Overview
The Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Chicago Stags four games to one in the best-of-seven series to conclude the first Finals series in major organized professional basketball history. The league, then known as the Basketball Association of America, held its first Finals series from April 16-22, 1947.
Six teams made the playoffs in 1947, and the two teams with the best regular-season records received byes. The Philadelphia Warriors advanced to the Finals despite finishing just over .500 in the regular season.
Warrior Joe Fulks was named the league's first-ever scoring leader for finishing the season averaging 23.2 points per game. The Chicago Stags were the top team in the Western Divison by finishing one game ahead of the St. Louis Bombers.
Six teams made the playoffs in 1947, and the two teams with the best regular-season records received byes. The Philadelphia Warriors advanced to the Finals despite finishing just over .500 in the regular season.
Warrior Joe Fulks was named the league's first-ever scoring leader for finishing the season averaging 23.2 points per game. The Chicago Stags were the top team in the Western Divison by finishing one game ahead of the St. Louis Bombers.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Stags | Warriors |
| Regular Season | 39-22, 1st in Western Division | 35-25, 2nd in Eastern Division |
| Quarterfinals | Bye | Def. St. Louis Bombers, 2-1 |
| Semifinals | Def. Washington Capitols, 4-2 | Def. New York Knicks, 2-0 |
The first game of the first-ever professional basketball Finals series was marked by a dominating performance by future Hall of Fame forward Joe Fulks. A crowd of 7,918 was on hand at Philadelphia Arena to watch Fulks and the Warriors take on the Stags.
"Jumpin' Joe" scored 37 points, including 29 in the second half, to lead Philadelphia to victory. Fulks made eight of his nine field goal attempts in the fourth quarter alone.
Fulks' 37 points stood as the rookie record for a Finals game until Magic Johnson scored 42 against the Philadelphia 76ers in 1980.
At the other end of the floor, Chicago attempted a whopping 129 field goals but only made 26, only a 20 percent shooting average.
"Jumpin' Joe" scored 37 points, including 29 in the second half, to lead Philadelphia to victory. Fulks made eight of his nine field goal attempts in the fourth quarter alone.
Fulks' 37 points stood as the rookie record for a Finals game until Magic Johnson scored 42 against the Philadelphia 76ers in 1980.
At the other end of the floor, Chicago attempted a whopping 129 field goals but only made 26, only a 20 percent shooting average.
Joe Fulks only managed 13 points in Game 2, but his teammates picked up the slack. In addition to Fulks, four other Warriors scored in double figures, led by forward Howie Dallmar with 18 points. Swingman Jerry Fleishman contributed 16.
Despite upping their field goal attempts to 150, Chicago again shot 20 percent from the floor in Game 2. The Stags kept it close for most of the game, trailing by just three points at the half. The Stags actually led by one point when Chicago guard Charlie Gilmer fouled out late in the game.
The Warriors took advantage and went on a late run to victory, led by center Art Hillhouse, who scored seven of Philadelphia's last 10 points.
Despite upping their field goal attempts to 150, Chicago again shot 20 percent from the floor in Game 2. The Stags kept it close for most of the game, trailing by just three points at the half. The Stags actually led by one point when Chicago guard Charlie Gilmer fouled out late in the game.
The Warriors took advantage and went on a late run to victory, led by center Art Hillhouse, who scored seven of Philadelphia's last 10 points.
On the way to Chicago for Game 3, the Warriors' team plane filled with black smoke while in flight and had to return to Philadelphia. Despite the travel issues, Philadelphia rebounded to take Game 3.
Only 2,209 Chicagoans turned out to watch the first-ever Finals game in the Windy City. Despite coming back from a double-digit deficit with about four minutes remaining in the game, the Stags fell short by 3.
Joe Fulks led Philadelphia with 26 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
Only 2,209 Chicagoans turned out to watch the first-ever Finals game in the Windy City. Despite coming back from a double-digit deficit with about four minutes remaining in the game, the Stags fell short by 3.
Joe Fulks led Philadelphia with 26 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
Despite holding a 13-point lead entering the third quarter, the Chicago Stags hung on to win a nail-biter and avoid elimination in front of only 1,934 hometown fans.
Joe Fulks was benched with four fouls for most of the third quarter, which allowed Chicago to build up a 65-52 lead. Fulks came off the bench at the start of the fourth, and scored 8 points before fouling out with just 2:15 remaining, and George Senesky threw in 7 fourth-quarter points. Philadelphia outscored Chicago 21-9 in the final period, but fell just short of coming back for the series-ending win.
The Stags were led by Max Zaslofsky, who scored 20 points. Senesky led the Warriors with 24, and Fulks finished with 21.
Joe Fulks was benched with four fouls for most of the third quarter, which allowed Chicago to build up a 65-52 lead. Fulks came off the bench at the start of the fourth, and scored 8 points before fouling out with just 2:15 remaining, and George Senesky threw in 7 fourth-quarter points. Philadelphia outscored Chicago 21-9 in the final period, but fell just short of coming back for the series-ending win.
The Stags were led by Max Zaslofsky, who scored 20 points. Senesky led the Warriors with 24, and Fulks finished with 21.
Joe Fulks again put on a scoring exhibition in Game 5, and racked up 34 points. His average for the series was 26.2 points per game, but it was forward Howie Dallmar who was the unlikely hero for Philadelphia. Dallmar, who shot just 28 percent from the field over the course of his career, hit his only field goal of the game with less than a minute remaining and the score tied at 80.
Chicago's Max Zaslofsky and Don Carlson scored 20 and 18 points respectively, but it wasn't enough to give the Stags the win.
Philadelphia center Art Hillhouse fouled out after scoring just 9 points, which would not have been notable except for the fact that Hillhouse also fouled out of Games 1 through 4. To this day, Hillhouse is the only player in league history to foul out of every game in a Finals series.
For winning the title, each Philadelphia team member received a $2,000 bonus and a ring with a diamond chip in it.
Chicago's Max Zaslofsky and Don Carlson scored 20 and 18 points respectively, but it wasn't enough to give the Stags the win.
Philadelphia center Art Hillhouse fouled out after scoring just 9 points, which would not have been notable except for the fact that Hillhouse also fouled out of Games 1 through 4. To this day, Hillhouse is the only player in league history to foul out of every game in a Finals series.
For winning the title, each Philadelphia team member received a $2,000 bonus and a ring with a diamond chip in it.