The 1946–47 Boston Celtics season was the first season of the

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...

in the

Basketball Association of America The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. Following its third season, 1948–49, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League (United States), National Basketball Lea ...

(BAA/NBA).

Walter A. Brown Walter Augustine Brown (February 10, 1905 – September 7, 1964) was an American sports executive. He was the founder and original owner of the Boston Celtics, operated the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation, and served as president of the Bosto ...

was the man who was responsible for starting the franchise. In June 1946, Brown, who operated the Boston Garden arena and was part of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

, was the driving force behind the Basketball Association of America and the Celtics birth. After considering several team names, including Whirlwinds, Unicorns, and Olympics, Brown opted for Celtics. He hoped to grab the attention of Boston's large

Irish American Irish Americans () are Irish ethnics who live within in the United States, whether immigrants from Ireland or Americans with full or partial Irish ancestry. Irish immigration to the United States From the 17th century to the mid-19th c ...

population. John Davis "Honey" Russell was hired as the first Celtics coach, and the team soon began its inaugural season, losing its first game 59–53 to the

Providence Steamrollers The Providence Steamrollers were a Basketball Association of America team based in Providence, Rhode Island. As of 2025, the Steamrollers were the last professional sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island. ...

. The Celtics won their first game of the season against the

Toronto Huskies The Toronto Huskies were a team in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which was a forerunner of the National Basketball Association (NBA), during the 1946–47 season. They were based in Toronto. The team compiled a 22–38 win–loss r ...

on November 16, 1946.

Roster

Regular season

On November 5, the Celtics played their first game at the

Boston Arena Matthews Arena (formerly Boston Arena) is a historic multi-purpose arena in Boston, Massachusetts currently owned by Northeastern University. It is the world's oldest multi-purpose athletic building still in use, as well as the oldest arena in u ...

in front of 4,329 fans.Boston Celtics (1946–Present)
/ref> The game would be delayed for an hour when the wooden backboard was damaged after a practice dunk during warm-ups. After the backboard was repaired, the Celtics lost to the

Chicago Stags The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago from 1946 to 1950. History 1946–47 season In the BAA's inaugural year, the Chicago Stags were originally meant to start out as the ''Chicago Atomics'', to the point ...

by a score 57–55. This would become the first-ever broken backboard in BAA/NBA History.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 1 , , November 2, 1946 , , @

, , 53–59 , , Rhode Island Auditorium , , Red Wallace (9) , , 0–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 2 , , November 5, 1946 , ,

, , 55–57 , , Boston Garden , , John Simmons (13) , , 0–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 3 , , November 9, , @ Detroit Falcons , , 46–69 , ,

Detroit Olympia Detroit Olympia, also known as Olympia Stadium, was a multi-purpose arena in Detroit. Nicknamed "The Old Red Barn", it was best known as the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) from its opening in 1927 to 1979. Hist ...

, , Art Spector (12) , , 0–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 4 , , November 13 , , @

, , 61–71 , ,

Chicago Stadium Chicago Stadium was an indoor arena in Chicago from 1929 to 1995. When it was built, it was the largest indoor arena in the world with a maximum seating capacity of 26,000. It was the home of the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and ...

, , John Simmons (14) , , 0–4 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 5 , , November 14, , @ St. Louis Bombers , , 62–64 , ,

St. Louis Arena St. Louis Arena (known as the Checkerdome from 1977 to 1983) was an indoor arena in St. Louis, Missouri. The country's second-largest indoor entertainment venue when it opened in 1929, it was home to the St. Louis Blues and other sports franchis ...

, ,

Gray Grey (more frequent in British English) or gray (more frequent in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning that it has no chroma. It is the color of a cloud-covered s ...

, Wallace (12) , , 0–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 6 , , November 16 , ,

, , 53–49 , , Boston Garden , , Wyndol Gray (13) , , 1–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 7 , , November 21 , , St. Louis Bombers , , 53–65 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (9) , , 1–6 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 8 , , November 22 , , @ Toronto Huskies , , 82–83 , ,

Maple Leaf Gardens Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church and Wellesley, Church Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building was originally constructed in 1931 as an indoor arena to host ice hoc ...

, , Connie Simmons (18) , , 1–7 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 9 , , November 23 , , @ Detroit Falcons , , 46–54 , ,

, , Connie Simmons (15) , , 1–8 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 10 , , November 25, , Providence Steam Rollers , , 59–71 , , Boston Garden , , John Simmons (14) , , 1–9 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 11 , , November 26 , , Philadelphia Warriors , , 54–66 , ,

Philadelphia Arena The Philadelphia Arena was an auditorium used mainly for sporting events located at 46th and Market Streets in West Philadelphia. The address of the building, originally named the Philadelphia Ice Palace and Auditorium, was 4530 Market Street. ...

, , Connie Simmons (15) , , 1–10 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 12 , , November 28, ,

Pittsburgh Ironmen The Pittsburgh Ironmen were a charter member of the Basketball Association of America (a forerunner of the National Basketball Association). The team was based in Pittsburgh and played at Duquesne Gardens. They ended their only season in the BAA i ...

, , 59–55 , , Boston Garden , , Harold Kottman (19) , , 2–10 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 13 , , December 1, , @

, , 56–66 , , Boston Garden , , Al Brightman (26) , , 2–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 14 , , December 2, , @

, , 46–44 , ,

Duquesne Gardens The Duquesne Gardens (officially Duquesne Garden until 1940 and The Gardens afterward) was the main sports arena located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during the first half of the 20th century. Built in 1890, the building originally served as a tr ...

, , Al Brightman (11) , , 3–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 15 , , December 5, , Detroit Falcons , , 61–65 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (10) , , 3–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 16 , , December 7, ,

New York Knickerbockers The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Associati ...

, , 65–90 , , Boston Garden , ,

, Kottman (15) , , 3–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 17 , , December 8, , @ New York Knickerbockers , , 44–62 , , Madison Square Garden , , Wyndol Gray (13) , , 3–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 18 , , December 12, , Detroit Falcons , , 73–66 , , Boston Garden , ,

Jerry Kelly Jerome Patrick Kelly (born November 23, 1966) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Early life and amateur career Kelly was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. Kelly was an all-city ice hockey ...

(21) , , 4–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 19 , , December 14, , Philadelphia Warriors , , 77–65 , , Boston Garden , , Red Wallace (19) , , 5–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 20 , , December 19, , St. Louis Bombers , , 74–76 , , Boston Garden , , Al Brightman (13) , , 5–15 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 21 , , December 22, , @ St. Louis Bombers , , 53–65 , , St. Louis Arena , ,

Chuck Connors Kevin Joseph "Chuck" Connors (April 10, 1921 – November 10, 1992) was an American actor and professional basketball and baseball player. He is one of only 13 athletes in the history of American professional sports to have played in both Majo ...

(14) , , 5–16 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 22 , , December 23, , @ Pittsburgh Ironmen , , 54–64 , ,

, , C. Simmons, Spector (9) , , 5–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 23 , , December 27, , Philadelphia Warriors , , 60–63 , , Boston Garden , , Al Brightman (17) , , 5–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 24 , , December 28, , @ Providence Steam Rollers , , 68–80 , , Rhode Island Auditorium , , Wyndol Gray (17) , , 5–19 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 25 , , December 30, , Washington Capitols , , 60–70 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (19) , , 5–20 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 26 , , January 3, , @

, , 58–53 , ,

, , Al Brightman (21) , , 6–20 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 27 , , January 6, , Cleveland Rebels , , 53–64 , , Boston Garden , , Connors,

(15) , , 6–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 28 , , January 10, , New York Knicks , , 66–62 , , Boston Garden , , Al Brightman (18) , , 7–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 29 , , January 11, , @ Providence Steam Rollers , , 73–72 , , Rhode Island Auditorium , , Al Brightman (17) , , 8–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 30 , , January 16, , Washington Capitols , , 47–38 , , Boston Garden , , Al Brightman (14) , , 9–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 31 , , January 18, , @ New York Knickerbockers , , 58–45 , , Madison Square Garden , , Al Brightman (19) , , 10–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 32 , , January 20, , Chicago Stags , , 54–81 , , Boston Garden , , Wyndol Gray (13) , , 10–22 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 33 , , January 21, , @ Philadelphia Warriors , , 43–59 , , Philadelphia Arena , , John Simmons (10) , , 10−23 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 34 , , January 23, , Pittsburgh Ironmen , , 48–43 , , Boston Garden , , Charlie Hoefer (11) , , 11–23 , - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 35 , , January 25, , @ New York Knickerbockers , , 52–46 , , Madison Square Garden , , Al Brightman (17) , , 11–24 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 36 , , January 27, , Washington Capitols , , 57–80 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (12) , , 12–24 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 37 , , January 29, , @ Washington Capitols , , 57–69 , ,

Uline Arena The Uline Arena, later renamed the Washington Coliseum, was an indoor arena in Washington, D.C. located at 1132, 1140, and 1146 3rd Street, Northeast, Washington, D.C. It was the site of one of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's inaugural balls i ...

, , Connie Simmons (11) , , 12–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 38 , , January 30, , Pittsburgh Ironmen , , 66–51 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (18) , , 13–25 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 39 , , February 3, , @ Philadelphia Warriors , , 55–61 , , Philadelphia Arena , , Connie Simmons (17) , , 13–26 , - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" , 40 , , February 6, , New York Knickerbockers , , 49–48 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (14) , , 14–26 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 41 , , February 13, , St. Louis Bombers , , 64–54 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (17) , , 15–26 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 42 , , February 16, , @ Chicago Stags , , 77–84 , , Chicago Stadium , , Connie Simmons (25) , , 15–27 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 43 , , February 18, , @

Cleveland Rebels The Cleveland Rebels were a basketball team in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), a forerunner of the modern National Basketball Association (NBA), based in Cleveland. Franchise history The Rebels were an inaugural franchise in the BAA ...

, , 73–84 , ,

Cleveland Arena Cleveland Arena was an arena in Cleveland, Ohio. It was built and privately financed by local businessman Albert C. Sutphin during the height of the Great Depression in 1937 as a playing site for Sutphin's AHL team, the Cleveland Barons. The ar ...

, , Connie Simmons (21) , , 15–28 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 44 , , February 19, , @ Detroit Falcons , , 57–51 , ,

, , Connie Simmons (18) , , 16–28 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 45 , , February 21, , @ Toronto Huskies , , 61–67 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , Connie Simmons (26) , , 16–29 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 46 , , February 23, , Providence Steam Rollers , , 55–67 , , Boston Garden , , Al Brightman (14) , , 16–30 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 47 , , February 24, , @ Washington Capitals , , 59–83 , , Uline Arena , , Al Brightman (14) , , 16–31 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 48 , , February 28, , Cleveland Rebels , , 69–62 , , Boston Garden , , Al Brightman (22) , , 17–31 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 49 , , March 1, , @ Washington Capitols , , 52–75 , , Uline Arena , , Jack Garfinkel (18) , , 17–32 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 50 , , March 6, , Detroit Falcons , , 74–65 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (19) , , 18–32 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 50 , , March 8, , Toronto Huskies , , 67–65 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (19) , , 19–32 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 52 , , March 10, , Providence Steam Rollers , , 70–87 , , Boston Garden , , John Simmons (17) , , 19–33 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 53 , , March 12, ,

, , 69–57 , , Boston Garden , , Hoefer, J. Simmons (13) , , 20–33 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 54 , , March 13, , @ Philadelphia Warriors , , 57–81 , , Philadelphia Arena , , Charlie Hoefer (12) , , 20–34 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 55 , , March 18, , Cleveland Rebels , , 58–67 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (14) , , 20–35 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 56 , , March 24, , Chicago Stags , , 69–80 , , Boston Garden , , Connie Simmons (17) , , 20–36 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 57 , , March 25, , @ Cleveland Rebels , , 64–72 , , Cleveland Arena , , Art Spector (19) , , 20–37 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 58 , , March 26, , Pittsburgh Ironmen , , 74–61, , Duquesne Gardens , , Al Brightman (17) , , 21–37 , - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" , 59 , , March 29, , @ St. Louis Bombers , , 55–59 , , St. Louis Arena , , Al Brightman (15) , , 21–38 , - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" , 60 , , March 30, , @ Cleveland Rebels , , 71–66 , , Cleveland Arena , , Connie Simmons (20) , , 22–38 , - , -
1946–47 Schedule

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Player stats

Season

Transactions

Trades

Purchases

References