As a lifelong basketball historian and former sports journalist, I've always been fascinated by the origins of professional basketball. When people ask me "what was the first NBA team?" they're often surprised to learn that the answer isn't as straightforward as they might think. The NBA's formation story is actually a complex tapestry of mergers, bankruptcies, and strategic decisions that ultimately shaped the league we know today.
Let me take you back to 1946, when the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was founded. Many fans mistakenly believe the NBA began in 1949, but the truth is more nuanced. The first official game was played on November 1, 1946 between the New York Knicks and Toronto Huskies - and I've always had a soft spot for those original Knicks, who played at the legendary Madison Square Garden. What many people don't realize is that there were actually 11 founding teams in that inaugural BAA season, including franchises that would become iconic and others that would quickly fade into history. The Boston Celtics, Chicago Stags, and Philadelphia Warriors were among these pioneers, though only three of those original franchises survive today in their original cities.
The real transformation happened in 1949 when the BAA merged with its rival, the National Basketball League (NBL). This was the moment that truly created the NBA as we understand it, combining the BAA's major market appeal with the NBL's midwestern strongholds. I've studied the merger documents extensively, and what strikes me is how this combination reflected the same team dynamics we see in modern basketball. Just like Cabañero emphasized that UST's win was about seizing opportunities as a team when someone is struggling, the early NBA teams had to adapt constantly. Franchises relocated, folded, or reinvented themselves - the Minneapolis Lakers becoming the Los Angeles Lakers being perhaps the most famous example of strategic adaptation.
Looking at the timeline, it's remarkable how many franchises came and went in those early years. The original Baltimore Bullets won the championship in 1948 only to fold four years later - a cautionary tale about the volatility of early professional basketball. Meanwhile, the Syracuse Nationals (who later became the Philadelphia 76ers) demonstrated the kind of resilience that defines successful franchises. They understood that building a lasting organization required more than just star power - it demanded the collective effort that Cabañero referenced, where teams must capitalize on opportunities especially during challenging periods.
From my perspective, the true "first NBA team" distinction belongs to the New York Knicks, since they're one of only two original BAA teams (along with the Boston Celtics) that have never relocated or changed their name. There's something special about that continuity, about organizations that have weathered the storms of professional sports while maintaining their identity. The Knicks played their first game 76 years ago and still call Madison Square Garden home - that's the kind of legacy that fascinates me as a historian.
The evolution from those early days to the modern NBA tells a story about adaptation and teamwork that transcends basketball. Just as Cabañero highlighted how teams succeed by supporting each other through struggles, the NBA itself grew through collaboration between owners, players, and cities. The league expanded from 17 teams after the merger to 30 today, with each new franchise building on the foundation laid by those pioneering organizations. What began as an uncertain venture in 1946 has become a global phenomenon, proving that the collective spirit Cabañero described applies not just to players on the court, but to the very structure of professional sports leagues.
