It was 70 years ago—on June 6, 1946—that the original NBA team owners met in New York City and changed the history of American pro basketball, establishing two divisions with 11 teams total. The organization they founded (then called the Basketball Association of America) was the product of their professional interest in filling arenas, according to the NBA Encyclopedia, not in the sport itself. After all, many of them owned the venues too. The first season would begin that autumn.
The BAA wasn’t the first basketball league to be formed, and it had competition in the form of the National Basketball League. But NBL games tended to take place in small venues, as described by Michael Schumacher’sMr. Basketball, and the league wasn’t really successful as a big business. Even though the BAA founders weren’t the biggest hoops fans in the world, they knew how to make the league a success. So it’s perhaps no surprise that, though the BAA and NBL merged in 1949 to become the National Basketball Association, the NBA still counts that 1946 day as its founding date.
TIME reported in 1949 that “pro basketball is gradually taking on a big-league glow. The Basketball Association of America is a twelve-city circuit, playing to enthusiastic crowds from Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden to St. Louis’ Arena. Its stars get paid as much as $17,500 for a 20-week season.”
St. Louis Bombers pose for a team portrait circa 1945 in St. Louis, Mo.
NBA Photos/NBAE—Getty ImagesBob Davies of the Rochester Royals poses for an action portrait during the 1946 season in Rochester, N.Y.NBA Photos/NBAE—Getty ImagesAngelo Musi of the Philadelphia Warriors poses for a portrait circa 1947 at the Philadelphia Civic Center in PhiladelphiaCharles T. Higgind/NBAE—Getty ImagesDon Martin, Bob Doll, Belus Smalley, John Logan and George Munroe of the St. Louis Bombers pose for a portrait circa 1947 in St. Louis, Mo. NBA Photos/NBAE—Getty ImagesRed Rocha (4), St. Louis Bombers center, goes up in the air to make a pass in Basketball Association of America playoff game with the Philadelphia Warriors at the Arena, March 30, 1948. Chuck Halbert, lanky Warriors center, also leaves the floor in an attempt to block the pass. Warren M. Winterbottom—AP PhotoMinneapolis Lakers teammates congratulate George Milken after the 6-foot 10-inch wizard racked up 48 points in a 101-74 victory against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Feb. 23, 1949.Bill Meurer/NY Daily News Archive—Getty ImagesRepresentatives of the National Basketball League and Basketball Association of America, shake hands after agreeing to a merger of the two circuits into an 18-team organization to be known as the National Basketball Association, Aug 3, 1949, New York. Grouped around the smiling Maurice Podoloff, center, are left to right: Ike Duffey, Leo Ferris, Ned Irish, and Walter Brown. John Lent—AP PhotoHarry Gallatin #11 and Nathaniel Clifton #8 of the New York Knicks pose for portrait circa 1950 in New York, N.Y.NBA Photos/NBAE—Getty ImagesEarl Lloyd #11 of the Syracuse Nationals poses for a portrait circa 1950. NBA Photos/NBAE—Getty ImagesBob Cousy #14 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Dick McGuire #15 of the New York Knicks at the Boston Garden circa 1950 in Boston. NBA Photo Library/NBAE—Getty ImagesGeorge Mikan (99), star Minneapolis Lakers center, breaks up a shot by Bob Davies, Rochester Royals guard (11) in the decisive game of the National Basketball Association's Western Division playoffs, April 4, 1951 in Rochester, N.Y. Rochester, won, 80-75. AP PhotoHowie Schultz #12 of the Minneapolis Lakers rebounds against the Philadelphia Warriors on Dec. 21, 1951 at the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia.Charles T. Higgins/NBAE—Getty ImagesMinneapolis Lakers hoist coach John Kundla and carry him to their dressing room after beating the New York Knickebockers 82-65 April 25, 1952, and winning their fourth National Basketball Association title in five years.AP PhotoBob Cousy (14) of the Boston Celtics takes a rebound off the backboard after an attempted basket by Dick McGuire (15) of the New York Knickerbockers in the fourth quarter of their NBA playoff game at the Boston Garden in Boston, March 26, 1953. Bill Chaplis—AP PhotoKentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp talks to players, from left, Cliff Hagan, Lou Tsioropoulos and Frank Ramsey (30) in Lexington, Ky. Circa 1954. John Wyatt—APBob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks poses for a portrait with referees circa 1955. NBA Photos/NBAE—Getty ImagesDick McGuire (right) drops to knee as Boston's Bob Cousy outslicks him during fourth period action at Garden. Alan Barksdale (center) seems awed by teammate Cousy's daring, but things evened up for Knicks as they pulled away to 88-83 victory. Circa 1955.Charles Hoff/NY Daily News Archive—Getty ImagesPhiladelphia Warriors against the Fort Wayne Pistons during Game Five of the NBA Finals on April 7, 1956 at the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons 99-88 and won the series 4-1. Charles T. Higgins/NBAE—Getty Images
