NBL (United States) Rookie of the Year Award

The National Basketball League Rookie of the Year Award was an annual National Basketball League (NBL) award given to the top rookie(s) of the regular season in each of the twelve years the league existed. The Rookie of the Year was selected by sports writers, broadcasters, coaches, and managers.[1][2] Despite the dozens of teams that played in the NBL through its history, three of them collectively dominated the award's recipients. The Indianapolis Kautskys and Sheboygan Red Skins had three winners each, while the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots had two, for a combined eight of the twelve awards bestowed (66.7%).[3]

Among the winners were two future Basketball Hall of Famers, Red Holzman (1986) and Dolph Schayes (1973).[4][5]

Winners

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* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Team (X) Denotes the number of times a player from this team had won at that time
Season Player Position Team
1937–38 Robert Kessler Forward Indianapolis Kautskys
1938–39 Jewell Young Forward Indianapolis Kautskys (2)
1939–40 Ben Stephens Guard / forward Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
1940–41 Eddie Sadowski Guard Indianapolis Kautskys (3)
1941–42 George Glamack Forward / center Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (2)
1942–43 Ken Buehler Forward / center Sheboygan Red Skins
1943–44 Mel Riebe Guard / forward Cleveland Chase Brassmen
1944–45 Stan Patrick Forward Chicago American Gears
1945–46 Red Holzman* Guard Rochester Royals
1946–47 Fred Lewis Guard / forward Sheboygan Red Skins (2)
1947–48 Mike Todorovich Forward / center Sheboygan Red Skins (3)
1948–49 Dolph Schayes* Center Syracuse Nationals

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mikan Breaks Records; Named Most Valuable". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. April 4, 1948. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  2. ^ Associated Press (March 26, 1949). "Otten of Tri-Cities Named Top Player in National League". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  3. ^ "NBL – Rookie of the Year Award Winners". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  4. ^ "Red Holzman". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  5. ^ "Dolph Schayes". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 17, 2019.