On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team joined with 10 other franchises to form the National Basketball Association, which three years later absorbed teams from the rival National Basketball League to become the organization we now know as the NBA.
The league's original teams included the Washington Capitals, (then) Philadelphia (now Golden State) Warriors, New York Knicks, Providence Steamrollers and Toronto Huskies (all now disbanded), who joined Boston in the Eastern Conference. The Chicago Stags, St. Louis Bombers, Cleveland Rebels, Detroit Falcons and Pittsburgh Ironmen (all now disbanded) were in the new Western Conference.
Maurice Podoloff was named the league's first president (later renamed commissioner), and teams played 60 or 61 games in the regular season. The Warriors defeated the Stags, 4-1, to win their first BAA/NBA championship.
Greg M. Cooper – USA TODAY Sports
This was also the day Boston won Game 6 of the 1976 NBA Finals, 87-80, to clinch their 13th championship.
After a thrilling triple-overtime game that remains one of the greatest in NBA Finals history, the Phoenix Suns were confident of a home-court victory.
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They didn't.
Guard Charlie Scott (25 points, 11 rebounds), center Dave Cowens (21 points, 17 rebounds) and point guard JoJo White (15 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and a late run) helped the game and series go for the win.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire
