National Industrial Basketball League

League history
The league's first year, 1947–48, featured five teams: the Milwaukee Harnischfegers, the Peoria Caterpillars, the Milwaukee Allen-Bradleys, the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots, and the Fort Wayne General Electrics. This season consisted of an eight-game round robin scheudule, with the Harnischfegers winning with an 8–0 record. The following season (1948-1949) featured an expanded 16-game schedule. The new lineup of teams included the league champion Bartlesville Phillips 66ers (15–1 record), the Denver Chevvies, the Peoria Caterpillars, Akron Goodyears/Akron Goodyear Wingfoots, and Milwaukee Allen-Bradleys.

In the 1949–50 season, the league expanded to six teams with the addition of the Dayton Industrialists, and the 66ers repeated as champions. The league expanded again in the 1950–51 season to eight teams, adding the Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas and San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets. The Industrialists were renamed the Dayton Air Gems, and the Phillips 66ers repeated for their third consecutive title.

High Point of League Expansion
The league in 1951-52 expanded to 11 teams, with such new teams as the Los Angeles Fibber McGee & Mollys, Artesia REA Travelers, and Santa Maria Golden Dukes. The 66ers just edged the Oakland Atlas-Pacific Engineers and the San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets for their fourth title, with a 17–5 record to their opponents 16-6 records that tied for second. The next season (1952-1953), the league dropped down to nine teams, but saw new opponents in the Houston Ada Oilers and the Los Angeles Kirby's Shoes. The 66ers edged the Caterpillars for the title by one game, with a 13–3 record.

The Peoria Cats tied the 66ers for the 1953-54 title, each with a 10–4 record. The next two seasons, the 66ers and the Cats took first and second respectively. A new team in the greatly reduced circuit of five teams in 1955-56 was the Wichita Vickers.

The 1956–57 season was one of the most competitive in the NIBL history. While the 66ers again took first with a 13–7 record, four teams tied for second with 11-9 records, including the newly added Denver-Chicago Truckers. This proved to be the last season for the Milwaukee Allen-Bradleys, who finished last for the seventh time with a 3–17 record.

The 1957–58 season saw the Vickers move to the forefront, tying the 66ers for the league title with a 21–9 record. A new team that year was the Kansas City Kaycee's.

End of the Phillips 66ers Winning Streak
In the 1958–59 season, the 66ers failed to take the league title for the first time since their coming to the league, finishing in third place. The Truckers finished first with a 21–9 record, with the Vickers runner-up at 19–11. Joining the league that season was the Seattle Buchan Bakers. However, in the 1959–60 season, the 66ers regained their title as league champions.

Demise of the NIBL
By the early 1960s, NIBL teams were increasingly struggling to compete with the salaries offered in professional league. Top college graduates increasingly gravitated to the NBA, and the NIBL began to decline in popularity and profitability. This is evidenced by the disbandment of the Peoria Cats at the end of the 1959–60 season.

In the NIBL's final season, 1960–61, the league had dropped down to only six members divided into two divisions, Eastern (Cleveland Pipers, Akron Goodyears, New York Tuck Tapers) and Western (Denver-Chicago Truckers, Phillips 66ers, and Seattle Buchan Bakers). Instead of the round-robin schedule determining a winner, the league sponsored a four-team playoff. The Pipers beat the Truckers for the championship, 136–100. The 66ers beat the Goodyears for in a match for third place, 114–112.

In 1961, the league dropped their industrial sponsors and merged with other amateur leagues to form the National Alliance of Basketball Leagues (NABL). The Pipers and the Tapers left to join the newly formed American Basketball League in 1961.

The amateur nature of the NIBL
The NIBL was dedicated to remaining amateur at a time when basketball was desperately trying to carve out some postwar space in the pro sports landscape. During the 1950s, the salaries offered by NIBL teams were about the same as the NBA and offered the additional perk of employment at each team's sponsor company. Some players even ended up becoming president of their companies, working there for a lifetime.

Most players preferred the stability of long term employment to the uncertain nature of early professional basketball. The NIBL was even able to poach star players, including Bob Kurland, from professional leagues.

Basketball Hall of Fame alumni

 * Don Barksdale (Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas) Inducted, 2012
 * Bob Boozer (Peoria Caterpillars) Inducted, 2016
 * Larry Brown (Akron Goodyears) Inducted, 2002
 * Ace Gruenig (Denver Chevvies) Inducted, 1963
 * Alex Hannum (Coach, Wichita Vickers) Inducted, 1998
 * Gus Johnson (Cleveland Pipers) Inducted, 2010
 * Bob Kurland (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers) Inducted, 1961
 * Clyde Lovellette (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers) Inducted, 1988
 * Hank Luisetti (Coach, Denver Chevvies & Coach, San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets) Inducted, 1959
 * John McLendon (Coach, Cleveland Pipers) Inducted, 1979 and 2016
 * George Yardley (San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets) Inducted, 1996

NIBL players who became NBA/ABA All-Stars

 * Don Barksdale (Oakland Bittners|Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas)
 * Dick Barnett (Cleveland Pipers)
 * Vince Boryla (Denver Chevvies)
 * Bob Boozer (Peoria Caterpillars)
 * Larry Brown (Akron Goodyears)
 * Gus Johnson (Cleveland Pipers)
 * Clyde Lovellette (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers)
 * Tom Meschery (San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets)
 * Chuck Noble (Akron Goodyears)
 * Don Ohl (Peoria Caterpillars)
 * Lee Shaffer (Cleveland Pipers)
 * Ben Warley (Cleveland Pipers)
 * George Yardley (San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets)

NIBL Olympic Players and Coaches

 * Don Barksdale (Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas) 1948 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Lew Beck (Phillips 66ers) 1948 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * George Bon Salle (Denver-Chicago Truckers) 1959 Pan American Games Gold Medal
 * Ron Bontemps (Peoria Caterpillars) 1952 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Bob Boozer (Peoria Caterpillars) 1959 Pan American Games Gold Medal, 1960 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * B.H. Born (Peoria Caterpillars) 1954 FIBA USA Team Gold Medal
 * Dick Boushka (Wichita Vickers) 1956 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Vince Boryla (Denver Chevvies) 1948 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Larry Brown (Akron Goodyears) 1964 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Omar Browning (Coach, Bartlesville Phillips 66ers), Head Coach, 1948 United States men's Olympic basketball team Gold Medal
 * Gordon Carpenter (Phillips 66ers) 1948 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Dick Davies (Akron Goodyears) 1964 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Chuck Darling (Phillips 66ers) 1956 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Marc Freiberger (Peoria Caterpillars & Houston Ada Oilers) 1952 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Wayne Glasgow (Phillips 66ers) 1952 Olympic Team gold medal
 * Don Goldstein (New York Tuck Tapers) 1959 Pan American Games Gold Medal
 * Burdie Haldorson (Phillips 66ers) 1956 Olympic Team Gold Medal, 1960 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Bill Hougland (Phillips 66ers) 1956 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Robert Jeangerard (Phillips 66ers) 1956 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Gene Johnson (Coach, Kansas City Kaycees & Seattle Buchan Bakers) Head Coach, 1936 United States men's Olympic basketball team Gold Medal
 * Allen Kelley (Peoria Caterpillars) 1960 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Bob Kurland (Phillips 66ers) 1948 Olympic Team Gold Medal, 1952 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Lester Lane (Wichita Vickers) 1960 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Clyde Lovellette (Phillips 66ers) 1956 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Frank McCabe (Peoria Caterpillars) 1952 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Pete McCaffrey (Akron Goodyears) 1964 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Art Mollner (Coach, Los Angeles Fibber McGee and Mollys) 1936 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Dan Pippin (Peoria Caterpillars) 1952 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * R. C. Pitts (Phillips 66ers) 1948 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Jesse Renick (Phillips 66ers) 1948 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Jerry Shipp (Phillips 66ers) 1964 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Charlie Slack (Akron Goodyears) 1960 Olympic Team Gold Medal (alternate)
 * Adrian Smith (Akron Goodyears) 1960 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Johnny Stanich (Phillips 66ers, Denver Chevrolets, Denver Central Bankers) 1950 FIBA USA Team Silver Medal
 * Dan Swartz (Wichita Vickers) 1959 Pan American Games Gold Medal
 * Gary Thompson (Phillips 66ers) 1959 Pan American Games Gold Medal
 * Ron Tomsic (San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets) 1956 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Gerald Tucker (Phillips 66ers) 1956 Olympic Team Gold Medal
 * Jim Walsh (Phillips 66ers) 1956 Team Olympic Gold Medal
 * Howie Williams (Peoria Caterpillars) 1952 Olympic Gold Medal
 * Warren Womble (Coach, Peoria Caterpillars) Head Coach, 1952 United States men's Olympic basketball team, Gold Medal

Notable NIBL alumni

 * Bud Adams (Owner, Houston Ada Oilers)
 * Jim Ashmore (Denver-Chicago Truckers)
 * Joe Belmont (Denver-Chicago Truckers)
 * Al Bunge (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers)
 * Art Bunte (Denver-Chicago Truckers)
 * Bill Calhoun (Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas)
 * Ken Charlton (Denver-Chicago Truckers)
 * Gene Conley (Washington Tapers)
 * Johnny Cox (Cleveland Pipers), (Akron Goodyears)
 * Howie Crittenden (Peoria Caterpillars)
 * Johnny Dee (Coach, Denver-Chicago Truckers)
 * Billy Donovan Sr. (Los Angeles Fibber McGee & Mollys)
 * Chuck Hanger (Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas)
 * Jerry Harper (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers), Houston Ada Oilers
 * Swede Halbrook (Wichita Vickers)
 * Phil Jordon (Seattle Buchan Bakers)
 * George King (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers)
 * Ron Livingstone (Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas)
 * Bill Logan (Denver-Chicago Truckers)
 * Dave Minor (Denver Chevvies)
 * Bill Morris (Coach, Buchan Bakers)
 * Red Murrell (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers)
 * Paul Neumann (New York Tuck Tapers)
 * Jim Palmer (Dayton Industrials)
 * Bobby Plump (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers), movie Hoosiers
 * Ken Pryor (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers)
 * Terry Rand (Denver-Chicago Truckers)
 * Hank Rosenstein (Coach, New York Tuck Tapers)
 * Harv Schmidt (Denver-Chicago Truckers)
 * Lloyd Sharrar (Cleveland Pipers, Akron Wingfoots)
 * Arnold Short (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers)
 * Glen Smith (Denver Central Bankers)
 * George Steinbrenner (Owner, Cleveland Pipers)
 * Jack Stone (Los Angeles Fibber McGee & Mollys)
 * Stan Stutz (Coach, New York Tuck Tapers)
 * Rolland Todd (Buchan Bakers)
 * Bumper Tormohlen (Cleveland Pipers)
 * Hank Vaughn (Coach, Akron Goodyears)
 * Ed Voss (Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas)
 * Hoarce Walker (Denver-Chicago Truckers)
 * Bus Whitehead (Bartlesville Phillips 66ers)
 * Gene Wiley (Denver-Chicago Truckers)
 * Andy Wolfe (San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets)

NIBL Teams

 * Akron Goodyear Wingfoots/Akron Goodyears (1947-1961)
 * Bartlesville Phillips 66ers (1948-1961)
 * Milwaukee Allen-Bradleys (1947-1957)
 * Artesia CVE Travelers|Artesia REA Travelers (1951-1955)
 * Cleveland Pipers (1959-1961)
 * Dayton Air-Gems (1950-1952)
 * Dayton Industrials (1949-1950)
 * Denver Chevvies (1948-1951)
 * Denver Central Bankers (1951-1955)
 * Denver D-C Truckers (1956-1961)
 * Fort Wayne General Electrics (1947-1948)
 * Houston Ada Oilers (1952-1955)
 * Kansas City Kaycees (1957-1958)
 * Los Angeles Fibber McGee & Mollys (1951-1952)
 * Los Angeles Kirby's Shoes (1952-1953)
 * Milwaukee Harnischfegers (1947-1948)
 * Peoria Caterpillars (1947-1960)
 * New York Tuck Tapers (1959-1961)
 * Oakland Blue 'n Gold Atlas (1950-1951)
 * Oakland Atlas-Pacific Engineers (1951-1952)
 * San Francisco Investors (1959-1960)
 * San Francisco Stewart Chevrolets (1950-1952)
 * Santa Maria Golden Dukes (1951-1954)
 * Seattle Buchan Bakers (1958-1961)
 * Wichita Vickers (1955-1960)

NIBL Champions

 * 1947-48 Giallo e Rosso (Bordato).png Milwaukee Harnischfegers
 * 1948-49 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Bartlesville Phillips 66ers
 * 1949-50 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Bartlesville Phillips 66ers
 * 1950-51 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Bartlesville Phillips 66ers
 * 1951-52 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Bartlesville Phillips 66ers
 * 1952-53 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Bartlesville Phillips 66ers
 * 1953-54 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Bartlesville Phillips 66ers and 600px Bianco viola reale.png Peoria Cats
 * 1954-55 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Bartlesville Phillips 66ers
 * 1955-56 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Bartlesville Phillips 66ers
 * 1956-57 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Bartlesville Phillips 66ers
 * 1957-58 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Phillips 66ers and 600px Bianco viola reale.png Wichita Vickers
 * 1958-59 Verde Flag.png Denver-Chicago Truckers
 * 1959-60 600px_Nero_e_Verde_(Bordato).png Bartlesville Phillips 66ers
 * 1960-61 600px Rosso e Blu (Strisce).png Cleveland Pipers

NIBL All-Star Game
1958, Peoria: East - West 113-104 1959, Denver: East - West 81-78