Indianapolis Olympians
The Indianapolis Olympians began play in 1949 as a founding member of the National Basketball Association. They were originally scheduled to compete in the National Basketball League before that league merged with the Basketball Association of America. This merger created the NBA and allowed the franchise to replace the previously existing Indianapolis Jets team. The new organization chose Butler Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University as their home court. That venue is now known as Hinkle Fieldhouse.
University of Kentucky alumni Alex Groza and Ralph Beard led the early roster of the Olympians. Both men served as key contributors for the gold medal-winning 1948 US Olympic basketball team. Wallace Jones and Cliff Barker also joined the squad after representing the United States at the Olympics. These four athletes brought significant prestige to the Indiana-based club during its first few years. Joe Holland, an Olympic alternate and another Kentucky graduate, played forward through the 1952 season.
Commissioner Maurice Podoloff suspended Alex Groza and Ralph Beard from the NBA for life after they admitted to point shaving. This scandal erupted following the conclusion of the 1951 season when the players confessed to fixing games during their college careers. The admission effectively ended the playing careers of two of the teams most prominent stars. Their removal left a void in the lineup that the franchise could not fill before folding.
The Olympians defeated the Rochester Royals with a score of 75, 73 on the 6th of January 1951. That contest required six overtime periods to determine a winner and remains the longest game in league history. The final margin was just two points despite the extended duration of play. This victory stands as the only time the team holds the distinction of winning the longest game ever recorded by the league.
The team finished the 1952, 53 season with a record of 28 wins and 43 losses. They folded on the 23rd of April 1953, ending four seasons of competition in the NBA. The franchise compiled an overall record of 132 wins against 137 losses across its entire existence. Indianapolis would not receive another NBA team until 1976 when the Indiana Pacers joined the league following the ABA merger.
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Common questions
When did the Indianapolis Olympians begin play in the NBA?
The Indianapolis Olympians began play in 1949 as a founding member of the National Basketball Association. They were originally scheduled to compete in the National Basketball League before that league merged with the Basketball Association of America.
Who were the key players on the early roster of the Indianapolis Olympians?
University of Kentucky alumni Alex Groza and Ralph Beard led the early roster of the Indianapolis Olympians. Both men served as key contributors for the gold medal-winning 1948 US Olympic basketball team alongside Wallace Jones and Cliff Barker.
Why was the Indianapolis Olympians franchise suspended from the NBA?
Commissioner Maurice Podoloff suspended Alex Groza and Ralph Beard from the NBA for life after they admitted to point shaving during their college careers. This scandal erupted following the conclusion of the 1951 season when the players confessed to fixing games.
What happened during the longest game played by the Indianapolis Olympians?
The Indianapolis Olympians defeated the Rochester Royals with a score of 75, 73 on the 6th of January 1951. That contest required six overtime periods to determine a winner and remains the longest game in league history.
When did the Indianapolis Olympians fold and what was their final record?
The Indianapolis Olympians folded on the 23rd of April 1953, ending four seasons of competition in the NBA. The franchise compiled an overall record of 132 wins against 137 losses across its entire existence.