The Akron Firestone NonSkids 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.
Franchise history The team was founded by Firestone as an amateur works team. Like other industrial teams of the era, the players were company employees with yearround jobs who were not paid for basketball but owed their jobs to their basketball skills. The NonSkids first competed professionally in the 193233 National Professional Basketball League and defeated the Toledo Crimson Coaches Tobaccos in the championship game. In 1935, the NonSkids joined the Midwest Basketball Conference. In 1937, Firestone, General Electric, and Goodyear created the National Basketball League from companysponsored teams and independent teams. The NonSkids were NBL champions in 1939 and 1940, defeating the Oshkosh All-Stars both years in the Finals. Following the 19401941 season, the Akron Firestone NonSkids disbanded, leaving the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots as the only NBL team representing Akron. During their time existing as a franchise, the Firestone Non-Skids would never end a season of theirs with a losing record, with them always competing in some playoff format during a season of play as well.
Professional team seasons SeasonLeagueNameWL%StandingsPlayoffs1932–33NPBLAkron Firestone Non-Skids10190.91stNPBL Champions1935–36MBCAkron Firestone Non-Skids11761.11stMBC Round Robin Tournament Semifinals(Third Place)1936–37MBCAkron Firestone Non-Skids13572.22ndMBC Semifinals1937–38NBLAkron Firestone Non-Skids14477.81stNBL Semifinals1938–39NBLAkron Firestone Non-Skids24388.91stNBL Champions1939–40NBLAkron Firestone Non-Skids19967.91stNBL Champions1940–41NBLAkron Firestone Non-Skids131154.22ndNBL Semifinals
Players of note Chuck Taylor Soup Cable John Moir Glenn Roberts Wesley Bennett Irving Terjesen Roy "Goose" Burris
Coaches Paul Sheeks
References
External links Firestone Non-Skids Complete History Akron Firestone Non-Skids at Ohio History Central