World Professional Basketball Tournament

The World Professional Basketball Tournament was an annual competition held from 1939 to 1948. It brought together the top professional basketball teams from across the United States to compete for the title of the world's best team.

The tournament was a significant event in the history of professional basketball, especially during a time when the sport was still developing. It provided a platform for teams to showcase their skills and for the sport to gain wider recognition. The New York Rens, an all-Black team, famously won the inaugural tournament in 1939, defeating the Oshkosh All-Stars in the finals. This victory was a landmark achievement, demonstrating the talent of Black players and contributing to the eventual desegregation of professional basketball leagues.12