Detroit Gems | |
---|---|
Division | Western Division |
Leagues | National Basketball League |
Founded | 1946 |
Folded | 1947 |
History | Detroit Gems 1946–1947 (NBL) |
Location | Detroit, Michigan |
The Detroit Gems were an American professional basketball team based in Detroit, Michigan. It played one season, 1946–47, in the Western Division of the National Basketball League, [1] a predecessor organization to the National Basketball Association. Following the season, the franchise was sold to Minneapolis to become the Minneapolis Lakers, who are now the Los Angeles Lakers. [2]
The Gems were a team mostly made up of local players and coached by Joel Mason. [3] It started its season with an exhibition game against the Oshkosh All-Stars, [4] a 54–69 loss. [5] It started its 44-game regular season schedule on 11 November in Anderson, Indiana, [6] with a loss against the Anderson Duffey Packers. [7]
For the season, the Gems won only 4 out of 44 games, finishing last in the league. The franchise was put up for a sale following the season and purchased for US$15,000 by Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen and relocated to Minneapolis to become the Minneapolis Lakers. [8]
Detroit Gems, new Western Division entry, expect to be in a new Forum, being built at Dearborn, Mich., by the middle of the season.
The Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League open a 44-game schedule November 11 at Anderson, Ind.