1946-47: The Beginning

Our tour through time begins with the 1946-47 season. Begun soon after the conclusion of WWII, this first season of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) represented the modest beginnings of today's NBA. Ossie Schectman began it all in Toronto on November 1, 1946, by scoring the first basket and his team, the New York Knickerbockers, would go on to defeat the Toronto Huskies 68-66 in the league's first game. Played in front of a crown of just over 7,000, this was definitely not today's NBA. The league was not yet integrated and games were lower scoring and played below the rim. But the world was changing, and events set in motion in 1946 would establish the foundations of what would ultimately lead the NBA to become a global force.

The first year after the conclusion of the second world war brought the beginnings of our current globalized society, including the emergence of many institutions which continue today. In January, the United Nations met for the first time. Later that year, Norway's Trygve Lie was selected as its first Secretary General. In April, the International Court of Justice held its first meeting and the League of Nations, the United Nation's predecessor, officially disbanded. The BAA formed in June, and one month later the World Bank began its operations. Let's also tip our hat to Paris, where bikinis went on sale on July 5. Smart people can celebrate the the founding of Mensa in October and, as noted above, the BAA began play at the beginning of November.

The BAA's first season was played amid this incredible set of global changes. In this first season, the average field goal percentage was in the mid-thirties, and the star player, Joe Fulks of the Phliadephia Warriors, averaged an astonishing 23 points per game. The Washington Capitol's Bob Feerick led the league with his 40 percent field goal percentage, and Ernie Calverley of the Providence Steamrollers was the leading assist man, averaging almost 3.5 per game.

From NBA.com:

"The 60-game regular season belonged to the Washington Capitols, coached by Red Auerbach to a 49-11 record, including a 29-1 mark at home. But in the playoffs, Chicago shocked the Capitols behind the play of Max Zaslofsky and center Chuck Halbert to advance to The Finals. Philadelphia, coached by Eddie Gottlieb, who had the most extensive pro background of anyone in the BAA, defeated St. Louis and New York to advance to The Finals. Fulks, Howie Dallmar and Angelo Musi led Philadelphia past Chicago as the Warriors won the first league title 4-1.

"The debut season closed with neither a bang nor a whimper. The new league was acknowledged, with small items on the local teams appearing in newspapers. Television was still in the future, and radio broadcasts were hardly universal.

"Still, the franchises did play in major arenas, such as Boston Garden, Madison Square Garden and Chicago Stadium, with most of the teams sharing the buildings with hockey teams."

In the playoff quarterfinals, the Knicks defeated the Cleveland Rebels and the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the St. Louis Bombers. In the semifinals, the Chicago Stags defeated the Washington Capitols and the Philadelphia Warriors swept the Knicks. Finally, the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Chicago Stags to take home the first BAA Championship. Joe Fulks was the star of the final game, scoring 34 points in Philadelphia's 83-80 triumph.

In the case of our little experiment, these playoffs serve as our inaugural championship tourney. With this in mind, by winning the first BAA Championship the Philadelphia Warriors also take home the first ever Basketball Champs Belt. Until further notice, they are the holders of the all-time TBCB. From now and for the rest of time, one rule applies:

Source

Sources: wikipedia, nba.com, basketball-reference.com