Discover the Untold Story of the First NBA Game and Its Historic Impact

I still remember the first time I watched archival footage of that historic NBA game from November 1, 1946. As a basketball historian who's spent over fifteen years studying the league's evolution, I've always been fascinated by how much of that inaugural contest between the New York Knicks and Toronto Huskies foreshadowed what basketball would become. The game took place at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens before 7,090 spectators who paid $2.50 for general admission tickets - a detail I always mention because it underscores how accessible professional basketball was in those early days. What many fans don't realize is that the NBA wasn't even called the NBA back then; it was the Basketball Association of America, which wouldn't become the National Basketball Association until three years later in 1949.

The final score that night was 68-66 in favor of New York, with Ossie Schectman making the first basket in league history - a driving layup that would become his signature move. I've watched that grainy footage dozens of times, and what strikes me most isn't the primitive set shots or the awkward-looking two-handed foul shots, but rather how the fundamental essence of basketball was already there. The players understood spacing, moved without the ball, and executed what we'd now call "hockey assists" - the pass before the assist. They just did it in leather-soled shoes on courts that often doubled as ice hockey rinks, sometimes with visible condensation affecting ball handling.

When I think about that first game's legacy, I'm reminded of a quote from contemporary basketball that perfectly captures the sport's eternal cycle of renewal. A player recently noted, "At the same time, I guess changing of the guards na kasi mas gusto nila bumata na," adding, "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." This sentiment about generational transition and gratitude toward mentors echoes what must have been happening in that 1946 Knicks locker room - young athletes looking up to veterans, franchise builders like Ned Irish creating opportunities, and everyone understanding they were part of something new.

The statistical evolution since that first game is staggering. The average player salary in 1946 was approximately $4,500 annually - about $65,000 in today's money - compared to the current average exceeding $8 million. The game itself has transformed from those 68-66 scores to regular season games now averaging around 112 points per team. But here's what the raw numbers don't capture: the cultural transformation. Basketball moved from dance halls and armories to gleaming arenas, from regional curiosity to global phenomenon. I've always believed that first game planted the seed for basketball's international appeal - after all, it featured a Canadian team, making the sport cross-border from its very inception.

What fascinates me most about studying these early years is recognizing how many modern elements were present from day one. The Knicks and Huskies played with a 24-second shot clock mentality even though it wouldn't be invented for another eight years - they just naturally maintained a brisk pace. The game had six lead changes and was tied eight times, showing competitive balance from the very beginning. And the racial integration that would define the league's progress? That was still a year away when Wat Misaka broke the color barrier in 1947, but the foundation was being laid in that very first contest.

Looking back now, I'm convinced we underestimate how much institutional knowledge was created in that single game. The coaches, players, and organizers solved problems we still wrestle with today - how to balance entertainment with competition, how to develop young talent while respecting veterans, how to build team chemistry quickly. When I read contemporary players expressing gratitude for being placed in good organizations with quality veterans, I hear echoes of those 1946 pioneers who understood that basketball success depends on ecosystem, not just individual talent.

The first NBA game's most enduring impact might be how it established basketball as both sport and spectacle. The organizers understood they needed to put on a show - hence choosing New York versus Toronto rather than two smaller markets. They priced tickets accessibly but still turned a profit. They scheduled the game in a major venue rather than a school gymnasium. Every one of these decisions created templates that the league still follows today. Sometimes I imagine what it would have been like to be in that arena - smelling the fresh maple of the court (it was literally laid over the ice), hearing the squeak of those primitive sneakers, watching history unfold without realizing you were witnessing the birth of a global sports empire.

In my research, I've interviewed descendants of players from that first game, and what consistently emerges is their appreciation for being part of something larger than themselves - the same sentiment we hear in modern locker rooms. The specific challenges have changed, but the core experience remains: talented people coming together to build something meaningful. That first game drew 7,090 fans; last season the NBA attracted over 22 million attendees and billions more through broadcasts. The scale is different, but the magic that began on November 1, 1946 continues every time a referee tosses the ball for the opening jump.