Events

• The first NCAA Tournament is played. The University of Oregon defeated Ohio State University 46 33 in Evanston, Illinois to become the inaugural national champions of this tournament.
• The third European basketball championship, Eurobasket 1939, is won by Lithuania.
• The seventh South American Basketball Championship in Rio de Janeiro is won by Brazil.
• Israel national basketball team joins the FIBA

Tournaments

College

Men

• NCAA
  • NCAA: Oregon 46, Ohio State 33
    • Most Outstanding Player: Jimmy Hull, Ohio State
  • National Invitation Tournament: Long Island 44, Loyola (IL) 32
• NAIA
  • NAIA: Southwestern (KS) 32, San Diego State 31

Births

• January 21 Tom Stith, All-American at St. Bonaventure University
• June 9 Dick Vitale, College basketball announcer
• July 24 Walt Bellamy, Hall of Fame center

Deaths

• November 28 James Naismith, Inventor of basketball (b. 1898)

fr:1939 en basket-ball