The Minneapolis Lakers were the first professional sports team to surface in Minnesota after World War II. They had played four games in an inaugural 1947-48 season, and then were able to sign George Mikan, after his team (the Chicago Gears) and the fledgling league (Professional Basketball League of America) that had been built around him folded quickly.
Mikan and the Lakers won the National Basketball League title that season, and in between the first two rounds of the playoffs and the finals against the Rochester (N.Y.) Royals, the Lakers also won the last Chicago World Pro Tournament (1939-48) ever.