Minneapolis Lakers Founding (1947)

Lore & Background

The franchise was founded in 1946 as the Detroit Gems, playing in the NBL. After a last-place finish, the team was sold to Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen of Minnesota for $15,000 in June 1947. They relocated the team to Minneapolis, renaming it the 'Lakers' after Minnesota's nickname, 'The Land of 10,000 Lakes'. The Lakers won the NBL championship in their first season, then switched to the BAA the following season and won that championship as well. The team became the NBA's first dynasty, winning six NBL/BAA/NBA championships in seven years.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Minneapolis Auditorium was thick with the scent of floor wax and winter cold seeping through the cracks in the windows. It was 1948, and the roar of the crowd vibrated against the wooden rafters as George Mikan stood at the free-throw line. He wasn't just a player; he was an anchor in a sea of chaos. As the ball left his fingertips, spinning with perfect arc, time seemed to suspend itself for the thousands of Minnesotans watching. The net snapped, the crowd erupted, and in that singular moment, the blueprint for a future dynasty was etched into history. The 'Lakers' name, once just a nod to local lakes, now echoed as a promise of supremacy.

Reader's Guide

The Minneapolis Lakers' original colors are not specified in the source article.

Did You Know?

• The Lakers were originally the Detroit Gems, founded in 1946.
• The team was renamed 'Lakers' after Minnesota's nickname, 'The Land of 10,000 Lakes'.
• George Mikan was selected with the first pick in the 1947 Professional Basketball League of America dispersal draft.
• The Lakers won the NBL championship in their first season in Minneapolis.
• The team participated in the lowest-scoring game in NBA history on November 22, 1950, losing 19–18 to the Fort Wayne Pistons.

Franchise Origins and Relocation

The franchise's journey began not in Minneapolis, but as the Detroit Gems in 1946. Founded by C. King Boring and Maurice Winston within the National Basketball League, this initial iteration struggled immensely, finishing last with a dismal four wins out of forty-four games. Facing severe financial losses driven by poor attendance and a lack of a dedicated home court, the original owners decided to sell the struggling entity in June 1947 for $15,000. The buyers were Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen from Minnesota, who envisioned a new future for the team. Minneapolis sportswriter Sid Hartman played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in facilitating this complex transaction and subsequently helped assemble the new organization. He was instrumental in recruiting John Kundla from the College of St. Thomas to serve as the first head coach. Upon relocation, the team adopted the moniker "Lakers," a direct nod to Minnesota's famous nickname, "The Land of 10,000 Lakes." They established their home games at both the Minneapolis Auditorium and the Minneapolis Armory, setting the stage for a dramatic turnaround.

Building a Dynasty from Scratch

When the franchise arrived in Minneapolis, it was essentially empty-handed; the previous ownership had sold off nearly all drafted players before the sale. However, the Gems' abysmal record granted the new Lakers the first pick in the 1947 dispersal draft, which they used to select George Mikan, a player who would become one of the greatest centers in history. Under Coach Kundla and bolstered by an infusion of talent from the University of Minnesota, the team immediately transformed into a powerhouse. They captured the NBL championship in their inaugural season following the move. Just weeks before those finals, they also won the World Professional Basketball Tournament, with Mikan earning MVP honors after scoring a record-breaking 40 points against the New York Renaissance. The momentum continued as the team switched to the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and won that championship immediately. Following the merger of the NBL and BAA into the NBA in 1950, the Lakers secured the inaugural league title, cementing their status as a dominant force.

The Mikan Era and Championship Streak

Led by the towering George Mikan alongside Vern Mikkelsen and future NFL coach Bud Grant, the Minneapolis Lakers established themselves as the league's first true dynasty. They achieved an unprecedented run of success, winning six championships across the NBL, BAA, and NBA within a seven-year span. Although their three-year streak was briefly interrupted in 1951 by a loss to the Rochester Royals, they rebounded to win three consecutive titles thereafter. This golden era featured future Hall of Famers such as Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, and Clyde Lovellette. The team's dominance was so profound that it influenced league rules; notably, on November 22, 1950, the Lakers participated in the lowest-scoring game in NBA history, losing to the Fort Wayne Pistons 19–18. This defensive stalemate eventually prompted the introduction of the shot clock. Mikan's retirement in September 1954 marked a turning point, though he briefly returned in January 1956 to help the team reach the playoffs before retiring for good.

Financial Struggles and Local Rescue

Following George Mikan's final departure, the Lakers faced a severe decline in attendance and financial stability. By February 1957, the situation became critical when owners Berger and Chalfen nearly sold the franchise to St. A last-minute intervention by Charles O. Johnson, an executive sports editor from the Minneapolis Star and Tribune, saved the team from immediate relocation. He pleaded with the owners to grant local interests a chance to match the offer. Although this new ownership secured the franchise's location, they could not immediately resolve its financial woes. The subsequent seasons were turbulent; Mikan even attempted coaching but realized he was unsuited for the role after a poor 9–30 start, eventually stepping aside for Kundla as the team finished last in the league.