1946-1950: The Founding Years

Lore & Background

In 1948, the team earned its first playoff appearance, only to lose to the Chicago Stags 4–1. In 1949, the team missed the playoffs, fifth in the Eastern Division. Then, on August 3, 1949, the team became part of the National Basketball Association following the merger of the BAA and rival National Basketball League. In 1950, the Celtics signed Chuck Cooper, becoming the first NBA franchise to draft a black player. Chuck Connors of The Rifleman fame joined the Celtics later in the 1946–47 season, but was not on the original roster at the team's formation in June 1946.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Boston Garden is thick with cigarette smoke and anticipation, November 1946. Wooden slats creak under the weight of players sprinting down a court painted in stark white lines. A young fan clutches a program featuring the new green logo, unaware that this struggling team will one day define basketball excellence. The crowd roars for every rebound, hoping to spark something special in these formative years.

Reader's Guide

The Celtics' first BAA game was against the Chicago Stags on November 5, 1946, at the Boston Garden.

Did You Know?

• The Celtics were one of the BAA's original 11 teams, not one of eight.
• Chuck Connors, later famous for The Rifleman, joined the Celtics during the 1946–47 season, but was not an original member at the team's founding in June 1946.
• In 1950, the Celtics became the first NBA franchise to draft a black player, signing Chuck Cooper.