First NBA Basket and Opening Night
The first points in the NBA were scored on November 1, 1946, during the league’s inaugural game. The Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knicks at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, and the opening tip-off launched the new professional basketball era.
First Scorer and Key Details
Ossie Schectman of the New York Knicks scored the first basket, a layup that gave his team an early lead. The Knicks won the game 68–66, and that opening score is widely recorded as the first point in NBA history.
Legacy and Historical Context
The NBA was formed from the merger of the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League, and the 1946–47 season marked the start of its official records. Schectman’s early basket is a recognized milestone in basketball history, symbolizing the birth of the modern league.
For more details on the first NBA game and early scoring records, visit NBA Official History.
