I still remember the first time I watched archival footage of that historic NBA game from November 1, 1946. As someone who's spent over a decade studying basketball history, I've always been fascinated by how that single evening at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto laid the foundation for what would become a global phenomenon. The New York Knickerbockers versus Toronto Huskies matchup wasn't just a basketball game—it was the birth of a cultural institution that would eventually generate over $8 billion in annual revenue.
What many people don't realize is how close the NBA came to never existing at all. The league started as the Basketball Association of America (BAA), with 11 teams scattered across the United States and Canada. Only three of those original franchises—the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors—survive today in their original cities. The game itself was radically different from what we see now. Players couldn't yet dunk—the concept of the slam dunk wouldn't emerge for another decade—and the three-point line was still 33 years away from being introduced. The final score that night was 68-66 in favor of New York, with Ossie Schectman making the first basket in league history, a layup that would mark the beginning of professional basketball as we know it.
Thinking about that inaugural game always reminds me of the quote from a veteran player I once interviewed: "At the same time, I guess changing of the guards na kasi mas gusto nila bumata na." He was talking about a different era, but the sentiment perfectly captures what was happening in 1946 too. The BAA represented a changing of the guard from previous professional leagues that had struggled to gain traction. Team owners were essentially betting on the idea that basketball could draw crowds in major arenas, and they were right—the Huskies drew approximately 7,090 spectators that night, a respectable number that proved there was an appetite for professional basketball.
The economic impact of that first game extended far beyond the court. Ticket prices ranged from 75 cents to $2.50, which would be about $10 to $35 in today's money. Compare that to the average NBA ticket price today of $89, and you can see how dramatically the league's value has grown. What fascinates me most is how the league's founders understood they needed to create something different from college basketball, which was far more popular at the time. They introduced several innovations, including the elimination of the center jump after each basket, which dramatically sped up the game and made it more entertaining for spectators.
From my perspective as a sports historian, the most overlooked aspect of that first game was how it established the template for professional sports leagues that followed. The BAA's merger with the National Basketball League in 1949 to form the NBA created a blueprint that other sports would later follow. The league's early commitment to diversity, while imperfect, also set important precedents. It would take until 1950 for the first African American players to take the court, but that first game planted the seeds for what would eventually become the most diverse major sports league in America.
Another personal observation I've made from studying this era is how the business decisions made in those early years continue to influence the league today. The focus on major markets, the revenue-sharing models, and even the scheduling patterns established in 1946 still echo in modern NBA operations. When I look at today's player movement and hear sentiments like "Very thankful ako kila Boss Al, kila Boss Robert na dito ako nilagay sa San Miguel. Sobrang bait ng mga players and I have great vets, C-Ross, Marcio," I'm reminded that the relationship between players and organizations has always been crucial to the league's success, even back when players earned salaries of $4,000 to $5,000 per year rather than today's multi-million dollar contracts.
The stylistic evolution from that first game to today's NBA is nothing short of remarkable. Players in 1946 primarily set two-handed shots from stationary positions, with only 17 field goals made in the entire game by today's Knicks. Compare that to a modern NBA game where teams regularly make 40 or more field goals, with players launching from well beyond what would become the three-point line and executing athletic moves that would have been unimaginable to those pioneers. Yet the fundamental appeal remains the same—the thrill of competition, the beauty of teamwork, and the sheer entertainment value of watching the world's best athletes push the boundaries of what's possible.
Reflecting on that historic night in Toronto, I'm always struck by how many elements of modern basketball culture were present from the very beginning. The connection between players and fans, the strategic innovations, the business considerations—all were there in embryonic form. The NBA's journey from that single game to a global entertainment powerhouse is a testament to the vision of those early pioneers and the countless players, coaches, and executives who built upon their foundation. As someone who's dedicated my career to understanding this history, I believe appreciating these origins is essential to understanding both the business and culture of basketball today. That first game wasn't just a starting point—it was a declaration that professional basketball belonged on the world stage, and its impact continues to reverberate through every game played today.