Helena Frye
Basketball in Minnesota has a long and rich history, with the state boasting professional teams in all five major leagues. The sport first came to the state in 1947 when the Detroit Gems, a near-extinct NBL franchise, were purchased and relocated to Minneapolis, becoming the Minneapolis Lakers. The Lakers won the 1947-48 NBL championship and later joined the BAA, winning the 1948-49 championship. After the NBL and BAA merged to become the NBA, the Lakers won five championships in six years and are considered the NBA's first dynasty. Over the years, Minnesota has been home to several notable basketball teams and players, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Minnesota Lynx, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The state has also produced talented players such as Kevin Garnett, Kevin McHale, and Lindsay Whalen.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Basketball Started | 1891 |
| Inventor | James Naismith |
| Location | Springfield College, Massachusetts |
| Inventor's Occupation | Instructor in physical education at Springfield College |
| Organisation | National Basketball Association (NBA) |
| NBA Team Name | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Year NBA Team Founded | 1989 |
| Home Stadium | Target Center, Minneapolis |
| Nickname | The Wolves |
| Notable Players | Jimmy Butler, Sam Cassell, Kevin Garnett, Karl-Anthony Towns |
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What You'll Learn
The Detroit Gems became the Minneapolis Lakers in 1947
The history of basketball in Minnesota can be traced back to the Detroit Gems, an American professional basketball team based in Detroit, Michigan, in the 1946-47 season. The team played only one season in the National Basketball League (NBL) under the Gems name, achieving a 4-40 record on the court and poor financial results. Following that season, the franchise was sold and relocated to Minneapolis, where it was renamed the Minneapolis Lakers in 1947.
The decision to move the team to Minneapolis was made by the new owners, Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen, who had purchased the franchise from the previous owners, Maurice Winston and C. King Boring, a local jeweller from Dearborn, Michigan. The Gems played their home games in various locations, including Holy Redeemer gym in Detroit and Lincoln High School Gym in Ferndale. They also played some doubleheaders with the Basketball Association of America's Detroit Falcons at the Detroit Olympia and even transferred a few home games to Flint, Michigan. However, the team struggled to attract large crowds, with an average attendance of about 300 per game.
Despite the poor performance and financial challenges, the Gems had a significant impact on the history of basketball in Minnesota. The relocation and renaming of the team laid the foundation for the future success of the Lakers franchise in Minneapolis. In their inaugural season as the Minneapolis Lakers, they won the 1947-48 NBL championship. This victory was the first of many for the Lakers, as they went on to join the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and then became a part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) when the NBL and BAA merged after the 1948-49 season.
The Minneapolis Lakers continued their dominance in the BAA, winning the 1948-49 BAA championship. This win marked the beginning of a dynasty, as the Lakers went on to win five championships in six years from 1949 to 1954. Notable players from this era included George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Vern Mikkelsen, Slater Martin, Clyde Lovellette, and Elgin Baylor. The success of the Minneapolis Lakers put Minnesota on the map in the world of professional basketball and helped establish a strong basketball culture in the state.
In 1960, the Lakers relocated again, this time to Los Angeles, where they became the iconic Los Angeles Lakers. However, the team's brief but remarkable stint in Minnesota left an indelible mark on the state's sports history and contributed to the rich basketball tradition that continues to thrive there today.
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The Lakers won 5 championships in 6 years
Basketball has a long history in Minnesota, with the state boasting several professional and collegiate teams. The Minneapolis Lakers, who moved to the city in 1947, are particularly notable for their remarkable championship run in the 1950s.
The 1950s championship run by the Lakers began in the 1949 season, just two years after the team's move from Detroit to Minneapolis. They won again in 1950, establishing themselves as a force in the league. After a brief hiatus, they returned to championship glory in 1952, followed by consecutive titles in 1953 and 1954. This stretch of five championships in six years was unprecedented in the NBA at the time.
The Lakers' success in the 1950s set the tone for the franchise's future. They continued to be a dominant force in the NBA, even after relocating to California and becoming the Los Angeles Lakers in 1960. The Lakers added several more championships to their tally in the following decades, including three straight titles from 2000 to 2002, led by superstar duo Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. The Lakers most recently won the NBA championship in 2020, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the team to victory.
The Lakers' legacy in Minnesota extends beyond their time in Minneapolis. The state has continued to foster basketball talent and enthusiasm, as evidenced by the success of the Minnesota Lynx, a WNBA team founded in 1999. The Lynx have won four WNBA championships, showcasing the enduring basketball prowess of the state.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves were founded in 1989
The Minnesota Timberwolves, commonly referred to as the Wolves, are a National Basketball Association (NBA) team founded in 1989. The team's name was chosen through a name the team contest, with "Timberwolves" and "Polars" being the two finalists. The name Timberwolves was chosen by a 2-1 margin by the 842 city councils in Minnesota, reflecting the state's large wolf population and the presence of the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota.
The Timberwolves were founded as an expansion team, with original owners Harvey Ratner and Marv Wolfenson receiving approval from the NBA in April 1987 to begin play in the 1989-90 season. The team debuted on November 3, 1989, playing their first game on the road against the Seattle SuperSonics, which they lost 106-94. They played their home games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, drawing over 1 million fans in their inaugural season, including a crowd of 49,551 on April 17, 1990, for their final home game of the season.
The Timberwolves' original logo, designed by the L.A.-based Mednick Design Group, was unveiled in 1996 and featured a metallic color scheme and a more aggressive wolf design. The team has since undergone two major rebrands, with new logos introduced in 2017 and 2021, the latter as part of the NBA's 75th-anniversary celebrations.
The Timberwolves have yet to appear in an NBA Finals series but reached the Western Conference Finals in 2004. Notable current and former players include Kevin Garnett, Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Derrick Rose.
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The Minnesota Lynx have won 4 WNBA Championships
The Minnesota Lynx is an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are part of the Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and have won four WNBA championships.
The Lynx were founded in 1999 and played their first game at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. Despite a string of losing seasons from 1999 to 2005, the team's starting shooting guard, Katie Smith, shone as one of the league's best players. The Lynx reached the Western Conference semifinals in 2003 and 2004 but struggled again after Smith was traded in 2005.
The Lynx's first championship came in 2011, led by star guard Maya Moore in her rookie season. Moore's stellar play, along with that of Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, and Lindsay Whalen, propelled the team to victory. They defeated the San Antonio Silver Stars and the Phoenix Mercury before sweeping the Atlanta Dream in three games to secure the title.
In 2013, the Lynx added another marquee player, All-Star centre Sylvia Fowles, and won their second championship. They defeated the Atlanta Dream once more, and Maya Moore won the 2013 WNBA Finals MVP award. The Lynx became the second WNBA team and fifth major professional sports franchise to sweep through the postseason.
The Lynx continued their winning streak, reaching the Finals in six out of seven seasons between 2011 and 2017. Their third championship came in 2015, with Fowles playing a pivotal role. In 2017, the Lynx won their fourth championship, defeating the Los Angeles Sparks. Fowles was named the regular-season MVP and finals MVP, averaging a double-double with 18.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
The Lynx have solidified themselves as one of the most dominant teams in WNBA history. With four WNBA championships, they are currently tied with the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm for the most titles in the league. In 2024, the Lynx returned to the Finals, facing the New York Liberty for a chance to stand alone as the team with the most championships in WNBA history.
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The Harlem Globetrotters were purchased by a Minneapolis businessman
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theatre, entertainment, and comedy in their style of play. They played their first road game in Hinckley, Illinois, on January 7, 1927, and won their first World Basketball Championship by defeating the Chicago Bruins. In 1948 and 1949, the Globetrotters beat the World Champion Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA, accelerating the integration of the NBA.
In 1986, the Harlem Globetrotters were purchased by the Minneapolis-based International Broadcasting Corporation (owned by Thomas Scallen) for $30 million. The Globetrotters were then purchased by former player Mannie Jackson in 1993, who became the first African-American to own a major international sports and entertainment organization. Jackson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2022.
The Globetrotters have played more than 26,000 exhibition games in 124 countries and territories, entertaining popes, kings, queens, and presidents. They picked up the moniker Ambassadors of Goodwill after a 1951 trip to Berlin, where they played before their largest crowd ever of 75,000 people at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. The Globetrotters have earned the praise of many world leaders, including special acknowledgement from Presidents Eisenhower and Ford for their service to mankind.
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Frequently asked questions
Basketball first came to Minnesota in 1947 when the Detroit Gems, a near-extinct NBL franchise, was purchased by Minneapolis businessmen Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen and renamed the Minneapolis Lakers.
The Minneapolis Lakers won the 1947–48 NBL championship and the 1948–49 BAA championship before the two leagues merged and became the NBA. The team then won five championships in six years and became the NBA's first "dynasty". In 1960, the Lakers moved to Los Angeles and became the Los Angeles Lakers.
After the Lakers left, Minnesota had a few other pro basketball teams over the years, including the St. Paul Saints in 1947, the Minnesota Muskies from 1967-68, the Minnesota Pipers from 1968-69, and the Minnesota Ripknees from 2006-08.
Minnesota currently has several professional and collegiate basketball teams. The Minnesota Timberwolves are an NBA team that began playing in 1989, and the Minnesota Lynx are a WNBA team founded in 1999 that has won four championships. In addition, collegiate teams from the University of Minnesota and other colleges compete in NCAA Division I and have won several national championships.
