Who Was the First NBA Champion? The Untold Story of the 1947 Philadelphia Warriors

When people ask me about the origins of the NBA, I always get particularly excited about that first championship team—the 1947 Philadelphia Warriors. Most basketball fans today would struggle to name that inaugural champion, but as someone who's studied basketball history for over two decades, I find their story absolutely fascinating. What many don't realize is that the Warriors' championship came before the league was even called the NBA—it was still the Basketball Association of America back then, only becoming the NBA we know today in 1949 after merging with the National Basketball League.

I've always been drawn to how different basketball was in those early days. The Warriors, coached by the legendary Eddie Gottlieb, played in a league where the game was faster-paced than many realize—teams regularly scored in the 70s and 80s, which was quite high for that era. Their star player, Joe Fulks, revolutionized scoring with his unorthodox jumping shots, averaging an incredible 23.2 points per game in that championship season. To put that in perspective, the league average was around 62 points per team per game, so Fulks was scoring over a third of his team's points himself—something that would be unimaginable today without constant media scrutiny.

The championship series itself was a best-of-seven affair against the Chicago Stags, and it went the full distance. What I find particularly compelling is how the Warriors managed to win Game 7 on the road—a 83-80 victory that showcased their mental toughness. The team had to overcome multiple obstacles, including travel challenges and playing in different venues with unfamiliar court dimensions. Thinking about their journey reminds me of something a professional player from the Philippines once told me about the difference between local tournaments and major leagues: "It's not like the local tournaments we play where you can stick to a specific seven and then you get to rest 4-5 days before the next game. Here, every game you play and we're expected to play with anyone who is put inside the court." That sentiment perfectly captures what those early NBA pioneers faced—constant adaptation with minimal recovery time.

Looking at the Warriors' roster construction reveals how differently teams were built back then. They had only 12 players on their championship squad, with several playing both professional basketball and holding other jobs—a far cry from today's specialized athletes. Howie Dallmar, their playmaking forward, averaged about 6 points per game but was crucial to their ball movement. Angelo Musi provided backcourt stability, while Art Hillhouse dominated the boards with what I estimate to be around 12 rebounds per game (though official stats weren't kept for rebounds until later seasons). This wasn't a team of specialists but of versatile players who could adapt to multiple roles—something I wish we saw more of in today's game.

The financial aspects of that first championship would shock modern fans. The entire Warriors' payroll was approximately $65,000 for the season, with Fulks earning about $8,000 as their highest-paid player. When you compare that to today's maximum contracts exceeding $40 million, the difference is staggering. Yet despite the modest compensation, these players exhibited tremendous passion for the game—they were truly playing for love of basketball rather than financial gain.

What often gets overlooked in discussions about that first championship is the strategic innovation the Warriors brought to the game. Coach Gottlieb implemented what I consider to be the first true fast-break system, leveraging Fulks' scoring ability in transition. They also pioneered set plays during timeouts—something that seems fundamental now but was revolutionary at the time. Their semifinal series against the New York Knicks featured what might have been the first intentional fouling strategy late in games, though the tactic wouldn't become widespread until decades later.

As a basketball historian, I've always believed the 1947 Warriors don't receive nearly enough credit for establishing the championship DNA that would define the franchise throughout its history. This was the foundation upon which later Warriors legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, and Stephen Curry would build. There's a direct lineage from Fulks' scoring explosions to Curry's three-point barrages that I find absolutely compelling.

The legacy of that first championship extends far beyond Philadelphia. The Warriors' success helped validate the BAA's business model and demonstrated that professional basketball could thrive as a major league sport. Within two years, the league would merge with the NBL to form the NBA, setting the stage for basketball's growth into a global phenomenon. I'd argue that without the Warriors proving that exciting, high-scoring basketball could draw fans, the merger might not have happened so quickly—or perhaps at all.

Reflecting on that 1947 championship team, I'm struck by how much the game has changed, yet how the core elements remain the same. The Warriors won because they had exceptional talent, innovative coaching, and tremendous resilience—the same qualities that define champions today. Their story deserves to be remembered not just as a historical footnote, but as the beginning of one of sports' greatest traditions. The next time you watch the NBA Finals, spare a thought for Joe Fults and those Philadelphia Warriors—the original champions who started it all.