1946–47 Boston Celtics season

the 1946–47 Troy Celtics season in the rivaling American Basketball League Season of the Basketball Association of America (NBA) Boston Celtics team August 2023 March 2026 Boston Celtics BAA 1947 22 38 Eastern 5 Honey Russell Walter A. Brown Boston ArenaBoston Garden WMEX Did not qualify BOS 1 The 1946–47 Boston Celtics season was the first season of the Boston Celtics in the Basketball Association of America (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 both the Basketball Association of America and the Celtics' birth.Celtics Lore | Celtics.com After considering several team names, including Whirlwinds, Unicorns, and Olympics, Brown opted for the Celtics as the official team name, though it also involved Brown paying the likes of Jim Furay, the team manager of the Original Celtics franchise, to allow for the Boston Celtics to use the rights of the famous Celtics name for Boston's own basketball team since Furay's own team was going to be reactivated as the Troy Celtics in the older, technically rivaling American Basketball League for what would later become its final season of play there.Boston Celtics Limited Partnership: Information and Much More from Answers.comRosen Charley The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA 2008 McGraw Hill 9780071487856, p. 37 Walter A. Brown had hoped to grab the attention of Boston's large Irish American population. John David "Honey" Russell was hired as the first Celtics coach (though he wasn't their first option for the first ever head coach at the time since Frank Keaney was intended to be their first head coaching option for the team at the timeRosen Charley The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA 2008 McGraw Hill 9780071487856, p. 39), and the team soon began its inaugural season, losing its first game 59–53 to the Providence Steamrollers. The Celtics later won their first game of the season against the Toronto Huskies on November 16, 1946.https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1947_games.html 1946-47 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference.com March 26, 2020 Greater details on their first season would be explored in Charley Rosen's book called "The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA", with an entire chapter dedicated to the Celtics' first season in the BAA/NBA alongside the various highs and lows (mostly lows from this specific season) that would eventually lead to them becoming the franchise that they are today.Rosen Charley The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA 2008 McGraw Hill 9780071487856, pp. 37–63 Roster Due to this being the first season in the franchise's history, the BAA didn't utilize a draft system like they would in future seasons of the BAA/NBA and instead relied upon some combination of the head coach and the general manager of the team finding and signing players in time to start out their training camp period for the season.Rosen Charley The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA 2008 McGraw Hill 9780071487856, p. 40 For the Celtics, they looked at players that head coach Honey Russell had largely known from either the older American Basketball League or the otherwise defunct Eastern Basketball League for training camp invites, such as former (original) Baltimore Bullets and Trenton Tigers player Virgil Vaughn from Western Kentucky University, former New York Westchesters/Westchester Indians and Brooklyn Gothams player Warren Fenley from Manhattan College, former Brooklyn Indians and Original Celtics guard Mel Hirsch from Brooklyn College, former (original) Baltimore Bullets and Trenton Tigers player Art Spector from Villanova University, former New York Westchesters/Westchester Indians and Brooklyn Gothams player Red Wallace from the University of Scranton, former Jersey Reds, Brooklyn Visitations, Baltimore Clippers, New York Jewels, and Brooklyn Gothams player Tony Kappen from Forest Hills High School, John Simmons from New York University, Connie Simmons from Flushing High School, former Wilkes-Barre Barons player Al Brightman from Morris Harvey College, Harold Kottman from Culver–Stockton College, Wyndol Gray from Bowling Green State University, and former Brooklyn Indians, Wilmington Bombers, Paterson Crescents, and rivaling NBL team Rochester Royals player Chuck Connors from Seton Hall College to open up their first ever season of play.Rosen Charley The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA 2008 McGraw Hill 9780071487856, pp. 41–46 Boston Celtics 1946–47 6–18 Al Brightman F 6 2 195 1923-09-22 Morris Harvey College 11 Chuck Connors F-C 6 5 190 1921-04-10 Seton Hall University 15 Hal Crisler F 6 3 215 1923-12-31 Iowa State University 17 Bob Duffy basketball, born 1922 F 6 4 175 1922-07-05 Colgate University 7 Warren Fenley F 6 3 190 1922-02-08 Manhattan 15 Jack Garfinkel G 6 0 190 1918-06-13 St. John's 4 Wyndol Gray G-F 6 1 175 1922-03-20 Bowling Green 3 Mel Hirsch G 5 6 165 1921-07-31 Brooklyn College 3 Charlie Hoefer G 5 9 158 1921-09-16 Queens College 14–24 Jerry Kelly basketball F 6 2 172 1918-06-14 Marshall University 9 Harold Kottman C 6 8 220 1922-08-22 Culver–Stockton 5 Dick Murphy basketball G 6 1 175 1921-03-10 Manhattan 10 Connie Simmons C-F 6 8 222 1925-03-15 Flushing HS (NY) 6 John Simmons baseball G 6 1 184 1924-07-07 NYU 12 Art Spector F 6 4 200 1920-10-17 Villanova 17 Virgil Vaughn F-C 6 4 205 1918-05-15 Western Kentucky Honey Russell Danny Silva https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1947.html Regular season On November 5, the Celtics played their first game at the Boston Arena in front of 4,329 fans.http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/celtics.html Boston Celtics (1946–Present) June 4, 2008 May 13, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120513211811/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/celtics.html dead The game would be delayed for an hour when the wooden backboard was damaged after a practice shot (not a slam dunk) from Chuck Connors occurred during warm-ups, with the team getting their spare backboard from the occupied (at that point in time) Boston Garden, which was hosting a rodeo show at the time. While the team tried to entertain the crowd with a three-on-three match of sorts with the single remaining backboard, by the time the spare backboard was installed, it was suggested that only half of the original crowd remained to actually watch the game properly. 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.Rosen Charley The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA 2008 McGraw Hill 9780071487856, pp. 37–38 Season standings BOS Game log background:#008348;color:#FFFFFF 1946–47 Game Log y background:#FFFFFF; color:#008348 November Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance High points Record |- | 1 || November 2 || @ Providence Steamrollers || 53–59 || Rhode Island Auditorium || Red Wallace (9) || 0–1 |- | 2 || November 5 || Chicago Stags || 55–57 || Boston Arena || John Simmons (13) || 0–2 |- | 3 || November 9 || @ Detroit Falcons || 46–69 || Detroit Olympia || Art Spector (12) || 0–3 |- | 4 || November 13 || @ Chicago Stags || 61–71 || Chicago Stadium || John Simmons (14) || 0–4 |- | 5 || November 14 || @ St. Louis Bombers || 62–64 || St. Louis Arena || Gray, Wallace (12) || 0–5 |- | 6 || November 16 || Toronto Huskies || 53–49 || Boston Garden || Wyndol Gray (13) || 1–5 |- | 7 || November 21 || St. Louis Bombers || 53–65 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (9) || 1–6 |- | 8 || November 22 || @ Toronto Huskies || 82–83 || Maple Leaf Gardens || Connie Simmons (18) || 1–7 |- | 9 || November 23 || @ Detroit Falcons || 46–54 || Detroit Olympia || Connie Simmons (15) || 1–8 |- | 10 || November 25 || Providence Steam Rollers || 59–71 || Boston Garden || John Simmons (14) || 1–9 |- | 11 || November 26 || Philadelphia Warriors || 54–66 || Philadelphia Arena || Connie Simmons (15) || 1–10 |- | 12 || November 28 || Pittsburgh Ironmen || 59–55 || Boston Garden || Harold Kottman (19) || 2–10 |- y background:#FFFFFF; color:#008348 December Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance High points Record |- | 13 || December 1 || @ Chicago Stags || 56–66 || Chicago Stadium || Al Brightman (26) || 2–11 |- | 14 || December 2 || @ Pittsburgh Ironmen || 46–44 || Duquesne Gardens || Al Brightman (11) || 3–11 |- | 15 || December 5 || Detroit Falcons || 61–65 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (10) || 3–12 |- | 16 || December 7 || New York Knickerbockers || 65–90 || Boston Garden || Gray, Kottman (15) || 3–13 |- | 17 || December 8 || @ New York Knickerbockers || 44–62 || Madison Square Garden || Wyndol Gray (13) || 3–14 |- | 18 || December 12 || Detroit Falcons || 73–66 || Boston Garden || Jerry Kelly (21) || 4–14 |- | 19 || December 14 || Philadelphia Warriors || 77–65 (OT) || Boston Garden || Red Wallace (19) || 5–14 |- | 20 || December 19 || St. Louis Bombers || 74–76 || Boston Garden || Al Brightman (13) || 5–15 |- | 21 || December 22 || @ St. Louis Bombers || 53–65 (OT) || St. Louis Arena || Chuck Connors (14) || 5–16 |- | 22 || December 23 || @ Pittsburgh Ironmen || 54–64 || Duquesne Gardens || C. Simmons, Spector (9) || 5–17 |- | 23 || December 27 || Philadelphia Warriors || 60–63 || Boston Arena || Al Brightman (17) || 5–18 |- | 24 || December 28 || @ Providence Steam Rollers || 68–80 || Rhode Island Auditorium || Wyndol Gray (17) || 5–19 |- | 25 || December 30 || Washington Capitols || 60–70 (OT) || Boston Arena || Connie Simmons (19) || 5–20 |- y background:#FFFFFF; color:#008348 January Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance High points Record |- | 26 || January 3 || @ Toronto Huskies || 58–53 || Maple Leaf Gardens || Al Brightman (21) || 6–20 |- | 27 || January 6 || Cleveland Rebels || 53–64 || Boston Arena || Connors, Gray (15) || 6–21 |- | 28 || January 10 || New York Knicks || 66–62 || Boston Arena || Al Brightman (18) || 7–21 |- | 29 || January 11 || @ Providence Steam Rollers || 73–72 || Rhode Island Auditorium || Al Brightman (17) || 8–21 |- | 30 || January 16 || Washington Capitols || 47–38 || Boston Garden || Al Brightman (14) || 9–21 |- | 31 || January 18 || @ New York Knickerbockers || 58–45 || Madison Square Garden || Al Brightman (19) || 10–21 |- | 32 || January 20 || Chicago Stags || 54–81 || Boston Garden || Wyndol Gray (13) || 10–22 |- | 33 || January 21 || @ Philadelphia Warriors || 43–59 || Philadelphia Arena || John Simmons (10) || 10−23 |- | 34 || January 23 || Pittsburgh Ironmen || 48–43 || Boston Garden || Charlie Hoefer (11) || 11–23 |- | 35 || January 25 || @ New York Knickerbockers || 52–46 || Madison Square Garden || Al Brightman (17) || 11–24 |- | 36 || January 27 || Washington Capitols || 57–80 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (12) || 12–24 |- | 37 || January 29 || @ Washington Capitols || 57–69 || Uline Arena || Connie Simmons (11) || 12–25 |- | 38 || January 30 || Pittsburgh Ironmen || 66–51 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (18) || 13–25 |- y background:#FFFFFF; color:#008348 February Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance High points Record |- | 39 || February 3 || Philadelphia Warriors || 55–61 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (17) || 13–26 |- | 40 || February 6 || New York Knickerbockers || 49–48 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (14) || 14–26 |- | 41 || February 13 || St. Louis Bombers || 64–54 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (17) || 15–26 |- | 42 || February 16 || @ Chicago Stags || 77–84 || Chicago Stadium || Connie Simmons (25) || 15–27 |- | 43 || February 18 || @ Cleveland Rebels || 73–84 || Cleveland Arena || Connie Simmons (21) || 15–28 |- | 44 || February 19 || @ Detroit Falcons || 57–51 || Detroit Olympia || Connie Simmons (18) || 16–28 |- | 45 || February 21 || @ Toronto Huskies || 61–67 || Maple Leaf Gardens || Connie Simmons (26) || 16–29 |- | 46 || February 23 || Providence Steam Rollers || 55–67 || Boston Arena || Al Brightman (14) || 16–30 |- | 47 || February 24 || @ Washington Capitals || 59–83 || Uline Arena || Al Brightman (14) || 16–31 |- | 48 || February 28 || Cleveland Rebels || 69–62 || Boston Arena || Al Brightman (22) || 17–31 |- y background:#FFFFFF; color:#008348 March Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance High points Record |- | 49 || March 1 || @ Washington Capitols || 52–75 || Uline Arena || Jack Garfinkel (18) || 17–32 |- | 50 || March 6 || Detroit Falcons || 74–65 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (19) || 18–32 |- | 50 || March 8 || Toronto Huskies || 67–65 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (19) || 19–32 |- | 52 || March 10 || Providence Steam Rollers || 70–87 || Boston Garden || John Simmons (17) || 19–33 |- | 53 || March 12 || Toronto Huskies || 69–57 || Boston Garden || Hoefer, J. Simmons (13) || 20–33 |- | 54 || March 13 || @ Philadelphia Warriors || 57–81 || Philadelphia Arena || Charlie Hoefer (12) || 20–34 |- | 55 || March 18 || Cleveland Rebels || 58–67 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (14) || 20–35 |- | 56 || March 24 || Chicago Stags || 69–80 || Boston Garden || Connie Simmons (17) || 20–36 |- | 57 || March 25 || @ Cleveland Rebels || 64–72 || Cleveland Arena || Art Spector (19) || 20–37 |- | 58 || March 26 || Pittsburgh Ironmen || 74–61|| Duquesne Gardens || Al Brightman (17) || 21–37 |- | 59 || March 29 || @ St. Louis Bombers || 55–59 || St. Louis Arena || Al Brightman (15) || 21–38 |- | 60 || March 30 || @ Cleveland Rebels || 71–66 || Cleveland Arena || Connie Simmons (20) || 22–38 |- |- | 1946–47 Schedule Player stats Season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG AST SPG BPG PPG Simmons, Connie Connie Simmons 60 .320 .677 62 10.3 Brightman, Al Al Brightman 58 .256 .627 60 9.8 Wyndol, Gray Wyndol Gray 55 .292 .581 47 6.4 Spector, Art Art Spector 55 .267 .553 46 6.0 Kelly, Jerry Jerry Kelly 43 .291 .667 24 6.0 Hoefer, Charlie Charlie Hoefer 35 .241 .634 24 6.0 Wallace, Red Red Wallace 24 .246 .438 20 5.5 Simmons, Johnny Johnny Simmons 60 .280 .614 29 5.3 Connors, Chuck Chuck Connors 49 .247 .464 40 4.6 Garfinkel, Jack Jack Garfinkel 40 .266 .607 58 4.5 Kottman, Harold Harold Kottman 53 .314 .465 17 3.1 Fenley, Warren Warren Fenley 33 .225 .511 16 2.6 Kappen, Tony Tony Kappen 18 .275 .632 6 4.1 Vaughn, Virgil Virgil Vaughn 17 .192 .536 10 2.6 Hirsch, Mel Mel Hirsch 13 .200 .500 10 1.5 Murphy, Dick Dick Murphy 7 .059 .000 3 0.9 Becker, Moe Moe Becker 6 .227 .750 1 2.2 Duffy, Bob Bob Duffy 6 .286 1.000 0 1.3 Crisler, Hal Hal Crisler 4 .333 1.000 0 1.5 Eliason, Don Don Eliason 1 .000 – 0 0.0 Transactions Trades December 12, 1946 To Boston CelticsMoe Becker"1946-47 Boston Celtics Transactions". Basketball Reference. Accessed on July 19, 2017. To Pittsburgh IronmenTony Kappen January 2, 1947 To the Boston CelticsCharlie Hoefer To the Toronto HuskiesRed Wallace Purchases PlayerDate boughtPrevious teamJack Garfinkelprosportstransactions.comJanuary 16, 1947Rochester Royals Season losses Throughout this season, the Boston Celtics only had an average total of 1,682 paid attendees per game, with net receipts totaling up to $57,875 for the season and estimated losses totaling up to around $200,000 for this season.Rosen Charley The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA 2008 McGraw Hill 9780071487856, p. 63 Despite the high amount of money lost during that period of time, the Boston Celtics would be one of six teams to fully confirm their interest in staying on board for another season while playing in the BAA (likely because the team ownership's involvement with the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League (NHL) would help offset any financial losses caused by the BAA during this short-term period of time).http://www.apbr.org/baaminutes.html BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA LEAGUE MINUTES 1946-1949 Bradley Robert APBR October 10, 2025 To this day, they join the New York Knicks as the only inaugural BAA/NBA team to still operate in their original location, with the Golden State Warriors (formerly known as the Philadelphia Warriors) also being the only other BAA/NBA team from this time still existing in the present day. References Category:Boston Celtics seasons Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Category:1940s in Boston