Philadelphia Warriors 1947 NBL Championship

Lore & Background

The Warriors were founded in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors, a charter member of the Basketball Association of America. Led by early scoring sensation Joe Fulks, the team won the championship in the league's inaugural 1946–47 season by defeating the Chicago Stags, four games to one. The NBA, which was created by a 1949 merger, officially recognizes that as its own first championship.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the arena was thick with cigarette smoke and anticipation. Fans pressed against the railing, eyes locked on the hardwood where Joe Fulks prepared for his next shot. The crowd roared as he rose from mid-range, the ball arcing high above the rim before dropping cleanly through the net. It was a sound that echoed through history—the birth of modern scoring efficiency. In that moment, Philadelphia knew they had something special, a team destined to carry their name across the country and into legend.

Reader's Guide

The 1947 championship was the first in franchise history. The team was based in Philadelphia at the time and played in the BAA, which later became part of the NBA.

Did You Know?

• The Warriors were originally named after an old basketball team called the Philadelphia Warriors that played in the American Basketball League in 1925.
• The team was owned by Peter A. Tyrrell, who also owned the Philadelphia Rockets of the American Hockey League.
• Eddie Gottlieb was the head coach and general manager for the 1947 championship team.