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 league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...
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 absorbed most of National Basketball League (NBL) and rebranded as the National Ba ...
(BAA/NBA).
Walter A. Brown 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's
Boston Bruins, 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
, image = Irish ancestry in the USA 2018; Where Irish eyes are Smiling.png
, image_caption = Irish Americans, % of population by state
, caption = Notable Irish Americans
, population =
36,115,472 (10.9%) alone ...
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 Celtics won their first game of the season against the
Toronto Huskies on November 16, 1946.
Roster
Regular season
On November 5, the Celtics played their first game at the
Boston Garden in front of 4,329 fans.
Boston Celtics (1946–Present)
/ref> The game would be delayed 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 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 , , @ Providence Steamrollers , , 53–59 , , Rhode Island Auditorium , , Red Wallace
Michael John "Red" Wallace (July 12, 1918 – July 7, 1977) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Boston Celtics during the 1946–47 Basketball Association of America season, the first in the league's existence, befor ...
(9) , , 0–1
, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"
, 2 , , November 5, 1946 , , Chicago Stags , , 55–57 , , Boston Garden , , John Simmons John Simmons may refer to:
Politicians
* John H. Simmons (died 1843), American politician from Maryland
*John Simmons (Oklahoma politician) (died 1940), American politician, mayor of Tulsa from 1916 to 1918
* John Simmons (Missouri politician), m ...
(13) , , 0–2
, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"
, 3 , , November 9, , @ Detroit Falcons , , 46–69 , , UNK , , Art Spector
Arthur Edward Spector (nicknamed "Speed"; 17 October 1920 – 18 June 1987) was an American basketball player. He played as a forward for the Boston Celtics from 1946 to 1950.
Biography
Spector was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and West Phi ...
(12) , , 0–3
, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"
, 4 , , November 13 , , @ Chicago Stags , , 61–71 , , Chicago Stadium , , John Simmons John Simmons may refer to:
Politicians
* John H. Simmons (died 1843), American politician from Maryland
*John Simmons (Oklahoma politician) (died 1940), American politician, mayor of Tulsa from 1916 to 1918
* John Simmons (Missouri politician), m ...
(14) , , 0–4
, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"
, 5 , , November 14, , @ St. Louis Bombers
The St. Louis Bombers were a National Basketball Association team based in St. Louis from 1946 to 1950.
Franchise history
The St. Louis Bombers were originally part of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1946.
The BAA merged wit ...
, , 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, Wallace
Wallace may refer to:
People
* Clan Wallace in Scotland
* Wallace (given name)
* Wallace (surname)
* Wallace (footballer, born 1986), full name Wallace Fernando Pereira, Brazilian football left-back
* Wallace (footballer, born 1987), full name ...
(12) , , 0–5
, - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
, 6 , , November 16 , , Toronto Huskies , , 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 , , Connie Simmons (18) , , 1–7
, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"
, 9 , , November 23 , , @ Detroit Falcons , , 46–54 , , UNK , , Connie Simmons (15) , , 1–8
, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"
, 10 , , November 25, , Providence Steam Rollers , , 59–71 , , Boston Garden , , John Simmons John Simmons may refer to:
Politicians
* John H. Simmons (died 1843), American politician from Maryland
*John Simmons (Oklahoma politician) (died 1940), American politician, mayor of Tulsa from 1916 to 1918
* John Simmons (Missouri politician), m ...
(14) , , 1–9
, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"
, 11 , , November 26 , , Philadelphia Warriors , , 54–66 , , Philadelphia Arena , , 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
Harold William Kottman (August 22, 1922 – November 30, 2004) was an American professional basketball player and coach.
A 6'8" center from Culver-Stockton College, Kottman played one season (1946–47) in the Basketball Association of Ame ...
(19) , , 2–10
, -
, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"
, 13 , , December 1, , @ Chicago Stags , , 56–66 , , Boston Garden , , Al Brightman (26) , , 2–11
, - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
, 14 , , December 2, , @ 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 ...
, , 46–44 , , Duquesne Gardens , , 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 , , 65–90 , , Boston Garden , , Gray, 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.
Career
Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Kelly graduated from the University of Hartford in 1989 and turne ...
(21) , , 4–14
, - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
, 19 , , December 14, , Philadelphia Warriors , , 77–65 , , Boston Garden , , Red Wallace
Michael John "Red" Wallace (July 12, 1918 – July 7, 1977) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Boston Celtics during the 1946–47 Basketball Association of America season, the first in the league's existence, befor ...
(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 (14) , , 5–16
, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"
, 22 , , December 23, , @ Pittsburgh Ironmen , , 54–64 , , Duquesne Gardens , , 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, , @ Toronto Huskies , , 58–53 , , Maple Leaf Gardens , , Al Brightman (21) , , 6–20
, - align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"
, 27 , , January 6, , Cleveland Rebels , , 53–64 , , Boston Garden , , Connors, Gray (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 John Simmons may refer to:
Politicians
* John H. Simmons (died 1843), American politician from Maryland
*John Simmons (Oklahoma politician) (died 1940), American politician, mayor of Tulsa from 1916 to 1918
* John Simmons (Missouri politician), m ...
(10) , , 10−23
, - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
, 34 , , January 23, , Pittsburgh Ironmen , , 48–43 , , Boston Garden , , Charlie Hoefer
Adolph Charles "Dutch" Hoefer (September 16, 1921 – June 12, 1983) was a professional basketball player. He was a point guard, and spent two seasons in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), starting as a member of the Toronto Huskies in ...
(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 , , 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 , , 73–84 , , Cleveland Arena , , Connie Simmons (21) , , 15–28
, - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
, 44 , , February 19, , @ Detroit Falcons , , 57–51 , , UNK , , 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 John Simmons may refer to:
Politicians
* John H. Simmons (died 1843), American politician from Maryland
*John Simmons (Oklahoma politician) (died 1940), American politician, mayor of Tulsa from 1916 to 1918
* John Simmons (Missouri politician), m ...
(17) , , 19–33
, - align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
, 53 , , March 12, , Toronto Huskies , , 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
Adolph Charles "Dutch" Hoefer (September 16, 1921 – June 12, 1983) was a professional basketball player. He was a point guard, and spent two seasons in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), starting as a member of the Toronto Huskies in ...
(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
Arthur Edward Spector (nicknamed "Speed"; 17 October 1920 – 18 June 1987) was an American basketball player. He played as a forward for the Boston Celtics from 1946 to 1950.
Biography
Spector was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and West Phi ...
(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
Player stats
Season
Transactions
Trades
Purchases
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:1946-47 Boston Celtics Season
Boston Celtics seasons
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 league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...
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 league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...
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 league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...
1940s in Boston