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
RadioWLOL

The 1948–49 Minneapolis Lakers 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. Player Height Weight DOB From
F/C 11 Mike Bloom 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1915-01-14 Temple
G/F 15 Don Carlson 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1919-03-22 Minnesota
G/F 19 Jack Dwan 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1921-05-03 Loyola Chicago
C 18 Ray Ellefson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1922-11-18 West Texas A&M
G/F 18 Arnie Ferrin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1925-07-29 Utah
G 22 Donnie Forman 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1926-01-17 NYU
F 14 Earl Gardner 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1923-09-18 DePauw
G/F 13 Tony Jaros 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1920-02-22 Minnesota
G/F 16 Johnny Jorgensen 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1921-12-28 DePaul
G 20 Whitey Kachan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1925-09-15 DePaul
C 99 George Mikan 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1924-06-18 DePaul
SF 17 Jim Pollard 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1922-07-09 Stanford
G/F 24 Herm Schaefer 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1918-12-20 Indiana
G/F 12 Don Smith 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1920-07-27 Minnesota
F 19 Jack Tingle 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

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

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

This season held their first playoff series match-up against the Chicago Stags, as well as their first and only championship match-up against the Washington Capitols before that team folded operations on January 9, 1951.

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ "1948-49 Minneapolis Lakers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
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