Indianapolis Jets
| Indianapolis Jets | |
|---|---|
| Division | Western Division |
| Founded | 1937 |
| History | Indianapolis Kautskys 1931–1948 Indianapolis Jets 1948–1949 |
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana |
The Indianapolis Jets were a Basketball Association of America team based in Indianapolis. The team lasted for one season and was later replaced by a new franchise.
Franchise history
In 1931 Frank Kautsky, an Indianapolis grocer, formed a professional basketball team and named it the Indianapolis Kautskys. After playing in the National Professional Basketball League (1932–33)[1] and the Midwest Basketball Conference (1935–37),[2] in 1937 the Kautskys became one of the original members of the National Basketball League (NBL).[3]
The team was one of four (along with the Minneapolis Lakers, Rochester Royals, and Fort Wayne Pistons) that jumped to the BAA for the 1948–49 season. At that time the team's name was changed to the Indianapolis Jets because the BAA did not allow its teams to have commercial sponsors.[3]
After the 1948–49 season the BAA and the NBL merged to form the National Basketball Association. The Indianapolis Olympians had already been admitted into the NBL, effective with the 1949–50 season. Since the merger meant that there would be two teams from Indianapolis, the Jets ceased operations in favor of the Olympians.[3]
Season-by-season records
Note: W = wins, L = losses, % = win–loss %
| Season | W | L | % | Playoffs | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Kautskys (MBC) | |||||
| 1935–36 | 9 | 3 | 0.750 | Round Robin Tourney | |
| 1936–37 | 2 | 5 | 0.286 | Did not qualify | |
| Indianapolis Kautskys (NBL) | |||||
| 1937–38 | 4 | 9 | 0.308 | Did not qualify | |
| 1938–39 | 13 | 13 | 0.500 | Did not qualify | |
| 1939–40 | 9 | 19 | 0.321 | Did not qualify | |
| 1941–42 | 12 | 11 | 0.522 | 0–2 | |
| 1945–46 | 10 | 22 | 0.312 | Did not qualify | |
| 1946–47 | 27 | 17 | 0.614 | 2–3 | |
| 1947–48 | 24 | 35 | 0.407 | 1–3 | |
| Indianapolis Jets (BAA) | |||||
| 1948–49 | 18 | 42 | 0.300 | Did not qualify | |
Players
 |
Paul Bailey
- George Chestnut
- Norman Cottom
- Gus Doerner
- Hal Gensichen
- Bruce Hale
- Bob Kessler
- Branch McCracken
- Charles "Stretch" Murphy
- William Perigo
- Searle T. "Cy" Proffit
- Arnie Risen
- Herm Schaefer
- Edward Shaver
- Dave Strack
- John Wooden
- Jewell Young
Basketball Hall of Famers
References
- ^ http://www.apbr.org/nbl3233.html
- ^ http://www.apbr.org/mbc3537.html
- ^ a b c Biesel, David B. (1991). Can You Name that Team?: A Guide to Professional Baseball, Football, Soccer, Hockey, and Basketball Teams and Leagues. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc. pp. 33–34. ISBN 0-8108-2458-2.
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