1948–49 Minneapolis Lakers season

1948–49 Minneapolis Lakers season
BAA champions
Head coachJohn Kundla
General managerMax Winter
OwnersBen Berger
ArenaMinneapolis Auditorium
Results
Record44–16 (.733)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishBAA Champions
(Defeated Capitols 4–2)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
RadioWLOL
< 1947–48 1949–50 >

The 1948–49 BAA season was the Lakers' first season in the Basketball Association of America (BAA) (which later became the National Basketball Association (NBA) after the conclusion of this season).[1]

This season saw the Lakers win their first BAA championship, defeating the Washington Capitols in six games in the BAA Finals.

The last remaining active member of the 1948–49 Minneapolis Lakers was center George Mikan, who played his final NBA game in the 1955–56 season, although he missed the 1954–55 season. After long being honored by the Lakers following their eventual move to Los Angeles, Mikan's #99 would eventually be retired properly (albeit posthumously) on October 30, 2022.

Draft

Main article: 1948 BAA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 9 Chuck Hanger –  United States California
– – Cliff Crandall –  United States Oregon State
– – Arnie Ferrin G/F  United States Utah
– – Earl Gardner F  United States DePauw
– – Dee Gibson G/F  United States Western Kentucky
– – Ken Jastrow –  United States Denver
– – Bob Lowther –  United States LSU
– – Johnny Orr F  United States Beloit
– – Junior Skogland –  United States Gustavus Adolphus
– – Quentin Stinson –  United States Southern Illinois

Roster

1948–49 Minneapolis Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F/C 11 Bloom, Mike 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1915-01-14 Temple
G/F 15 Carlson, Don 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1919-03-22 Minnesota
G/F 19 Dwan, Jack 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1921-05-03 Loyola Chicago
C 18 Ellefson, Ray 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1922-11-18 West Texas A&M
G/F 18 Ferrin, Arnie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1925-07-29 Utah
G 22 Forman, Donnie 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1926-01-17 NYU
F 14 Gardner, Earl 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1923-09-18 DePauw
G/F 13 Jaros, Tony 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1920-02-22 Minnesota
G/F 16 Jorgensen, Johnny 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1921-12-28 DePaul
G 20 Kachan, Whitey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1925-09-15 DePaul
C 99 Mikan, George 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1924-06-18 DePaul
SF 17 Pollard, Jim 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1922-07-09 Stanford
G/F 24 Schaefer, Herm 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1918-12-20 Indiana
G/F 12 Smith, Don 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1920-07-27 Minnesota
F 19 Tingle, Jack 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1924-12-30 Kentucky
Head coach

John Kundla

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1948–49 BAA records
Team BAL BOS CHI FWP IND MIN NYK PHI PRO ROC STL WAS
Baltimore — 4–2 1–4 4–1 5–0 1–4 2–4 4–2 2–4 1–4 2–3 3–3
Boston 2–4 — 0–5 4–1 3–2 2–3 3–3 3–3 3–3 1–4 3–2 1–5
Chicago 4–1 5–0 — 4–2 5–1 2–4 3–2 2–3 5–0 2–4 3–3 3–2
Fort Wayne 1–4 1–4 2–4 — 3–3 2–4 1–4 5–0 4–1 0–6 1–4 2–3
Indianapolis 0–5 2–3 1-5 3–3 — 0–6 1–4 1–4 4–1 1–5 3–3 2–3
Minneapolis 4–1 3–2 4–2 4–2 6–0 — 4–1 4–1 5–0 4–2 4–2 2–3
New York 4–2 3–3 2–3 4–1 4–1 1–4 — 2–4 5–1 1–4 3–2 2–3
Philadelphia 2–4 3–3 3–2 0–5 4–1 1–4 4–2 — 6–0 0–5 3–2 2–4
Providence 4–2 3–3 0–5 1–4 1–4 0–5 1–5 0–6 — 2–3 0–5 0–6
Rochester 4–1 4–1 4–2 6–0 5–1 2–4 4–1 5–0 3–2 — 6–0 2–3
St. Louis 3–2 2–3 3–3 4–1 3–3 2–4 2–3 2–3 5–0 0–6 — 2–3
Washington 3–3 5–1 2–3 3–2 3–2 3–2 3–2 4–2 6–0 3–2 3–2 —

Game log

# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 November 4 @ Baltimore 84–72 Herm Schaefer (23) 1–0
2 November 6 @ Washington 62–67 George Mikan (27) 1–1
3 November 9 @ Boston 55–77 George Mikan (29) 1–2
4 November 11 @ New York 77–68 George Mikan (34) 2–2
5 November 13 @ Providence 90–67 George Mikan (38) 3–2
6 November 14 @ Rochester 75–92 George Mikan (36) 3–3
7 November 17 Boston 72–74 George Mikan (21) 3–4
8 November 19 @ Chicago 85–81 Herm Schaefer (28) 4–4
9 November 21 Baltimore 94–81 George Mikan (33) 5–4
10 November 23 @ Indianapolis 88–82 George Mikan (33) 6–4
11 November 24 Providence 117–89 George Mikan (20) 7–4
12 November 27 @ St. Louis 87–71 George Mikan (26) 8–4
13 November 28 Philadelphia 88–67 Herm Schaefer (25) 9–4
14 November 30 vs Boston 94–84 George Mikan (32) 10–4
15 December 1 @ Fort Wayne 74–84 George Mikan (44) 10–5
16 December 4 @ Chicago 100–104 (OT) George Mikan (47) 10–6
17 December 5 St. Louis 78–68 George Mikan (27) 11–6
18 December 8 Washington 83–94 George Mikan (34) 11–7
19 December 10 @ Rochester 96–75 George Mikan (31) 12–7
20 December 12 Rochester 67–58 George Mikan (22) 13–7
21 December 15 Indianapolis 79–61 Jim Pollard (19) 14–7
22 December 19 Chicago 94–84 George Mikan (31) 15–7
23 December 21 @ Philadelphia 64–72 George Mikan (18) 15–8
24 December 22 @ New York 79–97 George Mikan (24) 15–9
25 December 26 Rochester 99–90 George Mikan (32) 16–9
26 December 29 Washington 91–68 George Mikan (34) 17–9
27 January 1 Fort Wayne 92–72 George Mikan (22) 18–9
28 January 5 St. Louis 101–76 George Mikan (31) 19–9
29 January 8 @ St. Louis 59–64 George Mikan (22) 19–10
30 January 9 St. Louis 74–58 George Mikan (29) 20–10
31 January 12 Providence 98–64 George Mikan (26) 21–10
32 January 16 Indianapolis 75–66 Jim Pollard (21) 22–10
33 January 18 @ Indianapolis 81–56 George Mikan (19) 23–10
34 January 20 Fort Wayne 83–65 George Mikan (29) 24–10
35 January 23 Philadelphia 89–71 George Mikan (33) 25–10
36 January 26 Chicago 84–49 Jim Pollard (20) 26–10
37 January 30 Washington 84–79 George Mikan (48) 27–10
38 February 2 @ Fort Wayne 82–79 (OT) George Mikan (31) 28–10
39 February 3 @ Philadelphia 78–76 George Mikan (30) 29–10
40 February 6 Rochester 74–85 George Mikan (32) 29–11
41 February 10 New York 95–75 George Mikan (21) 30–11
42 February 11 @ Chicago 97–105 George Mikan (36) 30–12
43 February 13 Baltimore 91–74 Jim Pollard (32) 31–12
44 February 16 Chicago 90–71 George Mikan (25) 32–12
45 February 18 @ Boston 85–71 George Mikan (28) 33–12
46 February 19 @ Providence 94–80 George Mikan (29) 34–12
47 February 22 @ New York 101–74 George Mikan (48) 35–12
48 February 24 Fort Wayne 77–73 George Mikan (31) 36–12
49 February 26 @ Baltimore 115–114 (2OT) George Mikan (53) 37–12
50 February 27 @ Fort Wayne 50–74 George Mikan (14) 37–13
51 March 3 @ Indianapolis 82–79 George Mikan (24) 38–13
52 March 6 Providence 68–59 George Mikan (21) 39–13
53 March 9 Boston 74–67 George Mikan (22) 40–13
54 March 10 @ St. Louis 71–88 George Mikan (26) 40–14
55 March 12 vs Indianapolis 97–69 Arnie Ferrin (22) 41–14
56 March 13 New York 100–90 George Mikan (51) 42–14
57 March 16 @ Washington 72–85 George Mikan (24) 42–15
58 March 17 @ Baltimore 67–101 Jim Pollard (22) 42–16
59 March 19 @ Rochester 99–85 George Mikan (46) 43–16
60 March 20 Philadelphia 91–78 George Mikan (28) 44–16

Playoffs

1949 playoff game log
Division Semifinals: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Series
1 March 23 Chicago W 84–77 George Mikan (37) Minneapolis Auditorium 1–0
2 March 24 @ Chicago W 101–85 George Mikan (38) Chicago Stadium 2–0
Division Finals: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Series
1 March 27 @ Rochester W 80–79 George Mikan (32) Edgerton Park Arena 1–0
2 March 29 Rochester W 67–55 George Mikan (31) St. Paul Auditorium 2–0
BAA Finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 4 Washington W 88–84 George Mikan (42) Minneapolis Auditorium
8,210 		1–0
2 April 6 Washington W 76–62 Don Carlson (16) Minneapolis Auditorium
10,212 		2–0
3 April 8 @ Washington W 94–74 George Mikan (35) Uline Arena
4,919 		3–0
4 April 9 @ Washington L 71–83 George Mikan (27) Uline Arena
4,471 		3–1
5 April 11 @ Washington L 65–74 George Mikan (22) Uline Arena
3,840 		3–2
6 April 13 Washington W 77–56 George Mikan (29) St. Paul Auditorium
10,482 		4–2
1949 schedule

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ 1948–49 Minneapolis Lakers