1948–49 BAA season

1948–49 BAA season
LeagueBasketball Association of America
SportBasketball
Duration
  • November 1, 1948 – March 20, 1949
  • March 22 – April 2, 1949 (Playoffs)
  • April 4–13, 1949 (Finals)
Games60
Teams12
Draft
Top draft pickAndy Tonkovich
Picked byProvidence Steamrollers
Regular season
Top seedRochester Royals
Top scorerGeorge Mikan (Minneapolis)
Playoffs
Eastern championsWashington Capitols
  Eastern runners-upNew York Knicks
Western championsMinneapolis Lakers
  Western runners-upRochester Royals
Finals
ChampionsMinneapolis Lakers
  Runners-upWashington Capitols

The 1948–49 BAA season was the third and final season of the Basketball Association of America. The 1949 BAA Playoffs ended with the Minneapolis Lakers winning the BAA championship, beating the Washington Capitols in six games in the BAA Finals.

The NBA recognizes the three BAA seasons as part of its own history so the 1948–49 BAA season is considered the third NBA season.[1] Following the season, the BAA and National Basketball League merged to create the National Basketball Association or NBA.[2]

Notable occurrences

Coaching changes
Off-season
Team 1947–48 coach 1948–49 coach
Boston Celtics Honey Russell Doggie Julian
Providence Steamrollers Nat Hickey Ken Loeffler
St. Louis Bombers Ken Loeffler Grady Lewis
In-season
Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach
Chicago Stags Harold Olsen Philip Brownstein
Fort Wayne Pistons Carl Bennett Curly Armstrong
Indianapolis Jets Bruce Hale Burl Friddle

Final standings

Playoffs

Division Semifinals Division Finals BAA Finals
         
E1 Washington* 2
E4 Philadelphia 0
E1 Washington* 2
Eastern Division
E2 New York 1
E2 New York 2
E3 Baltimore 1
E1 Washington* 2
W2 Minneapolis 4
W1 Rochester* 2
W4 St. Louis 0
W1 Rochester* 0
Western Division
W2 Minneapolis 2
W2 Minneapolis 2
W3 Chicago 0
  • * Division winner
  • Bold Series winner

Statistics leaders

CategoryPlayerTeamStat
PointsGeorge MikanMinneapolis Lakers1,698
AssistsBob DaviesRochester Royals321
FG%Arnie RisenRochester Royals.423
FT%Bob FeerickWashington Capitols.859

Note: Prior to the 1969–70 season, league leaders in points and assists were determined by totals rather than averages.

BAA awards

See also

References

  1. ↑ "NBA Season Recaps: A look back at every season since 1946". NBA.com. July 30, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  2. ↑ "NBA is born". History. November 16, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  3. ↑ "First NBA Game Where An Entire Team Scored 100 Points". StatMuse.
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