, founded in 1946. The league merged with the
.
, was named as the BAA president. The league started with 11 professional basketball team, which played in a 60-game regular season followed by the
Although there had been earlier attempts at professional basketball leagues, including the
(ABL) and the NBL, the BAA was the first league to attempt to play primarily in large arenas in major cities, such as the
. During its early years, the quality of play in the BAA was not significantly better than in competing leagues or among leading independent clubs such as the
. For instance, the 1947 ABL finalist
which the NBA now regards as the first game played in the league's history. In the opening game of the BAA, Ozzie Schectman scored the opening basket for the New York Knickerbockers.
. The 6 remaining NBL teams were absorbed to the BAA, which has 10 teams after the
folded prior to the merge.
, a planned expansion team for the NBL also joined the newly-formed league. In total, the new league had 17 teams located in a mix of large and small cities, as well as large arenas, smaller gymnasiums, and armories.
| Team |
City |
Year
active |
Seasons
played |
Win–loss
record |
Winning
percentage |
Playoffs
appearances |
Championship
wins |
Reference |
| Baltimore Bullets The Baltimore Bullets were an American Basketball League team, and later, a Basketball Association of America , and a National Basketball Association team based in Baltimore, Maryland...
|
Baltimore, MarylandMaryland is a state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia to the south and west, Pennsylvania to the north, and Delaware to the east. It is comparable in size to the European country of Belgium. According to the U.S...
|
1947–49 |
2 |
5757–51 |
.528 |
2 |
1 |
|
| Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball club based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team is owned by Wycliffe Grousbeck and coached by Doc Rivers, with Danny Ainge as the President of...
* |
Boston Boston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
, MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Most of its population of...
|
1946–49 |
3 |
6767–101 |
.399 |
1 |
0 |
|
| Chicago Stags The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S..- Franchise history :The Chicago Stags were founded in 1946 and folded in 1950. Despite their short history, they were able to acquire the draft rights to a young Bob Cousy in a trade with the Tri-Cities...
|
ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and with more than 2.8 million people, the 3rd largest city in the United States...
, IllinoisIllinois , the 21st state admitted to the United States of America, is the most populous and demographically diverse Midwestern state and the fifth most populous state in the nation...
|
1946–49 |
3 |
105105–64 |
.621 |
3 |
0 |
|
| Cleveland Rebels The Cleveland Rebels were a Basketball Association of America team based in Cleveland, Ohio.- Franchise history :The Rebels were an inaugural franchise in the BAA's first season...
|
ClevelandCleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border...
, OhioOhio is a Midwestern state of the United States. The thirty-fourth largest state by area in the U.S., it is the seventh-most populous with nearly 11.5 million residents...
|
1946–47 |
1 |
3030–30 |
.500 |
1 |
0 |
|
| Detroit Falcons The Detroit Falcons were a professional basketball team based in Detroit, Michigan. It played in the 1946–47 season in Basketball Association of America, a predecessor organization to the National Basketball Association...
|
DetroitDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
, MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
|
1946–47 |
1 |
2020–40 |
.333 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Fort Wayne Pistons The Detroit Pistons is a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills.-From Fort Wayne to Detroit:...
* |
Fort WayneFort Wayne is a city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. As of 2008, the city had an estimated population of 251,591, ranking it the 73 rd largest city in the nation. It is the second largest city in Indiana, after Indianapolis...
, IndianaIndiana is a U.S. state, the 19 th admitted to the Union. It is located in the Great Lakes region, and with approximately 6.3 million residents, is ranked 16 th in population and 17 th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38 th in land area, and is the...
|
1948–49 |
1 |
2222–38 |
.367 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Indianapolis Jets The Indianapolis Jets were a Basketball Association of America team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team lasted for one season and was later replaced by a new franchise.- Franchise history :...
|
Indianapolis, IndianaIndiana is a U.S. state, the 19 th admitted to the Union. It is located in the Great Lakes region, and with approximately 6.3 million residents, is ranked 16 th in population and 17 th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38 th in land area, and is the...
|
1948–49 |
1 |
1818–42 |
.300 |
0 |
0 |
|
Minneapolis LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, which they share with their fellow NBA rival, the Los Angeles Clippers, and their sister team, the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA...
* |
Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinnesota is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. The twelfth largest state by area in the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.2 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the...
|
1948–49 |
1 |
4444–16 |
.733 |
1 |
1 |
|
New York KnickerbockersThe New York Knickerbockers, known familiarly as the Knicks, are a professional National Basketball Association team based in New York City, and the most valuable franchise in the league, valued at $608 million...
* |
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
, New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
|
1946–49 |
3 |
9191–77 |
.542 |
3 |
0 |
|
Philadelphia WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors are a professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
* |
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States...
|
1946–49 |
3 |
9090–78 |
.536 |
3 |
1 |
|
| Pittsburgh Ironmen The Pittsburgh Ironmen were a charter member of the Basketball Association of America . The team was based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They ended their only season in the BAA in 1946-47 with a record of 15-45, finishing in fifth and last place in the Western Division and worst overall in the league...
|
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States...
|
1946–47 |
1 |
1515–45 |
.250 |
0 |
0 |
|
Providence SteamrollersThe Providence Steamrollers were a National Basketball Association team based in Providence, Rhode Island. The Steamrollers remain the last pro sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island.- Franchise history :...
|
ProvidenceProvidence is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the estimated second or third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode IslandRhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
|
1946–49 |
3 |
4646–122 |
.274 |
0 |
0 |
|
Rochester RoyalsThe Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. The Kings are members of the National Basketball Association .-Rochester:...
* |
RochesterRochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. The Rochester metropolitan area is the second largest economy in New York State, behind the New York City metropolitan area. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and...
, New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
|
1948–49 |
1 |
4545–15 |
.750 |
1 |
0 |
|
| St. Louis Bombers The St. Louis Bombers were a National Basketball Association team based in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1946. The team ceased operations in 1950.- Franchise history :...
|
St. LouisSt. Louis is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. With an estimated population of 354,361 in 2008, it is the principal municipality of Greater St. Louis, population 2,866,517, the largest urban area in Missouri and sixteenth largest in the United States...
, MissouriMissouri is a state in the Midwest region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Missouri is the 18th most populous state with a 2008 estimated population of 5,911,605. It comprises 114 counties and one independent city....
|
1946–49 |
3 |
9696–73 |
.568 |
3 |
0 |
|
Toronto HuskiesThe Toronto Huskies were a team in the Basketball Association of America during the 1946–47 season, based in Toronto, Ontario...
|
TorontoToronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America...
, OntarioOntario is a province located in east-central Canada, the largest by population and second largest, after Quebec, in total area. Ontario is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, and 5 U.S...
|
1946–47 |
1 |
2222–38 |
.367 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Washington Capitols The Washington Capitols were a charter Basketball Association of America team based in Washington, D.C. The team was coached from 1946 to 1949 by NBA Hall of Famer Red Auerbach....
|
Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790...
|
1946–49 |
3 |
115115–53 |
.685 |
3 |
0 |
|
, which were known as the Baltimore Bullets from 1963 to 1973 Currently known as the Detroit Pistons Currently known as the Los Angeles Lakers Currently known as the Golden State Warriors Currently known as the Sacramento Kings
All-BAA Team
| Season |
First team |
Second team |
| Players | Teams |
|---|
| Players | Teams |
|---|
| |
Joe Fulks Joseph Franklin "Jumping Joe" Fulks was a United States basketball player, sometimes called "the first of the high-scoring forwards". He was one of the first players enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame...
* |
Philadelphia WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors are a professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|
Ernie Calverley Ernest A. "Ernie" Calverley was an American basketball guard for the University of Rhode Island...
|
Providence SteamrollersThe Providence Steamrollers were a National Basketball Association team based in Providence, Rhode Island. The Steamrollers remain the last pro sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island.- Franchise history :...
|
| Bob Feerick Robert Joseph Feerick was an American professional basketball player, coach and general manager. He was born in San Francisco, California....
|
Washington Capitols The Washington Capitols were a charter Basketball Association of America team based in Washington, D.C. The team was coached from 1946 to 1949 by NBA Hall of Famer Red Auerbach....
|
Frank Baumholtz Frank Conrad Baumholtz was an American outfielder for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies...
|
Cleveland Rebels The Cleveland Rebels were a Basketball Association of America team based in Cleveland, Ohio.- Franchise history :The Rebels were an inaugural franchise in the BAA's first season...
|
| Stan Miasek Stanley Miasek was an American professional basketball player.A 6'5" forward/center, Miasek played six seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Detroit Falcons, Chicago Stags, Baltimore Bullets, and Milwaukee Hawks...
|
Detroit Falcons The Detroit Falcons were a professional basketball team based in Detroit, Michigan. It played in the 1946–47 season in Basketball Association of America, a predecessor organization to the National Basketball Association...
|
Johnny Logan John Arnold Logan , was a basketball player and coach born in in Richmond, Indiana. A 6'2" guard who played at Indiana University, Logan played for four seasons with the now-defunct St. Louis Bombers, and a fifth season with the Tri-Cities Blackhawks...
|
St. Louis Bombers The St. Louis Bombers were a National Basketball Association team based in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1946. The team ceased operations in 1950.- Franchise history :...
|
| Bones McKinney Horace Albert "Bones" McKinney was an American professional basketball player and coach....
|
Washington Capitols The Washington Capitols were a charter Basketball Association of America team based in Washington, D.C. The team was coached from 1946 to 1949 by NBA Hall of Famer Red Auerbach....
|
Chick Halbert Charles P. "Chick" Halbert was an American professional basketball player.A 6'9" center from West Texas A&M University, Halbert played five seasons in the Basketball Association of America...
|
Chicago Stags The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S..- Franchise history :The Chicago Stags were founded in 1946 and folded in 1950. Despite their short history, they were able to acquire the draft rights to a young Bob Cousy in a trade with the Tri-Cities...
|
| Max Zaslofsky Max "Slats" Zaslofsky was a professional basketball player and coach.He attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, and St...
|
Chicago Stags The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S..- Franchise history :The Chicago Stags were founded in 1946 and folded in 1950. Despite their short history, they were able to acquire the draft rights to a young Bob Cousy in a trade with the Tri-Cities...
|
Fred Scolari Fred J. Scolari was an American professional basketball player. At 5'10", he played the guard position....
|
Washington Capitols The Washington Capitols were a charter Basketball Association of America team based in Washington, D.C. The team was coached from 1946 to 1949 by NBA Hall of Famer Red Auerbach....
|
| |
Joe Fulks* (2) |
Philadelphia WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors are a professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|
Johnny Logan (2) |
St. Louis Bombers The St. Louis Bombers were a National Basketball Association team based in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1946. The team ceased operations in 1950.- Franchise history :...
|
| Max Zaslofsky (2) |
Chicago Stags The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S..- Franchise history :The Chicago Stags were founded in 1946 and folded in 1950. Despite their short history, they were able to acquire the draft rights to a young Bob Cousy in a trade with the Tri-Cities...
|
Carl Braun |
New York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, known familiarly as the Knicks, are a professional National Basketball Association team based in New York City, and the most valuable franchise in the league, valued at $608 million...
|
| Ed Sadowski Edward Frank Sadowski was an American professional basketball player.A 6'5" center, Sadowski starred at Seton Hall University during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He led Seton Hall to its only undefeated season in 1939-1940...
|
Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball club based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team is owned by Wycliffe Grousbeck and coached by Doc Rivers, with Danny Ainge as the President of...
|
Stan Miasek (2) |
Detroit Falcons The Detroit Falcons were a professional basketball team based in Detroit, Michigan. It played in the 1946–47 season in Basketball Association of America, a predecessor organization to the National Basketball Association...
|
| Howie Dallmar Howard Dallmar was an American professional basketball player and coach.A 6'4" forward from San Francisco, California, Dallmar played collegiately at Stanford University. He was an All-American selection and led Stanford to the 1942 NCAA Championship, earning Tournament Most Outstanding Player...
|
Philadelphia WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors are a professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|
Fred Scolari (2) |
Washington Capitols The Washington Capitols were a charter Basketball Association of America team based in Washington, D.C. The team was coached from 1946 to 1949 by NBA Hall of Famer Red Auerbach....
|
| Bob Feerick (2) |
Washington Capitols The Washington Capitols were a charter Basketball Association of America team based in Washington, D.C. The team was coached from 1946 to 1949 by NBA Hall of Famer Red Auerbach....
|
Buddy Jeannette Harry Edward "Buddy" Jeannette was a former professional basketball player and coach....
* |
Baltimore Bullets The Baltimore Bullets were an American Basketball League team, and later, a Basketball Association of America , and a National Basketball Association team based in Baltimore, Maryland...
|
| |
George MikanGeorge Lawrence Mikan, Jr. , nicknamed Mr. Basketball, was an American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball Association...
* |
Minneapolis LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, which they share with their fellow NBA rival, the Los Angeles Clippers, and their sister team, the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA...
|
Arnie Risen Arnold D. Risen is a retired American basketball player.A 6'9" center from the Ohio State University. He led the Buckeyes to two straight Final Four appearances....
* |
Rochester RoyalsThe Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. The Kings are members of the National Basketball Association .-Rochester:...
|
| Joe Fulks* (3) |
Philadelphia WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors are a professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|
Bob Feerick (3) |
Washington Capitols The Washington Capitols were a charter Basketball Association of America team based in Washington, D.C. The team was coached from 1946 to 1949 by NBA Hall of Famer Red Auerbach....
|
| Bob Davies Robert Edris Davies was a professional basketball player in the 1950s. Alongside Bobby Wanzer he formed one of the best backcourt duos in the NBAs early years. Davies and Wanzer led the Rochester Royals to the 1951 NBA championship...
* |
Rochester RoyalsThe Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. The Kings are members of the National Basketball Association .-Rochester:...
|
Bones McKinney Horace Albert "Bones" McKinney was an American professional basketball player and coach....
|
Washington Capitols The Washington Capitols were a charter Basketball Association of America team based in Washington, D.C. The team was coached from 1946 to 1949 by NBA Hall of Famer Red Auerbach....
|
| Max Zaslofsky (3) |
Chicago Stags The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S..- Franchise history :The Chicago Stags were founded in 1946 and folded in 1950. Despite their short history, they were able to acquire the draft rights to a young Bob Cousy in a trade with the Tri-Cities...
|
Ken Sailors Kenneth L. Sailors is an American former professional basketball player. A guard, he is notable for popularizing the jump shot as an alternative to the two-handed, flat-footed set shot....
|
Providence SteamrollersThe Providence Steamrollers were a National Basketball Association team based in Providence, Rhode Island. The Steamrollers remain the last pro sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island.- Franchise history :...
|
| Jim Pollard James Clifford "Jim" Pollard was an American professional basketball player.In college, Pollard played for Stanford and was a key member of Stanford's 1942 national championship team . During WWII he starred in Coast Guard teams from Alameda to Honolulu...
* |
Minneapolis LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, which they share with their fellow NBA rival, the Los Angeles Clippers, and their sister team, the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA...
|
Johnny Logan (3) |
St. Louis Bombers The St. Louis Bombers were a National Basketball Association team based in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1946. The team ceased operations in 1950.- Franchise history :...
|