The 1947âÂÂ48 BAA season was the second season of the Basketball Association of America. The 1948 BAA Playoffs ended with the Baltimore Bullets winning the BAA Championship, beating the Philadelphia Warriors in 6 games in the BAA Finals.
Although not celebrated at the time, this season was historic, with Wataru Misaka of the New York Knicks becoming the first person of color to play in modern professional basketball.
The NBA recognizes the three BAA seasons as part of its own history so the 1947âÂÂ48 BAA season is considered the second NBA season.
Notable occurrences
- For the majority of this season, the BAA would have an agreement with the older, rivaling National Basketball League to have the NBL play 24 of their games as opening matches before the Chicago Stags played their home games for this season, which was done in order for the BAA to try and have better negotiation talks with the NBL to help out both of their futures at the time. However, one unintended side effect to these games saw four of the NBL's own teams (the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, the Indianapolis Kautskys, the new NBL champion Minneapolis Lakers, and the runner-up Rochester Royals) defecting from the NBL into the BAA following this season's conclusion, with two more NBL teams in the Oshkosh All-Stars and Toledo Jeeps trying and failing to join them also. This led to the end of any attempts for a second season where the two leagues hosted a doubleheader series of sorts together.
Preseason events
Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Toronto folded before the season started, leaving the BAA with only seven teams. (All cities except Pittsburgh would get new NBA teams in future years.) The Baltimore Bullets were brought into the league from the American Basketball League to provide a more convenient number, eight.
Final standings
Playoffs
Statistics leaders
Note: Prior to the 1969âÂÂ70 season, league leaders in points and assists were determined by totals rather than averages.
BAA awards
- All-BAA First Team
- C Ed Sadowski, Boston Celtics
- F Joe Fulks, Philadelphia Warriors
- F Howie Dallmar, Philadelphia Warriors
- F Bob Feerick, Washington Capitols
- G Max Zaslofsky, Chicago Stags
- All-BAA Second Team
- G Buddy Jeannette, Baltimore Bullets
- C Stan Miasek, Chicago Stags
- G Carl Braun, New York Knicks
- G Fred Scolari, Washington Capitols
- G John Logan, St. Louis Bombers
- BAA Rookie of the Year
- F/G Paul Hoffman, Baltimore Bullets
Notes
See also
References