1947–48 BAA season
1947–48 BAA season
| 1947–48 BAA season | |
|---|---|
| League | Basketball Association of America |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | November 12, 1947 – March 21, 1948 March 23–April 8, 1948 (Playoffs) April 10–21, 1948 (Finals) |
| Number of games | 48 |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Draft | |
| Top draft pick | Clifton McNeely |
| Picked by | Pittsburgh Ironmen |
| Regular season | |
| Top scorer | Max Zaslofsky (Chicago) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Philadelphia Warriors[1][2] |
| Eastern runners-up | St. Louis Bombers[1] |
| Western champions | Baltimore Bullets[1] |
| Western runners-up | Chicago Stags[1] |
| Finals | |
| Champions | Baltimore Bullets |
| Runners-up | Philadelphia Warriors |
The 1947–48 BAA season was the second season of the Basketball Association of America. (Following its third, 1948–49 season, the BAA and National Basketball League merged to create the National Basketball Association or NBA.) The postseason tournament at its conclusion, the 1948 BAA Playoffs, ended with the Baltimore Bullets winning the BAA Championship, beating the Philadelphia Warriors 4 games to 2 in the BAA Finals.
The NBA recognizes the three BAA seasons as part of its own history, sometimes without comment,[3] so BAA 1947–48 is sometimes considered the second NBA season.
| 1947–48 BAA season | |
|---|---|
| League | Basketball Association of America |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | November 12, 1947 – March 21, 1948 March 23–April 8, 1948 (Playoffs) April 10–21, 1948 (Finals) |
| Number of games | 48 |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Draft | |
| Top draft pick | Clifton McNeely |
| Picked by | Pittsburgh Ironmen |
| Regular season | |
| Top scorer | Max Zaslofsky (Chicago) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Philadelphia Warriors[1][2] |
| Eastern runners-up | St. Louis Bombers[1] |
| Western champions | Baltimore Bullets[1] |
| Western runners-up | Chicago Stags[1] |
| Finals | |
| Champions | Baltimore Bullets |
| Runners-up | Philadelphia Warriors |
Notable occurrences
| Offseason | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team | 1946–47 coach | 1947–48 coach |
| New York Knicks | Neil Cohalan | Joe Lapchick |
| Providence Steamrollers | Robert Morris | Albert Soar |
| In-season | ||
| Team | Outgoing coach | Incoming coach |
| Providence Steamrollers | Albert Soar | Nat Hickey |
Preseason events
Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Toronto folded before the season started, leaving the BAA with only seven teams. The Baltimore Bullets were brought into the league from the American Basketball League to provide a more convenient number, eight.
Final standings
Eastern Division
Western Division
Statistics leaders
| Category | Player | Team | Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Max Zaslofsky | Chicago Stags | 1,007 |
| Assists | Howie Dallmar | Philadelphia Warriors | 120 |
| FG% | Bob Feerick | Washington Capitols | .340 |
| FT% | Bob Feerick | Washington Capitols | .788 |
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 C Ed Sadowski, Boston Celtics F Joe Fulks, Philadelphia Warriors F Howie Dallmar, Philadelphia Warriors F Bob Feerick, Washington Capitols G Max Zaslofsky, Chicago Stags
All-BAA Second Team G Buddy Jeannette, Baltimore Bullets C Stan Miasek, Chicago Stags G Carl Braun, New York Knicks G Fred Scolari, Washington Capitols G John Logan, St. Louis Bombers
BAA Rookie of the Year F/G Paul Hoffman, Baltimore Bullets