1938–39 Akron Firestone Non-Skids season

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.^[1] Eight teams competed in the NBL, comprising four teams each in the Eastern and Western Divisions.^[2] The Non-Skids were one of two teams from Akron, Ohio in the league, the other being the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots.^[1]

1938–39 Akron Firestone Non-Skids season
NBL champions
Division champions
Head coach	Paul Sheeks
Arena	Firestone Clubhouse
Results
Record	24–3 (.889)
Place	Division: 1 (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Defeated Oshkosh All-Stars in NBL Championship, 3–2
< 1937–38 1939–40 >

The Non-Skids played their home games at Firestone Clubhouse.^[3] They finished the season with a league best 24–3 record and won the Eastern Division.^[2] They then went on to win the league's championship series match-up against the Western Division's Oshkosh All-Stars three games to two in a best-of-five series.^[2]

Head coach Paul Sheeks won the league's Coach of the Year Award.^[2] Players Jerry Bush and Soup Cable earned First Team All-NBL honors, while John Moir and Jack Ozburn earned Second Team All-NBL honors.^[2]

Roster

1938–39 Akron Firestone Non-Skids roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G/F Al Bonniwell 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1911–10-06 Dartmouth F/C Jerry Bush 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1914–09–06 St. John's G Soup Cable 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1913–04–04 West High School G/F Mally Johnson 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1908–02–04 NC State F Ted Migdal 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 140 lb (64 kg) 1918–02–14 Miami (OH) F John Moir 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1915–05–22 Notre Dame C Paul Nowak 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1914–03–14 Notre Dame G/F Jack Ozburn 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1913–01–04 Monmouth (IL) F/C Glenn Roberts 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 198 lb (90 kg) 1912–10–25 Emory & Henry C Slim Shoun 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1904–10–04 Carson–Newman G Don Smith 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1910–10–18 Pittsburgh F/C Irving Terjesen 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1915–03–04 NYU G Paul Tobin 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1909–11–23 West High School

Head coach Paul Sheeks Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Note: Paul Nowak and Don Smith were not on the playoffs roster.

Regular season

Season standings

Pos.	Eastern Division	Wins	Losses	Win %
1	Akron Firestone Non-Skids	24	3	.889
T–2	Akron Goodyear Wingfoots	14	14	.500
	Warren Penns / Cleveland White Horses	14	14	.500
4	Pittsburgh Pirates	13	14	.481

Playoffs

NBL Championship

(E1) Akron Firestone Non-Skids vs. (W1) Oshkosh All-Stars: Akron wins series 3–2

• Game 1 @ Akron: Akron 50, Oshkosh 38
• Game 2 @ Akron: Oshkosh 38, Akron 36
• Game 3 @ Oshkosh: Akron 40, Oshkosh 29
• Game 4 @ Oshkosh: Oshkosh 49, Oshkosh 37
• Game 5 @ Oshkosh: Akron 37, Oshkosh 30

Awards and honors

• NBL Coach of the Year – Paul Sheeks
• First Team All-NBL – Jerry Bush and Soup Cable
• Second Team All-NBL – John Moir and Jack Ozburn