The Akron Firestone Non–Skids were an American professional basketball team based in Akron, Ohio. The team was one of the thirteen founding members of the National Basketball League (NBL), which formed in 1937. The team was named for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, which was headquartered in Akron, Ohio.
The 1937–38 NBL season was the third season of the National Basketball League (NBL). The league was initially founded as the Midwest Basketball Conference (MBC) in 1935 but changed its name prior to the season in an attempt to attract a larger audience and avoid confusion with the Big Ten Conference, ofted referred to as the Midwest Conference. The season launched with nine franchises, it was irregular because the teams were the ones that had to choose the day and the hour of the match, even the duration was chosen by the local team before the match. The season ended with the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots becoming the NBL's first championship team.
Irving Bernhard Terjesen was an American basketball player. An All-American college player at New York University, Terjesen played three seasons in the United States' National Basketball League (NBL).
John Andrew Ozburn was an American basketball player who played five seasons in the American National Basketball League (NBL), a precursor to the modern NBA.
Paul Samuel Tobin was an American professional basketball player. Hyatt played in the National Basketball League from 1937 to 1940, competing for the Akron Firestone Non-Skids, and won two league championships in 1938–39 and 1939–40. He was the brother-in-law of Soup Cable, a teammate of Tobin's with Akron.
Thomas William Wukovits was an American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball League for several teams in the 1930s and 1940s, including the Akron Firestone Non-Skids, Toledo Jim White Chevrolets, and Cleveland Allmen Transfers. In 109 career games he averaged 6.3 points per game. Wukovits won an NBL championship in 1939–40 with Akron.
Milas Baxter "Slim" Shoun was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Akron Firestone Non-Skids in the National Basketball League and averaged 2.0 points per game. After his basketball career he remained at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company for 42 years. He was the brother of Major League Baseball player Clyde Shoun.
Theodore Migdal Jr. was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Akron Firestone Non-Skids in the National Basketball League during 1938–39, averaged 9.0 points per game, and won the NBL championship.
William Orville Reeves was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Akron Firestone Non-Skids in the National Basketball League. He played college basketball at Canterbury College for four years. Reeves was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Morris William "Mally" Johnson was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Akron Firestone Non-Skids in the National Basketball League for two seasons and averaged 2.1 points per game.
Thomas William O'Brien was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Akron Firestone Non-Skids in the National Basketball League for two seasons and averaged 1.9 points per game.
Harry Louis Sorensen was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Akron Firestone Non-Skids in the National Basketball League for two seasons and averaged 1.6 points per game.
Jack Leroy Jennings was an American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball League for the Akron Firestone Non-Skids during the 1940–41 season and averaged 4.9 points per game. He also spent one season playing for the Yakima Ramblers in the Pacific Coast Professional Basketball League.
Paul Edmund DuCharme was an American professional basketball player. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. He played in the National Basketball League for the Akron Firestone Non-Skids in three games during the 1940–41 season and averaged 0.3 points per game.
The 1937–38 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots season was the Wingfoots' inaugural year in the United States' National Basketball League (NBL), which was also the first year the league existed. Thirteen teams competed in the NBL, comprising six teams in the Eastern Division and seven teams in the Western Division. The Wingfoots were one of two teams from Akron, Ohio in the league, the other being the Akron Firestone Non-Skids.
The 1938–39 Akron Firestone Non-Skids season was the Non-Skids' second year in the United States' National Basketball League (NBL), which was also the second year the league existed. Eight teams competed in the NBL, comprising four teams each in the Eastern and Western Divisions. The Non-Skids were one of two teams from Akron, Ohio in the league, the other being the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots.
The 1939–40 Akron Firestone Non-Skids season was the Akron Firestone Non–Skids' third year in the United States' National Basketball League (NBL), which was also the third year the league existed. Eight teams competed in the NBL, comprising four teams each in the Eastern and Western Divisions. The Non–Skids were one of two teams from Akron, Ohio in the league, the other being the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots.
The 1940–41 Oshkosh All-Stars season was the All-Stars' fourth year in the United States' National Basketball League (NBL), which was also the fourth year the league existed. Seven teams competed in the NBL in 1940–41, and for the first time the league did not use divisions.
Clifton Andrew "Lefty" Byers was an American professional basketball coach for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots in the United States' National Basketball League (NBL). He was the NBL Coach of the Year in 1937–38. During Byers' tenure, the Wingfoots transitioned from the Midwest Basketball Conference (MBC) in 1936–37 into the NBL in 1937–38. Byers led the Wingfoots to win the first-ever NBL championship in 1938. The year before, the team had also won the MBC championship.
