Detroit Eagles

The Detroit Eagles were a professional basketball team based in Detroit, Michigan. Managed by Dutch Dehnert, they played in the National Basketball League from 1939 to 1941,[1] then became a barnstorming team.[2] The team folded during the 1942–43 season after most of the roster had been drafted to serve in the military.[3]

The Eagles won the 1941 World Professional Basketball Tournament in Chicago with a 39–37 victory over the Oshkosh All-Stars.[4] They returned to the tournament in 1942, but this time lost to Oshkosh 43–41.[5]

  1. ^ David Lee Poremba. Detroit, City of Champions. Arcadia, 1999. 61.
  2. ^ Mark Kriegel. Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich. Simon and Schuster, 2007. 29.
  3. ^ Todd Gould. Pioneers of the Hardwood. Indiana University Press, 1998. 116.
  4. ^ "Detroit beats Oshkosh 39-37 for Pro Crown". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 20, 1941. 24.
  5. ^ Wilfrid Smith. "Oshkosh beats Detroit, 43-41, for pro title". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 12, 1942. 21.