The Lakers' franchise began in 1947 when Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen of Minnesota purchased the recently disbanded Detroit Gems[17] of the National Basketball League (NBL) for $15,000 from Gems owner Maury Winston.[18] Minneapolis sportswriter Sid Hartman played a key behind-the-scenes role in helping put together the deal and later the team.[19] Inspired by Minnesota's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes", the team christened themselves the Lakers.[4][20] Hartman helped them hire John Kundla from College of St. Thomas, to be their first head coach, by meeting with him and selling him on the team.[21][22]