Discovering Who Was the First NBA Champion and Their Historic Journey

As I sit here reflecting on the history of the NBA, I can't help but marvel at how far the league has come since its humble beginnings. The question of who was the first NBA champion often gets overlooked in today's discussions dominated by modern superstars and superteams, but I've always found there's something magical about tracing our way back to where it all began. The journey of that inaugural champion team tells us so much about what basketball was meant to be - and frankly, what it should still aspire to become today.

When we talk about that very first NBA season back in 1946-47, we're essentially discussing the foundation upon which this entire beautiful game was built. The Philadelphia Warriors, led by the legendary Joe Fulks, emerged victorious in that inaugural championship series against the Chicago Stags. What many people don't realize is that the league wasn't even called the NBA back then - it was the Basketball Association of America, which only became the NBA three years later after merging with the National Basketball League. The Warriors won the best-of-seven series 4-1, with Fulks averaging an impressive 26.2 points per game throughout the playoffs - astronomical numbers for that era.

I've always been fascinated by how different the game was back then. The players had second jobs, traveled by train, and played in venues that would make today's athletes shudder. Yet the competitive fire burned just as brightly. Thinking about those early days reminds me of the Filipino basketball quote that's been circulating online recently: "Yun naman 'yung pinag-uusapan namin ni coach LA kasi alam naming na may plano sa amin especially sa amin na nagkaka-edad. Kaya naman ineencourage namin 'yung first group na kailangan maging consistent at set ng tone sila lagi sa game." Though this comes from a different context entirely, it perfectly captures what I imagine those early Warriors must have understood - the importance of veteran leadership setting the tone and establishing consistency.

The Warriors' roster was a fascinating mix of young talent and experienced players who understood how to win. Player-coach Eddie Gottlieb, only 29 at the time, managed to blend the explosive scoring of 25-year-old Fulks with the steady guidance of veterans like Howie Dallmar and Angelo Musi. This balance between youth and experience is something I believe modern teams often struggle with - either going too young or too old without finding that sweet spot. The '47 Warriors had exactly 14 players on their championship roster, with 8 of them being 27 or younger, creating what I consider the perfect developmental environment.

What strikes me most about their championship run was how they adapted to challenges. The league faced numerous obstacles that first season - from poor attendance to teams folding mid-season. The original 11 teams had dwindled to 8 by playoffs, yet the Warriors maintained their focus. They won 35 of their 60 regular season games, then battled through two playoff rounds before claiming the title. Their home court, the Philadelphia Arena, could hold about 9,000 spectators, though they rarely filled it that first season. Today we see arenas packing 20,000 fans regularly, but back then, drawing even 5,000 was considered a major success.

The financial aspects of that first championship would shock modern players. The entire Warriors roster split approximately $15,000 in playoff money - that's about $200,000 in today's dollars spread across the entire team. Compare that to today's champions, where a single superstar might earn $40 million annually. Yet I'd argue those early players played with a purer love for the game, unaffected by the massive endorsements and media attention that sometimes distract today's athletes.

Looking at how basketball has evolved, I can't help but feel we've lost some of that original spirit. The game was simpler then - more focused on fundamentals and team chemistry than individual highlights. The Warriors averaged about 68 points per game as a team in that championship season, which seems quaint compared to today's teams that might have individual players scoring that much. But what they lacked in offensive fireworks, they made up for in basketball IQ and cohesive team play - qualities I wish we'd see more of in the modern game.

The legacy of that first championship extends far beyond the trophy itself. It established patterns and traditions that would define the NBA for decades to come. The Warriors set a standard for excellence that inspired future generations, eventually evolving into the Golden State Warriors we know today. Their journey from Philadelphia to the Bay Area mirrors basketball's own journey from regional curiosity to global phenomenon. Personally, I find it remarkable how many elements of today's game were present even in that very first championship run - the intensity of playoff basketball, the importance of coaching strategies, and that undeniable champion's mentality.

As I think about today's NBA, with its three-point revolutions and positionless basketball, I'm reminded that everything traces back to that first group of champions. They proved that professional basketball could captivate a nation, that teamwork could overcome individual talent, and that setting the right tone from the beginning could establish a legacy that lasts for generations. The Philadelphia Warriors may not get the recognition of later dynasties, but in my book, they'll always hold a special place as the original standard-bearers, the team that started it all and showed everyone what was possible in this incredible game we love.