National Basketball League (NBL) Phase I
NBL was the first professional basketball league, formed in 1898, seven years after the invention of the game. Six teams participated in the first season, three from Philadelphia (Germantown Nationals, Clover Wheelman and Hancock Athletic Association) and three from New Jersey (Camden Electrics, Trenton Nationals and Millville Glass Blowers). The first game was played on December, 1 1898 between Trenton Nationals and Hancock Athletic Association. At the end of the inaugural season, Trenton Nationals turned out to be the first champions of NBL.
1898-99 SEASON | |||
Teams | Wins | Loses | Ties |
Trenton Nationals | 18 | 2 | 1 |
Millville Glass Blowers | 14 | 6 | 2 |
Camden Electrics | 7 | 13 | 1 |
Clover Wheelman | 5 | 14 | 1 |
Germantown Nationals | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Hancock Athletic Association | 0 | 6 | 1 |
In the second season, only two teams from preceding season participated in the league, Trenton Nationals and Camden Electrics. Four teams New York Wanderers, Pennsylvania Bicycle Club, Bristol Pile Drivers and Chester appeared in the league for the first time. Team Chester could not complete the season and dropped out at the half way stage.
1899-00 SEASON | |||
FIRST HALF | |||
Teams | Win | Loses | Ties |
Trenton Nationals | 8 | 0 | 0 |
New York Wanderers | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Camden Electrics | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Pennsylvania Bicycle Club | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Bristol Pile Drivers | 3 | 6 | 0 |
Chester | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Millville Glass Blowers joined the league at the second half of the season. Trenton Nationals once again became the champion by winning both the halves with relative ease.
SECOND HALF | |||
Team | Wins | Loses | Ties |
Trenton Nationals | 14 | 4 | 1 |
Millville Glass Blowers | 14 | 4 | 1 |
New York Wanderers | 13 | 7 | 1 |
Camden Electrics | 11 | 9 | 0 |
Bristol Pile Drivers | 6 | 14 | 1 |
Pennsylvania Bicycle Club | 0 | 20 | 0 |
In third season, the schedule was expanded to 32 games (each team). With the entry of Burlington, first time seven teams competed in the league but Burlington was dropped out before the season ends. New York Wanderers emerged as the winner of the season.
1900-01 SEASON | ||
Teams | Wins | Loses |
New York Wanderers | 23 | 9 |
Trenton Nationals | 20 | 12 |
Millville Glass Blowers | 18 | 14 |
Bristol Pile Drivers | 17 | 15 |
Camden Skeeters | 16 | 16 |
Pennsylvania Bicycle Club | 8 | 24 |
Burlington | 0 | 12 |
The 1901-02 season was a very progressive season of the NBL. A new team Philadelphia Phillies was introduced in the league, each team played 40 games in the league and all the teams completed the season.
1901-02 SEASON | ||
Teams | Wins | Loses |
Bristol Pile Drivers | 28 | 12 |
Camden Electrics | 25 | 15 |
Trenton Nationals | 23 | 17 |
Millville Glass Blowers | 21 | 19 |
New York Wanderers | 18 | 21 |
Philadelphia Phillies | 4 | 35 |
Although some new teams were added in the league but gradually the league started to show the signs of decline.
1902-03 SEASON | ||
FIRST HALF | ||
Teams | Wins | Loses |
Camden Electrics | 15 | 2 |
New York Wanderers | 11 | 2 |
Bristol Pile Drivers | 12 | 5 |
Philadelphia Phillies | 10 | 7 |
Trenton Potters | 6 | 9 |
Conshohocken | 4 | 11 |
Burlington Shoe Pegs | 2 | 12 |
Wilmington | 2 | 14 |
Two teams Bristol Pile Drivers and Philadelphia Phillies were dropped out before second half. Camden Electrics won the championship by winning both the halves.
SECOND HALF | ||
Teams | Wins | Loses |
Camden Electrics | 21 | 7 |
Burlington Shoe Pegs | 16 | 11 |
Wilmington | 14 | 12 |
Trenton Potters | 14 | 15 |
New York Wanderers | 11 | 14 |
Conshohocken | 4 | 21 |
In last season, only five teams were qualified for the league. Due to controversies and internal issues the league was dissolved in January 4, 1904.
1903-04 SEASON | ||
Teams | Wins | Loses |
Camden Electrics | 10 | 4 |
Conshohocken | 8 | 4 |
Trenton Potters | 8 | 5 |
Millville Glass Blowers | 6 | 9 |
St. Bridget’s Biddies | 2 | 12 |
Though, the league lasted only for six seasons but its impact was proved long lasting. NBL not only made a significant contribution to the success and development of professional basketball but also paved the way for emerging basketball leagues.
Related posts
- American Basketball Association- Year by Year Standings, Results and Statistics
- National Basketball League (NBL) Phase II
- List of Basketball Leagues Around the World
- American Basketball League (ABL)-Flash Back
- Basketball Association of America (BAA)-Discover the Basis of NBA
- American Basketball Association 1967- The Arrival of the NBA's Rival
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