Washington Bears

The Washington Bears were an all-black professional basketball team of the 1940s.

Sponsored by movie theater owner Abe Lichtman, the Bears played their home games at Turner's Arena in Washington, DC.^[1] Most of the team was composed of former New York Renaissance players, such as Pop Gates,^[2] Tarzan Cooper, Jackie Bethards, and John Isaacs. In 1943, the Bears achieved a 41-0 record and won the World Professional Basketball Tournament, defeating the Oshkosh All-Stars in the championship game.^[1]

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