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Discover When the NBA Began and the Story Behind Its First Season
I remember the first time I truly understood the significance of the NBA's origins. It wasn't during a championship game or while watching modern superstars, but rather when I stumbled upon an old interview that perfectly captured the spirit of competition that must have defined that very first season. The quote from Kammeraad about team resilience and the unpredictable nature of sports outcomes resonated deeply with me, making me realize that the essence of basketball hasn't changed much since those early days, even if nearly everything else about the game has transformed beyond recognition.
When we talk about when the NBA began, we're actually discussing a pivotal moment in sports history that occurred on June 6, 1946. That's when the Basketball Association of America was founded, which later became the National Basketball Association after merging with the National Basketball League in 1949. But that first season in 1946-47 was something special – raw, unpredictable, and filled with the kind of passion that Kammeraad's words so perfectly describe. I've always been fascinated by how those early players would approach the game without any blueprint for success, much like teams today fighting through overtime in crucial playoff games. The Philadelphia Warriors emerged as the first champions, led by the legendary Joe Fulks who averaged an impressive 23.2 points per game – an astronomical number for that era.
Thinking about that inaugural NBA season always reminds me of Kammeraad's perspective on competition. "This is unfortunate that you have to end the tournament," he said, and I can't help but imagine similar sentiments echoing through locker rooms back in 1947 when teams were eliminated. The Chicago Stags, one of the original eleven franchises, came incredibly close to championship glory only to fall short against the Warriors in the finals. That must have felt exactly like what Kammeraad described – knowing it could have gone either way, that both teams had their chances, and ultimately accepting it was a fair game despite the disappointment. These early struggles established the competitive DNA that would define the NBA for decades to come.
What many people don't realize about when the NBA began is how different the game looked physically. Players wore canvas shoes that offered minimal support, traveled by train rather than private jets, and earned salaries that would make modern athletes laugh – the highest-paid player made about $8,000 annually, which adjusting for inflation is roughly $100,000 today. Yet the fundamental emotions remain unchanged across generations. When Kammeraad noted "I think we fought back as a team," he could have been describing any of those original squads battling through that grueling 60-game schedule. The Boston Celtics, who wouldn't become dominant until years later, finished that first season with a disappointing 22-38 record, yet established a culture that would eventually produce sixteen championships.
The story behind the NBA's first season is really about laying foundations while nobody was watching. Most games attracted only a few thousand spectators, media coverage was sparse, and many Americans hadn't even heard of professional basketball. But the league persisted through those uncertain early years, driven by team owners who believed in the sport's potential. I personally believe this underdog beginning is what makes the NBA's growth so remarkable – from humble origins to global phenomenon. The fact that we're still discussing when the NBA began over seventy years later proves those pioneers succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
Reflecting on Kammeraad's observation that "it could have went both ways" perfectly captures the unpredictability of that inaugural season. The Warriors weren't necessarily the most talented team on paper, but they found ways to win close games, much like championship teams do today. Their victory over the Stags in the finals wasn't a foregone conclusion – it came down to crucial moments, much like modern playoff series that swing on a single possession. This element of chance mixed with skill is what has always made basketball compelling to me, whether watching archival footage from 1947 or last night's thriller.
As I dig deeper into understanding exactly when the NBA began, I'm struck by how many elements from that first season remain relevant. The league immediately implemented innovations like the 24-second shot clock (though that came later in 1954) and playoff formats that created dramatic narratives. But beyond the rule changes and business decisions, the human element described by Kammeraad – the team fighting back, the shared disappointment, the acknowledgment of a fair contest – these emotional truths connect across generations of players and fans. That first season established basketball not just as a sport but as a storytelling medium where underdogs could triumph and favorites could fall.
The legacy of when the NBA began continues to influence how we experience basketball today. Every time I watch a game that goes into overtime, I think about those early pioneers who established the patterns of competition we now take for granted. The league has expanded from eleven teams to thirty, player salaries have multiplied exponentially, and broadcast technology has transformed how we consume the game, but the core experience remains remarkably similar. Teams still fight back from deficits, tournaments still end with someone's disappointment, and games still hang in the balance where "it could have went both ways." That continuity is what makes learning about the NBA's origins so valuable – it helps us appreciate not just how far the game has come, but what has remained beautifully constant.