1946–47 BAA season
1946–47 BAA season
| 1946–47 BAA season | |
|---|---|
| League | Basketball Association of America |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | November 1, 1946 – April 14, 1947 April 16–22, 1947 (Finals) |
| Number of games | 60 |
| Number of teams | 11 |
| Regular season | |
| Top scorer | Joe Fulks (Philadelphia) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Philadelphia Warriors[1] |
| Eastern runners-up | New York Knicks[1] |
| Western champions | Chicago Stags[1][2] |
| Western runners-up | Washington Capitols[1] |
| Finals | |
| Champions | Philadelphia Warriors |
| Runners-up | Chicago Stags |
The 1946–47 BAA season was the inaugural season of the Basketball Association of America. (Following its third, the 1948–49 season, the BAA and National Basketball League merged to create the National Basketball Association or NBA.) The league launched with 11 teams playing a 60-game schedule. The postseason tournament at its conclusion, the 1947 BAA Playoffs, ended with the Philadelphia Warriors becoming the first BAA Champion, beating the Chicago Stags 4 games to 1 in the BAA Finals.
The NBA recognizes the three BAA seasons as part of its own history, sometimes without comment,[3] so the 1946–47 BAA season is sometimes considered the first NBA season.
| 1946–47 BAA season | |
|---|---|
| League | Basketball Association of America |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | November 1, 1946 – April 14, 1947 April 16–22, 1947 (Finals) |
| Number of games | 60 |
| Number of teams | 11 |
| Regular season | |
| Top scorer | Joe Fulks (Philadelphia) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Philadelphia Warriors[1] |
| Eastern runners-up | New York Knicks[1] |
| Western champions | Chicago Stags[1][2] |
| Western runners-up | Washington Capitols[1] |
| Finals | |
| Champions | Philadelphia Warriors |
| Runners-up | Chicago Stags |
Notable events
On November 1, 1946, in the inaugural game of the new league, the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Huskies 68–66 in front of 7,090 spectators at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Ossie Schectman scored the opening basket for the New York Knicks against Toronto. In 1949, the BAA helped create the National Basketball Association by merger, and Schectman's shot may be considered the first basket in NBA history.[4] The NBA recognizes the three BAA seasons as part of its own history, sometimes without comment.[5]
Final standings
Eastern Division
Western Division
Statistics leaders
| Category | Player | Team | Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Joe Fulks | Philadelphia Warriors | 1,389 |
| Assists | Ernie Calverley | Providence Steamrollers | 202 |
| FG% | Bob Feerick | Washington Capitols | .401 |
| FT% | Fred Scolari | Washington Capitols | .811 |
Note: Prior to the 1969–70 season, league leaders in points and assists were determined by totals rather than averages.
BAA awards
All-BAA First Team G Max Zaslofsky, Chicago Stags F Bones McKinney, Washington Capitols F Joe Fulks, Philadelphia Warriors C Stan Miasek, Detroit Falcons F Bob Feerick, Washington Capitols
All-BAA Second Team G John Logan, St. Louis Bombers G Ernie Calverley, Providence Steamrollers C Chick Halbert, Chicago Stags G Frankie Baumholtz, Cleveland Rebels G Fred Scolari, Washington Capitols