Discover the Surprising Origins: When Did the NBA Begin Its Basketball Journey?
I still remember the first time I walked into Madison Square Garden back in 2015, feeling the palpable energy that seemed to seep from the very walls. As a basketball historian and lifelong fan, I've always been fascinated by how the NBA transformed from a humble beginning into the global phenomenon it is today. The league's origin story isn't just about dates and statistics—it's about resilience, adaptation, and moments that could have gone either way, much like Kammeraad's reflection on tournament play where "it could have went both ways."
When we trace back to when the NBA began its basketball journey, we're looking at June 6, 1946—a date that doesn't get nearly enough attention in sports history. The league started as the Basketball Association of America (BAA) with eleven teams, though only three of those original franchises survive today: the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Golden State Warriors. What many people don't realize is that the BAA wasn't even the premier basketball league at the time. That distinction belonged to the National Basketball League (NBL), which featured midwestern teams and more established players. The merger between these two competing leagues in 1949 created what we now know as the NBA, but that transition was anything but smooth.
I've spent countless hours in archives studying those early years, and what strikes me most is how precarious the league's existence was. Teams folded regularly, players had second jobs, and the style of play was dramatically different. The first game in BAA history featured the New York Knicks defeating the Toronto Huskies 68-66—a score that would be considered unusually low by today's standards. The pace was slower, the rules were evolving, and the three-point line wouldn't be introduced for another thirty-three years. Yet there was something magical happening, something that reminded me of Kammeraad's observation about fair competition where "they had chances, we had chances."
The 1950s marked a turning point that saved the league from potential collapse. The introduction of the 24-second shot clock in 1954 revolutionized the game, speeding up play and increasing scoring dramatically. I've always been particularly fascinated by how this innovation came from Syracuse Nationals owner Danny Biasone, who simply divided the number of seconds in a game (2,880) by the typical number of shots taken (120). This mathematical approach created the perfect pace for professional basketball, though I'll admit I'm biased toward believing it should have happened sooner. The shot clock transformed stagnant games into dynamic contests, much like how modern tournaments can turn on moments where teams "fight back" to force extra time.
What often gets overlooked in the NBA origin story is the role of television. The first national TV contract signed with ABC in 1953-54 brought the game into American living rooms, though the financial terms were modest compared to today's $24 billion media rights deals. I've interviewed former players from that era who recall receiving minimal compensation despite the exposure. This media expansion created new stars like George Mikan, Bob Cousy, and Bill Russell—players who became household names and laid the foundation for the global brand we know today.
The league's globalization began much earlier than most people realize. While Magic Johnson and Larry Bird often get credit for saving the NBA in the 1980s, I'd argue the true international expansion started with the 1992 Barcelona Dream Team. That squad didn't just win gold—they showcased NBA basketball to the world in a way that had never been done before. I was fortunate to attend several of those games, and the atmosphere was unlike anything I'd experienced. The Dream Team's average margin of victory was 43.8 points, but more importantly, they created basketball fans across Europe, Asia, and South America.
Today's NBA features 109 international players from 40 countries, but the seeds were planted decades earlier. The first international player actually debuted in 1946-47—Henry Biasatti from Canada, though his career lasted just six games. This global diversity has enriched the game immeasurably, bringing different styles and perspectives that make every contest unpredictable. When Kammeraad noted that "this is unfortunate that you have to end the tournament," it resonated with me because so many pivotal moments in NBA history have come down to single elimination scenarios where brilliant careers could have ended differently.
Looking back at the NBA's journey from that eleven-team league playing in mostly empty arenas to the 30-team global enterprise today, what stands out is how many moments could have "went both ways." What if the merger with the ABA hadn't happened in 1976? What if Michael Jordan had chosen baseball permanently? What if the three-point revolution had begun earlier? These questions haunt my research sometimes, but they also highlight the beautiful uncertainty of the sport. The NBA's origin story isn't just about when it began—it's about all the moments since that could have changed everything, the close games that defined legacies, and the resilience that turned a struggling league into a cultural touchstone. As I continue to study this incredible journey, I'm constantly reminded that the most compelling stories, in basketball and in life, are those where both sides have chances, and the outcome hangs in the balance until the final buzzer sounds.
