1944–45 National Basketball League (United States) season

January 2026 1944–45 NBL season National Basketball League Basketball 30 6 November 25, 1944 – March 4, 1945 March 5–9, 1945 (Playoffs) March 11–18, 1945 (Finals) Regular season Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons Bobby McDermott (Fort Wayne) NBL (United States) Most Valuable Player Award Mel Riebe (Cleveland) Playoffs Eastern Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons Cleveland Allmen Transfers Western Sheboygan Red Skins Chicago American Gears Finals Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons Sheboygan Red Skins *North Side High School Gym, Fort Wayne, Indiana Sheboygan Armory, Sheboygan, Wisconsin List of National Basketball League (United States) seasons NBL 1943–44 National Basketball League (United States) season 1943–44 1945–46 National Basketball League (United States) season 1945–46 The 1944–45 NBL season was the tenth National Basketball League (NBL) season. The regular season began on November 25, 1944, and ran until March 4, 1945. The playoffs began on March 5, 1945, and concluded on March 18, 1945, with the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons winning their second consecutive NBL title over the Sheboygan Red Skins in a rematch of the previous two NBL Championships, with this one ending in a reverse sweep for Fort Wayne after previously being down 0–2 in this series. For the 1944–45 season, the league returned to an Eastern and Western division format, with three teams in each division. The league was still impacted by World War II, although to a lesser degree than the previous two seasons. The record to adding in divisions would be implemented despite the NBL having less teams in the league this season than their first two seasons they were without divisions at hand by having six teams this season against seven teams in those prior seasons. Teams Two teams joined the league prior to the season, bringing the total number of teams back up to six. Similar to the Cleveland franchise that joined the NBL during the previous season, the Chicago American Gears were a new team owned by Maurice White's American Gear & Manufacturing Company that jumped up from the Amateur Athletic Union to the NBL after playing in the AAU for at least one season beforehand.JOHN STYLER https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/john-styler/ Pro Basketball Encyclopedia 7 February 2026JOE STAMPF https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/joe-stampf/ Pro Basketball Encyclopedia 7 February 2026HERB BALL https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/herb-ball/ Pro Basketball Encyclopedia 7 February 2026SWEDE ROOS https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/swede-roos/ Pro Basketball Encyclopedia 7 February 2026Triptow Richard F. The Dynasty that Never Was: Chicago's First Professional Basketball Champions, The American Gears 1997 self-published Lake Bluff, Illinois 0-9659280-0-4, pp. 2–3 Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Raiders were a returning franchise that previously played in the NBL as the Pittsburgh Pirates before leaving the NBL in its second season under that name and going under what can be seen as a hiatus of sorts for four seasons before returning to the NBL under their new Raiders team name. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Chase Brassmen renamed themselves into the Cleveland Allmen Transfers.http://nbahoopsonline.com/History/Leagues/NBL/Standings.html NBL Standings nbahoopsonline.com 2014-02-09 Eastern DivisionCleveland Allmen Transfers Cleveland, OhioFort Wayne Zollner Pistons Fort Wayne, IndianaPittsburgh Raiders Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaWestern DivisionChicago American Gears Chicago, IllinoisOshkosh All-Stars Oshkosh, WisconsinSheboygan Red Skins Sheboygan, Wisconsin +Coaching changesOffseason Team 1943–44 coach 1944–45 coachCleveland Allmen TransfersBill Brownell (player-coach)https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/season/cleveland-chase-brass/ CLEVELAND CHASE BRASShttps://books.google.com/books?id=JRBtAwAAQBAJ&q=Vito+Kubilus&pg=PT174 A Biographical Directory of Professional Basketball Coaches Marcus Jeff Scarecrow Press, Inc. 28 April 2003 9781461726531 January 21, 2026Joseph J. Carlinhttps://probasketballencyclopedia.com/season/cleveland-allmen-transfers/ CLEVELAND ALLMEN TRANSFERSSheboygan Red SkinsCarl Rothhttps://probasketballencyclopedia.com/season/sheboygan-red-skins-4/ SHEBOYGAN RED SKINSDutch Dehnerthttps://probasketballencyclopedia.com/season/sheboygan-red-skins-5/ SHEBOYGAN RED SKINSIn-season Team Outgoing coach Incoming coachChicago American GearsJack TierneyTriptow Richard F. The Dynasty that Never Was: Chicago's First Professional Basketball Champions, The American Gears 1997 self-published Lake Bluff, Illinois 0-9659280-0-4, pp. 7, 21Swede Roos Preseason Prior to the season commencing, the defending champion Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons defeated what were previously considered the undefeated College All-Stars (which was composed of what was considered to be the best, most elite senior college basketball players of the time throughout a yearly basis) by a 44–38 final score in what was dubbed as the "College All-Star Classic" under the handling of the Chicago Herald American, who also set up the World Professional Basketball Tournament setting during the spring.Nelson Murry R. The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers 2009 978-0-7864-4006-1, p. 132 There was also a major rule change implemented prior to the season, with goaltending being abolished due to the rise of larger centers like George Mikan and Bob Kurland being found within college basketball during this period in time. (Before their discovery, it was very rare, if not nearly impossible for players to try and utilize goaltending to their advantage due to the combination of a lack of height and athletic (jumping) prowess being in mind.)Nelson Murry R. The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers 2009 978-0-7864-4006-1, p. 131 Regular season The regular season featured a 30-game schedule, where each team would play every other team six times (three at home, three away). Following the successes of the Allies in Europe, some American soldiers were beginning to return home from the war front by early 1945, which helped lead to a renewed interest in professional basketball across the nation.Nelson Murry R. The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers 2009 978-0-7864-4006-1, p. 135 Final standings Postseason Playoffs The top two teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The first round pitted the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons against the Cleveland Allmen Transfers in the Eastern Division semifinal. The Sheboygan Red Skins and the Chicago American Gears qualified to play in the Western Division semifinal. The semifinals were played in a best-of-three format with the series winners qualifying for the finals.Nelson Murry R. The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 2009 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers 978-0-7864-4006-1, p. 137 Fort Wayne and Sheboygan both returned to the finals for the third consecutive season, after the Zollner Pistons swept the Allmen Transfers 2–0 and the Red Skins defeated the American Gears 2–1.Nelson Murry R. The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers 2009 978-0-7864-4006-1, pp. 137–138 Finals The NBL Championship series was played under a best-of-five format, with the low seed hosting the first two games and the high seed hosting the up to three remaining games. The first two games were played at the Sheboygan Armory in Sheboygan and were sellouts.1945-03-10 Sell Out Crowds To View Battles https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sheboygan-press-selloutcrowdsnbl1945/190527920/ limited 2026-02-04 The Sheboygan Press 7 Newspapers.com Game 1 resulted in a 65–53 Sheboygan victory, after the Red Skins opened up a lead early on and weathered multiple Pistons comeback attempts. Dick Schulz led the Red Skins with 18 points and Ed Sadowski scored 17 for the Pistons.#eee WHBL March 11, 1945 3:00 PM (CWT) Game 1, Sheboygan leads 1–0 Sheboygan ArmorySheboygan, Wisconsin Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons Sheboygan Red Skins March 12, 1945 February 3, 2026 Redskins Blast Zollners https://www.newspapers.com/image/239957413/ Newspapers.com subscription The Sheboygan Press Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53 65 8–16 22–19 11–17 12–13 Ed Sadowski, 17 Dick Schulz, 18 Messenger, Kriznecky 3,500The second game was another Sheboygan victory, with the Red Skins winning 50–47 in a back-and-forth affair. Ed Dancker scored over half of Sheboygan's points with 29, while Bobby McDermott led a more spread out Pistons offense with 11 points.Game 2, Sheboygan leads 2–0 Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons WHBL March 12, 1945 8:30 PM (CWT) Sheboygan Red Skins Sheboygan ArmorySheboygan, Wisconsin #eee March 13, 1945 Newspapers.com subscription February 3, 2026 The Sheboygan Press Sheboygan, Wisconsin https://www.newspapers.com/image/239957467 Dancker And Mates Whip Piston Quintet, 50–47, For Second Win 47 50 11–13 18–17 7–9 11–11 Bobby McDermott, 11 Ed Dancker, 29 Messenger, Kriznecky 3,500The series shifted to Fort Wayne for the third game, which saw Fort Wayne defeat Sheboygan 58–47 to narrow Sheboygan's lead in the series to one game. The Pistons opened up a large first-half lead and survived a third-quarter comeback attempt by the Red Skins to secure the victory. Former Red Skin Buddy Jeannette led the Pistons with 13 points, while Rube Lautenschlager paced the Red Skins with 11.#eee WHBL March 15, 1945 8:45 PM (CWT) Sheboygan Red Skins Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons Game 3, Sheboygan leads 2–1 North Side High School GymFort Wayne, Indiana 47 58 Zollner Quintet Fights Back In 58 To 47 Victory Over Redskins https://www.newspapers.com/image/239957725 subscription February 3, 2026 March 16, 1945 The Sheboygan Press Sheboygan, Wisconsin 8–19 15–20 17–10 7–9 Rube Lautenschlager, 11 Buddy Jeannette, 13 Messenger, KrizneckyThe Pistons tied the series in a noncompetitive fourth game, winning in a 58–41 blowout. McDermott scored 15 points for Fort Wayne, while Schulz and Dancker each scored 11 for Sheboygan.#eee WHBL March 16, 1945 8:45 PM (CWT) Sheboygan Red Skins Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons Game 4, series tied 2–2 North Side High School GymFort Wayne, Indiana Zollners Send Series Into Fifth Game with 58–41 Win https://www.newspapers.com/image/239957780 subscription February 3, 2026 March 17, 1945 The Sheboygan Press Sheboygan, Wisconsin Newspapers.com 41 58 12–15 12–20 8–10 9–13 Dick Schulz, 11Ed Dancker, 11 Bobby McDermott, 15 Messenger, KrizneckyAfter the fourth game, Sheboygan coach Dutch Dehnert received news that his son was killed in action in Nazi Germany. Dehnert left the team and traveled to New York, with Dancker taking over as Sheboygan's coach for the fifth game.1945-03-10 Sell Out Crowds To View Battles https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sheboygan-press-selloutcrowdsnbl1945/190527920/ limited 2026-02-04 The Sheboygan Press 7 Newspapers.com The Pistons completed the "reverse sweep" and sealed their second consecutive NBL title with a 59–49 victory in the fifth and final game. McDermott once again led the Pistons with 19 points, while Schulz and Bobby Holm each had 11 for the Red Skins.Nelson Murry R. The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers 2009 978-0-7864-4006-1, pp. 138–139March 18, 1945 Sheboygan Red Skins Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons North Side High School GymFort Wayne, Indiana Game 5, Fort Wayne wins 3–2 #eee WHBL 8:45 PM (CWT) 49 59 Fort Wayne Five Cops Pro Playoff Title With Third Victory, 59 To 49 https://www.newspapers.com/image/239957823 subscription Newspapers.com February 3, 2026 March 19, 1945 The Sheboygan Press Sheboygan, Wisconsin 7–13 11–19 14–17 17–10 Dick Schulz, 11Bobby Holm, 11 Bobby McDermott, 19 Bracket Division Playoffs NBL Championship E1 Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 2 E2 Cleveland Allmen Transfers 0 W1 Sheboygan Red Skins 2 W2 Chicago American Gears 1 E1 Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 3 W1 Sheboygan Red Skins 2Bold Series winner World Professional Basketball Tournament 1945 World Professional Basketball Tournament Following the completion of the NBL season, every NBL team except the Sheboygan Red Skins participated in the 1945 edition of the World Professional Basketball Tournament in Chicago.Nelson Murry R. The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers 2009 978-0-7864-4006-1, pp. 139–141 The Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons won their second consecutive WPBT title, defeating the Dayton Acmes 78–52. Buddy Jeannette earned his second tournament MVP. NBL All-Star Game Two days after winning their second WPBT championship, the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons won 59–47 over the NBL's All-Star Team. 3,000 people saw the game at the North Side High School Gym in Fort Wayne, Indiana.Nelson Murry R. The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers 2009 978-0-7864-4006-1, p. 141 Following the game's conclusion, when describing the game in greater detail, The Fort Wayne-Journal Gazette's reporter, Bob Reed, summed up the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons in what would be described as completing the "Grand Slam of Professional Basketball" by successfully winning the "College All-Star Classic" of 1944, obtaining the best record of the 1944–45 NBL season, winning the 1945 NBL Playoffs' Championship, winning the 1945 World Professional Basketball Tournament, and most recently winning the 1945 NBL All-Star Game for good measure.Triptow Richard F. The Dynasty that Never Was: Chicago's First Professional Basketball Champions, The American Gears 1997 self-published Lake Bluff, Illinois 0-9659280-0-4, p. 20 Statistics Category Player Team Stat Points Mel Riebe Cleveland Allmen Transfers 607https://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/leaders/ NBL Year-by-Year Leaders and Records for Points Basketball-Reference.com Free-Throws Mel Riebe Cleveland Allmen Transfers 161https://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/leaders/ NBL Year-by-Year Leaders and Records for Free Throws Basketball-Reference.com Field goals Bobby McDermott Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 258https://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/leaders/ NBL Year-by-Year Leaders and Records for Field Goals Basketball-Reference.com Note: Prior to the 1969–70 NBA season, league leaders in points were determined by totals rather than averages. Rebounding and assist numbers were not recorded properly in the NBL like they would be in the BAA/NBA, as would field goal and free-throw shooting percentages. Awards NBL Most Valuable Player: Bobby McDermott, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons NBL Coach of the Year: Bobby McDermott, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons NBL Rookie of the Year: Stan Patrick, Chicago American Gears 25em All-NBL First Team: G/F – Mel Riebe, Cleveland Allmen Transfers F/G – Stan Patrick, Chicago American Gears C/F – Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh All-Stars G – Buddy Jeannette, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons G – Bobby McDermott, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons All-NBL Second Team: F/C – Jake Pelkington, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons C/F – Ed Dancker, Sheboygan Red Skins C – Huck Hartman, Pittsburgh Raiders G/F – Jerry Bush, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons G – Dick Triptow, Chicago American Gears http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/6925/nbl.html https://web.archive.org/web/20050818001517/http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/6925/nbl.html 2005-08-18 Steve Dimitry's NBL Web Site All-Time Stars of Professional Basketball Near the end of the regular season, the six managers (most of whom were also head coaches) of the NBL's teams for this season (Jack Tierney for Chicago, Jeff Carlin for Cleveland, Carl Bennett for Fort Wayne, Lon Darling for Oshkosh, Joe Urso for Pittsburgh, and Dutch Dehnert for Sheboygan) were polled to vote for what was called the "All-Time Stars of Professional Basketball". The players being voted on included both NBL players and players that were on other professional basketball leagues like the rivaling American Basketball League, with the players being voted on first and second teams for these honors, as well as the honorable mention team.Nelson Murry R. The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 2009 McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers 978-0-7864-4006-1, p. 137 Bolded players showcase those that are currently active NBL players as of this season, while italic players are those who had previously played in the NBL at one point in time. Notably, as of 2026, only Leroy Edwards has yet to enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in terms of the First Team entries there. 25em All-Time Stars of Professional Basketball First Team: G/F – Nat Holman G/F – Dutch Dehnert, Sheboygan Red Skins (current head coach/general manager) F/C – Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh All-Stars G – Bobby McDermott, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons G – John Beckman All-Time Stars of Professional Basketball Second Team: G/F – Nat Hickey, Pittsburgh Raiders C – Wee Willie Smith, New York Renaissance C – Joe Lapchick F – Jerry Bush, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons G – Buddy Jeannette, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 25em All-Time Stars of Professional Basketball Honorable Mention Team: G/F – Curly Armstrong, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons G/F – Eddie Riska, Oshkosh All-Stars C – Ed Dancker, Sheboygan Red Skins G – Bennie Borgmann G – Davey Banks See also National Basketball League (United States) References External links National Basketball League 1937-38 to 1948-49 Association for Professional Basketball Research http://www.apbr.org/nblstand.html 2026-01-08 National Basketball League III RetroSeasons 2023-03-21 https://www.retroseasons.com/leagues/nbl/1945/overview/ 2026-01-08