stadium featuring the Globetrotters, showing the type of entertainment package Saperstein hoped to continue with the Bruins.
The Chicago Bruins Deal Falls Apart
Despite Saperstein's ambitious plans, the Chicago Bruins never played a game. By September 1950, the agreement between Saperstein and the NBA had collapsed. Saperstein withdrew his offer to purchase the franchise and requested that NBA President Maurice Podoloff return his $20,000 deposit.
Saperstein argued that he had received nothing in return for his investment. According to Saperstein, he had not received ownership of the franchise or the rights to four former Stags players who had moved to the National Professional Basketball League. He believed the NBA had failed to deliver the assets that were part of the agreement.
The NBA viewed the situation differently. Reports indicated that the league had taken control of the Stags after the franchise failed to repay a $40,000 loan that allowed the team to complete the 1949-50 season. With financial problems mounting, the NBA effectively ended the Stags' operations, leaving Saperstein's attempt to revive the team unsuccessful.
Bob Cousy and the Chicago Stags Connection
One of the most interesting connections between the Chicago Stags and NBA history involved future Hall of Fame point guard Bob Cousy. In 1950, Cousy was selected by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in the NBA Draft. However, Cousy refused to sign with the team after contract negotiations broke down.
Cousy reportedly wanted a $10,000 contract, while Blackhawks owner Ben Kerner offered $6,000. Unable to reach an agreement, Cousy was traded to the Chicago Stags. However, before he could play for Chicago, the franchise collapsed.
When the Stags folded in September 1950, the NBA held a dispersal draft on October 5 to distribute Chicago's players among the remaining teams. Cousy was selected by the Boston Celtics, where he became one of the greatest players in NBA history and helped establish the Celtics as a championship powerhouse.
Although Cousy never played a game for Chicago, his brief connection to the Stags remains one of the most fascinating "what if" moments in NBA history. Had the Stags survived, basketball history may have unfolded very differently.
The Collapse of the Early NBA
The Chicago Stags were not the only early NBA franchise to disappear. The 1950 offseason was one of the most difficult periods in league history. Seven teams quickly left the NBA, either folding or moving to another league.
The Denver Nuggets, Anderson Packers, Sheboygan Red Skins, and Waterloo Hawks left the NBA to join the newly formed National Professional Basketball League. The Chicago Stags and St. Louis Bombers folded entirely, reducing the NBA from 17 teams to only 11 entering the 1950-51 season.
The league faced additional challenges when the Washington Capitols folded in January 1951, reducing the NBA to only ten teams. The instability of the early league forced the NBA to restructure and focus on creating a more sustainable business model.
Saperstein's Fight to Restore the Franchise
After the collapse of the Stags, Abe Saperstein attempted to challenge the NBA's decision and sought to have the franchise reinstated. Saperstein believed the league had mishandled the situation and attempted to take legal action to restore his team's place in the NBA.
However, Saperstein's efforts were unsuccessful, and the Chicago franchise remained inactive. The dispute marked the end of the NBA's first attempt at establishing a permanent team in Chicago.
The NBA Returns to Chicago
The NBA would eventually return to Chicago more than a decade later. In 1961, the league introduced the Chicago Packers, who later became the Chicago Zephyrs before eventually relocating and becoming the Washington Bullets, now known as the Washington Wizards.
Chicago finally received a permanent NBA franchise in 1966 when the Chicago Bulls joined the league. The Bulls would go on to become one of the most successful franchises in NBA history, winning six championships during the Michael Jordan era and establishing Chicago as one of basketball's greatest cities.
The Legacy of the Chicago Stags
The Chicago Stags remain one of the most important forgotten franchises in NBA history. Their story represents the challenges faced by the league during its early years and highlights the uncertainty that surrounded professional basketball in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
The failed Chicago Bruins experiment showed both the ambition and instability of early professional basketball. Abe Saperstein's attempt to combine the popularity of the Harlem Globetrotters with an NBA franchise was ahead of its time, but financial realities and league politics prevented the idea from becoming successful.
Although the Stags disappeared after only four seasons, their influence remains. They helped establish professional basketball in Chicago, produced legendary players such as Max Zaslofsky and Andy Phillip, and played a role in the early development of the NBA.
NBAHoopsOnline preserves the history of the Chicago Stags and the forgotten franchises that helped build the foundation of the National Basketball Association.
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