Philadelphia Warriors Founding

From Philadelphia to Golden State: A Legacy of Championships

The Golden State Warriors began as the Philadelphia Warriors in 1946, a charter member of the Basketball Association of America. The franchise relocated to San Francisco in 1962, becoming the San Francisco Warriors, and was renamed the Golden State Warriors in 1971. The team has won seven championships: 1946–47, 1955–56, 1974–75, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2021–22.

Quick Facts

Founding year: 1946
Original league: Basketball Association of America (BAA)
Key founding figure: Peter A. Tyrrell
First major title: 1946–47 season

Lore & Background

The Warriors were founded in Philadelphia in 1946 by Peter A. Tyrrell, who hired Eddie Gottlieb as coach and general manager. Gottlieb named the team after the Philadelphia Warriors, a team he founded in 1917. Led by Joe Fulks, the Warriors won the inaugural BAA championship in 1946–47. Fulks set an NBA single-game scoring record of 63 points in 1949. The team won its second Philadelphia championship in 1955–56, led by Paul Arizin, Tom Gola, and Neil Johnston. In 1959, the team signed Wilt Chamberlain, who set numerous scoring and rebounding records. In 1962, Franklin Mieuli purchased the team and relocated it to the San Francisco Bay Area, renaming it the San Francisco Warriors. The Warriors changed their name to the Golden State Warriors for the 1971–72 season.

Reader's Guide

The Warriors' history is divided into eras: 1946–1962 as the Philadelphia Warriors, 1962–1971 as the San Francisco Warriors, and 1971–2019 as the Golden State Warriors in Oakland. Key figures include Joe Fulks, Paul Arizin, Wilt Chamberlain, Nate Thurmond, Rick Barry, and Jamaal Wilkes. The team won championships in 1946–47, 1955–56, 1974–75, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2021–22.