The NBA's roots trace back to the BAA, founded in 1946 by owners of major ice hockey arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The first official game of what would become the NBA took place on November 1st, 1946, in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens. It was in this game that Ossie Schectman of the Knickerbockers made history by scoring the first basket.

Before the formation of the NBA, there were several attempts to establish professional basketball leagues, including the American Basketball League and the NBL. However, the BAA was unique in its attempt to host games primarily in large arenas located in major cities, which helped it stand out.

Despite this unique approach, the BAA initially struggled to establish itself as the premier basketball league. The quality of play in the BAA was not significantly better than in competing leagues or independent clubs like the Harlem Globetrotters. Notably, teams like the 1947 ABL finalist Baltimore Bullets and the 1948 NBL champion Minneapolis Lakers demonstrated their prowess by winning championships in the BAA.

In an effort to strengthen its position, the BAA successfully lured several teams from the NBL before the 1948–49 season, including the Fort Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Kautskys, Minneapolis Lakers, and Rochester Royals. This move allowed these teams to play in major venues such as Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden, increasing their exposure and fan base.

However, the NBL retaliated by outbidding the BAA for the services of several key players. Despite this, financial difficulties continued to plague both leagues. On August 3rd, 1949, a historic agreement was reached: the BAA and the NBL merged to form the NBA, with Maurice Podoloff, the president of the BAA, becoming the NBA's first president and Ike Duffey, the president of the NBL, becoming the chairman.

"The new NBA started with 17 franchises, a mix of teams from large and small cities, playing in both large arenas and smaller gymnasiums. By 1950, the league had consolidated to 11 franchises, and by the 1954–55 season, the NBA had reached its smallest size of eight franchises, including the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia Warriors, and the Minneapolis Lakers, among others.

One notable figure during this early period was Japanese-American Wataru 'Wat' Misaka, who broke the NBA color barrier in the 1947–48 season by playing for the New York Knicks. He was the first non-white player in the league, paving the way for greater diversity in professional basketball.

The early 1950s saw the Minneapolis Lakers, led by superstar George Mikan, dominate the league, winning five NBA championships. Mikan's incredible skills and leadership established the Lakers as the NBA's first dynasty.

To encourage a faster pace of play and prevent stalling, the NBA introduced the 24-second shot clock in 1954, a game-changing innovation that remains a fundamental part of the sport today.

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