Basketball Association of America (BAA)

=History=

The Basketball Association of America was founded in 1946 by the owners of the major ice hockey arenas in the Northeast and Midwest United States. On November 1, 1946, in Toronto, Ontario, the Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers which the NBA now regards as the first game played in the league's history.cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/canada/History_of_Basketball_in_Canad-Canada_Generic_Article-18023.html |title=History of Basketball in Canada |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |accessdate=2007-04-13] Although there had been earlier attempts at professional basketball leagues, including the American Basketball League and the National Basketball League, the BAA was the first league to attempt to play primarily in large arenas in major cities. 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 Harlem Globetrotters. For instance the 1948 ABL finalist Baltimore Bullets moved to the BAA and won its 1948 title, followed by the 1948 NBL champion Minneapolis Lakers who won the 1949 BAA title.

The end of the BAA

On August 3, 1949, the BAA agreed to merge with the NBL, expanding the National Basketball Association to seventeen franchises located in a mix of large and small cities, as well as large arenas and smaller gymnasiums and armories.

List of teams

*Baltimore Bullets (1947-1950)
*Chicago Stags (1946-1949) [ [http://www.nba.com/bulls/history/stags_060417.html BULLS: Stag Party | Bulls Pay Trtbute to the Chicago Stags] ]
*Rochester Royals (1947-48)
*Cleveland Rebels (1946-1947)
*Detroit Falcons (1946-47)
*Indianapolis Jets (1948-1949)
*New York Knicks (1946-1949)
*Pittsburgh Ironmen (1946-1947)
*Providence Steamrollers (1946-1949)
*Sheboygan Redskins (1949-1950)
*St. Louis Bombers (1946-1949)
*Toronto Huskies (1946-1947)
*Washington Capitols (1946-1949) [ [http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSC/ Washington Capitols - Basketball-Reference.com] ]
*Boston Celtics (1946-49)
*Minneapolis Lakers (1948-49)
*Fort Whane Pistons (1948-49)

Yearly standings

1946-47 season

Eastern Division

Western Division

BAA awards

* 1949 All-BAA First Team:
**Max Zaslofsky, Chicago Stags
**Bob Davies, Rochester Royals
**George Mikan, Minneapolis Lakers
**Jim Pollard, Minneapolis Lakers
**Joe Fulks, Philadelphia Warriors

References