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1947 BAA draft
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| 1947 BAA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | June 2, 1947[1] |
| Location | The Leland Hotel (Detroit, Michigan)[1] |
| Overview | |
| 80 total selections in 10 rounds | |
| League | BAA |
| First selection | Clifton McNeely, Pittsburgh Ironmen |
| Hall of Famers | |
The 1947 BAA draft was the first ever draft of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which later merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to become the National Basketball Association (NBA). The fledgling BAA held this draft as a joint draft with the established NBL. The BAA first discussed the idea of creating a draft system similar to the NFL draft (which was first implemented back in 1936) back on January 1947 during league meetings held in New York, with each team being given territorial pick rights to one player each year from schools in a 50 mile radius. However, both leagues wanted to control salaries by stamping out competitive bidding between the two leagues from college players that may or may not have been returning home from World War II by assigning exclusive rights to the team selecting a player.[1] Before the BAA's draft began, the NBL had already signed eleven players that had already graduated from college, all of whom the NBL did not feel like they should be exposed to the BAA's draft system on display. The players included college stars Jack Smiley, Ralph Hamilton, Harry Boykoff, John Hargis, Frank Brian, and Charlie Black. As a trade-off, the BAA teams were allowed to select players early on before the NBL did. Including the NBL's draft side of things (which saw at least ten teams of their own participate in the event themselves), the overall draft program would have included 100 players (mainly college seniors) drafted between the two leagues.[2]
The draft was held on June 2, 1947, months before the 1947–48 season began. During this draft, the nine remaining BAA teams (both the Cleveland Rebels and Detroit Falcons decided to decline their entries into the draft while still remaining as existing franchises at the time) along with the Baltimore Bullets, who joined the BAA from the American Basketball League after a dispute they had during the ABL playoffs with that league, took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. In the first round of the draft, the teams selected in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season, while the Bullets were assigned the tenth pick, the last pick of the first round, due in part to their overwhelming 31–3 record they had in the ABL beating out even the 49–11 record held by the Washington Capitols. Both the Pittsburgh Ironmen and Toronto Huskies participated in this draft, but they folded before the season opened alongside the Cleveland Rebels and Detroit Falcons.
Draft selections and draftee career notes
[edit]The first selection of the draft, Clifton McNeely from Texas Wesleyan University, did not play in the BAA. Instead, McNeely opted for a high school coaching career in Texas.[3] The fourth pick, Walt Dropo, also did not play in the BAA and opted for a professional baseball career instead, eventually playing 13 seasons in the Major League Baseball (MLB).[4][5] The 7th and 10th picks, Jack Underman and Larry Killick, also never played in the BAA. Three players from this draft, Harry Gallatin, Andy Phillip and Jim Pollard, have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.[6]
Wataru Misaka, selected by the New York Knicks,[7] made the team's final roster and became the first person of color to play in modern professional basketball, just months after the Major League Baseball color line had been broken by the Brooklyn Dodgers' Jackie Robinson.[8] Misaka was cut after playing only three games with the team.[9]
Key
[edit]| Pos. | G | F | C |
| Position | Guard | Forward | Center |
| ^ | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| # | Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game |
Draft
[edit]| Rnd. | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality[n 1] | Team | School / club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Clifton McNeely# | F |  United States
|
Pittsburgh Ironmen | Texas Wesleyan |
| 1 | 2 | Glen Selbo | G/F | United States
|
Toronto Huskies | Wisconsin |
| 1 | 3 | Bulbs Ehlers | G/F | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Purdue |
| 1 | 4 | Walt Dropo# | – | United States
|
Providence Steamrollers | Connecticut |
| 1 | 5 | Dick Holub | C | United States
|
New York Knicks | Long Island |
| 1 | 6 | Chink Crossin | G | United States
|
Philadelphia Warriors | Pennsylvania |
| 1 | 7 | Jack Underman# | – | United States
|
St. Louis Bombers | Ohio State |
| 1 | 8 | Paul Huston | F | United States
|
Chicago Stags | Ohio State |
| 1 | 9 | Dick O'Keefe | G/F | United States
|
Washington Capitols | Santa Clara |
| 1 | 10 | Larry Killick# | – | United States
|
Baltimore Bullets | Vermont |
Other picks
[edit]The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one BAA/NBA game.[10][11]
Notable undrafted players
[edit]These players were not selected in the 1947 draft, but played at least one game in the BAA/NBA.
| Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Barksdale+ | F/C | United States
|
UCLA |
| Charles B. Black | F/C | United States
|
Kansas |
| Jake Bornheimer | F/C | United States
|
Muhlenberg |
| Harry Boykoff | C | United States
|
St. John's |
| Carl Braun^ | G | United States
|
Colgate |
| Fran Curran | G | United States
|
Notre Dame |
| Jack Dwan | F/G | United States
|
Loyola (IL) |
| Hoot Gibson | F/C | United States
|
Creighton |
| Ralph Hamilton | G/F | United States
|
Indiana |
| John Hargis | G/F | United States
|
Texas |
| Doug Holcomb | F | United States
|
Wisconsin |
| Boag Johnson | G | United States
|
Huntington |
| Walt Kirk | G | United States
|
Illinois |
| Bob Knight | G/F | United States
|
Weaver HS (Hartford, Connecticut) |
| Ray Kuka | F | United States
|
Montana State |
| Walt Lautenbach | G/F | United States
|
Wisconsin |
| Matt Mazza | G/F | United States
|
Michigan State |
| Dick Mehen | F/C | United States
|
Tennessee |
| Ken Menke | G | United States
|
Illinois |
| Fred Paine | F | United States
|
Westminster (PA) |
| Les Pugh | F/C | United States
|
Ohio State |
| Ray Ramsey | G/F | United States
|
Bradley |
| Lee Robbins | F | United States
|
Colorado |
| Gene Rock | G | United States
|
USC |
| Jack Rocker | F/C | United States
|
California |
| Jack Smiley | F/G | United States
|
Illinois |
| Jim Springer | C | United States
|
Canterbury |
| Sid Tanenbaum | G/F | United States
|
NYU |
| Mike Todorovich | F/C | United States
|
Wyoming |
| Jack Toomay | F/C | United States
|
Pacific |
| Floyd Volker | F/C | United States
|
Wyoming |
| Danny Wagner | G | United States
|
Texas |
Notes
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- General
- "1947 BAA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved September 11, 2009.
- "1947–1948 BAA Drafts, 1949–1951 NBA Drafts". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved September 11, 2009.
- Specific
- ^ a b c Bradley, Robert D. (2013). The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810890695., pg. 1
- ^ Bradley, Robert D. (2013). The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. Scarecrow Press. pp. 1–2. ISBN 9780810890695.
- ^ Cook, Bob (September 13, 2007). "Oden's injury a cruel blow for cursed Blazers". NBCSports.com. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved September 11, 2009.
- ^ Montville, Leigh (July 19, 1993). "What Ever Happened To...: Walt Dropo". Sports Illustrated. Time Inc. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- ^ "Walt Dropo Bio". baseball-reference.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved September 11, 2009.
- ^ "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
- ^ Wertheim, Jon (February 11, 2012). "Decades before Lin's rise, Misaka made history for Asian-Americans". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
- ^ Goldstein, Richard (November 26, 2019). "Wat Misaka, 95, First Nonwhite in Modern Pro Basketball, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
- ^ Vecsey, George (August 10, 2009). "Pioneering Knick Returns to Garden". The New York Times. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
- ^ "1947 BAA Draft".
- ^ "NBA Past Drafts - RealGM".
External links
[edit]1947 BAA draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Historical Context
Origins of the BAA and Professional Basketball Landscape
Prior to the formation of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), professional basketball in the United States operated in a fragmented landscape dominated by regional circuits and independent barnstorming teams, with the National Basketball League (NBL)—established in 1937 as a successor to the Midwest Basketball Conference—serving as the most structured entity, primarily confined to smaller industrial cities in the Midwest such as Oshkosh and Sheboygan.[3][4] The NBL featured modest attendance, averaging fewer than 2,000 fans per game in many venues, and competed with the greater popularity of college basketball, which drew larger crowds through amateur play and regional rivalries.[4] Salaries remained low, often under $100 per game for top players, limiting talent acquisition and professional appeal amid economic recovery from the Great Depression and World War II disruptions.[4] Postwar economic expansion and the return of millions of servicemen created demand for spectator sports, prompting arena owners to seek off-season revenue streams for facilities like ice hockey rinks left idle during warmer months. On June 6, 1946, the BAA was founded in New York City by a group of 11 team owners, led by Boston Garden proprietor Walter Brown, who envisioned a league utilizing major urban arenas to host higher-caliber basketball.[5][6] The inaugural franchises included teams in large markets such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago, contrasting the NBL's smaller-town focus and aiming to professionalize the sport through standardized rules, longer schedules of up to 60 games, and elevated player compensation starting at around $5,000 per season for stars.[7][5] The BAA's 1946-47 season launched without a formal draft, relying instead on direct negotiations and territorial claims to sign players from colleges and the NBL, which intensified competition for talent like Joe Fulks and resulted in average attendance exceeding 3,000 per game in key venues.[8] This ad hoc approach exposed inefficiencies in player distribution and bidding wars, setting the stage for the 1947 draft as a mechanism to organize selections and stabilize team rosters amid growing league ambitions.[1] By establishing operations in population centers with established sports infrastructure, the BAA sought to rival established leagues like baseball's majors, though financial instability—evidenced by several franchises folding after the first season—highlighted the nascent challenges in building sustainable professional basketball.[7]Player Acquisition Prior to the Draft
Prior to the introduction of the draft system, Basketball Association of America (BAA) teams constructed their initial rosters through independent scouting and direct contract negotiations with available talent, primarily sourcing players from college programs, the American Basketball League (ABL), industrial leagues, and post-World War II military basketball squads.[9] The BAA, formed on June 6, 1946, by arena owners in major East Coast and Midwestern cities, initiated recruitment immediately to fill rosters for the league's debut season starting November 1, 1946, with 11 franchises each aiming for 10-12 players.[10] This unstructured process involved coaches and owners traveling to evaluate prospects, offering salaries that averaged around $5,000 per season for stars, amid competition from the established National Basketball League (NBL).[11] Direct signings emphasized experienced professionals and recent amateurs, as college eligibility rules limited immediate access to top seniors until graduation. Notable acquisitions included the Philadelphia Warriors securing forward Joe Fulks from the University of Kentucky in summer 1946; Fulks led the league in scoring with 23.2 points per game during the 1946-47 season. Similarly, the Chicago Stags signed guard Max Zaslofsky out of City College of New York, who averaged 13.0 points as a rookie, while the Washington Capitols added forward Bones McKinney from North Carolina State, leveraging his ABL background.[12] Teams like the New York Knicks drew from ABL rosters, signing players such as Dick Murphy and Ossie Schectman, who scored the league's first basket on opening night. The absence of a draft fostered bidding wars for elite college talent, inflating costs and prompting territorial disputes, particularly with the NBL, which had preemptively signed 11 recent graduates—including Harry Boykoff (St. John's) and Ralph Hamilton (Colorado)—rendering them ineligible for BAA selection.[9] In response, BAA owners approved the draft on December 19, 1946, to allocate future college entrants fairly starting with the July 1, 1947, proceedings in Detroit, while retaining rights to existing contract holders via option clauses or renewals.[13] This shift aimed to curb excessive spending, as evidenced by early salaries exceeding $10,000 for players like Fulks, and standardize player distribution amid the league's financial uncertainties.[11] By mid-1947, prior to the draft, teams focused on re-signing incumbents—such as the Warriors extending Fulks—and pursuing undrafted veterans or ABL refugees, with transactions like the Knicks acquiring Bob Fitzgerald via sale in April 1947.[14]Draft Mechanics
Event Details and Format
The 1947 BAA draft, marking the inaugural player selection process for the Basketball Association of America ahead of the 1947–48 season, occurred on July 1, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan.[1] This event involved representatives from the league's 11 franchises convening to select eligible amateur players, predominantly college seniors who had exhausted their eligibility.[1] The draft was conducted jointly with the rival National Basketball League (NBL), reflecting early efforts to pool talent from the available amateur pool amid competition for players between the two leagues; however, BAA teams retained rights to their selections for league purposes.[15] The format emphasized sequential team picks across multiple rounds without a fixed limit per round initially, though the process yielded 78 total selections, with only 33 of the draftees ultimately appearing in BAA or subsequent NBA games.[1] In the first round, selection order was determined by inverting the teams' win-loss records from the prior 1946–47 season, prioritizing franchises with the poorest performances to aid competitive balance; the Pittsburgh Ironmen, tied for the league's worst record, held the top choice.[16] Subsequent rounds followed a similar straight order without reversal, allowing teams to continue drafting until passing or exhausting the player pool, though territorial picks—enabling teams to claim local talent outside the standard order—were available under league rules for players within a defined radius of a franchise's home territory.[17] This structure, simpler than modern lottery systems, aimed to distribute talent efficiently while accommodating the era's limited scouting and player data.[9]Selection Rules and Territorial Rights
The selection rules for the 1947 BAA draft restricted eligibility to players who had completed their college eligibility, specifically seniors graduating that year, with no signing permitted until after graduation to respect amateur status.[9] High school players were ineligible until at least one year after their class graduation, and no individual under 16 years old could be contracted.[9] The draft, held on July 1, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan, proceeded in multiple rounds—ultimately producing 78 selections across eight rounds—with teams selecting players sequentially in a fixed order determined by league processes, alternating picks without a serpentine reversal in early years.[1] This structure formalized player allocation amid competition from the rival National Basketball League (NBL), following a joint BAA-NBL meeting on June 2, 1947, where BAA teams received priority selections due to prior NBL signings of college talent.[9] Territorial rights granted each BAA franchise priority to select players from within a 50-mile radius of its home arena, with exceptions for overlapping markets such as New York (affecting Brooklyn) and the Boston-Providence corridor.[9] Established at the January 9, 1947, board meeting, this provision allowed teams to claim local college stars to foster regional loyalty and attendance, reflecting the league's recognition that proximity to fan bases could enhance viability in a nascent professional circuit.[9] Unlike the formalized territorial pick introduced in the 1949 BAA draft—where teams could forfeit their first-round choice for exclusive rights to a nearby player—the 1947 rule provided a general right without requiring draft position sacrifice, integrating territorial preferences into the overall selection sequence rather than as a separate mechanism. In practice, adherence varied, as evidenced by non-local first-round choices like Pittsburgh's selection of Clifton McNeely from Texas Western College, indicating the rule served more as a protective guideline than a mandatory pre-draft claim.[1] This approach balanced competitive equity with market incentives, though it did not prevent later evolutions toward stricter local protections as the league stabilized.Order Determination and Team Participation
The draft order for the first round was determined generally by the inverse of the teams' win-loss records from the 1946–47 BAA season, allowing franchises with poorer performances the opportunity to select earlier. The Pittsburgh Ironmen held the first pick after compiling the league's worst mark of 4 wins and 56 losses. The Toronto Huskies followed with the second selection, having posted a 10–30 record. The Boston Celtics (22–38), Providence Steamrollers (28–32), and other participating teams continued in roughly comparable fashion through the early picks, though the precise positioning incorporated league adjustments, such as assigning the Baltimore Bullets the tenth and final first-round choice despite their 31–29 finish.[18][1] Ten teams took part in the draft, comprising the BAA franchises that had not yet disbanded following the inaugural 1946–47 campaign. These included the Baltimore Bullets, Boston Celtics, Chicago Stags, New York Knicks, Philadelphia Warriors, Pittsburgh Ironmen, Providence Steamrollers, St. Louis Bombers, Toronto Huskies, and Washington Capitols. The Cleveland Rebels (30–30 record) and Detroit Falcons (20–40) had folded prior to the July 1, 1947, proceedings in Detroit, Michigan, and thus did not select players. Although the Pittsburgh Ironmen and Toronto Huskies participated, both franchises ceased operations before the 1947–48 season commenced, reducing the league to eight teams for that year.[1][18][2]Draft Selections
Key Picks and Round Structure
The 1947 BAA draft consisted of 10 rounds, yielding 78 total selections across the league's 11 franchises.[1] [19] Selections proceeded in a straight order without a snake format, with the first four rounds limited to one pick per team in sequence, reflecting the 10-team core order established for the inaugural proceedings, while the 11th team (Baltimore Bullets) integrated via territorial claims and subsequent slots.[17] Later rounds tapered off irregularly to accommodate varying team needs, resulting in fewer than 10 picks per team on average after the initial sets.[1] The first overall selection went to guard Clifton McNeely from Texas Western College, drafted by the Pittsburgh Ironmen; McNeely returned to college coaching and did not play professionally.[1] [19] Subsequent first-round picks similarly underdelivered in aggregate, with only a handful appearing in BAA games, underscoring the era's scouting limitations and player reluctance to turn pro amid competing opportunities like industrial leagues.[1] Key later selections proved more impactful, notably the Baltimore Bullets' fourth-round choice of forward Harry Gallatin from Northeast Missouri State (overall pick 31 or 40, per varying records), who debuted in 1948 after military service and amassed 78.4 career win shares—the highest from the class—en route to six All-Star nods and leading the league in rebounding percentage multiple times.[1] [20] Another standout was center Red Rocha, taken by the St. Louis Bombers in the second round (pick 19), contributing 47.9 win shares over a decade.[1] The first round's selections are summarized below:| Pick | Team | Player | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh Ironmen | Clifton McNeely | Texas Western |
| 2 | Toronto Huskies | Glen Selbo | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Boston Celtics | Ed Ehlers | Purdue |
| 4 | Providence Steamrollers | Dick Holup | Toledo |
| 5 | New York Knicks | Dick Schnittker | Illinois |
| 6 | Chicago Stags | Jim Jordan | (Unknown) |
| 7 | Cleveland Rebels | Hank Schmidt | (Unknown) |
| 8 | Detroit Falcons | Ernie Calverley | Rhode Island |
| 9 | Washington Capitols | Bob Feerick | Santa Clara |
| 10 | St. Louis Bombers | Buddy O'Grady | (Unknown) |
| 11 | Philadelphia Warriors | Alex Hannum | Southern California |
Career Outcomes of Selected Players
Harry Gallatin, selected 31st overall in the fourth round by the Baltimore Bullets (later traded to the New York Knicks), emerged as one of the draft's most enduring contributors, playing 682 games over 10 NBA seasons primarily with the Knicks. He averaged 13.0 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, led the league in rebounding with 15.3 per game in 1953–54, earned All-NBA First Team honors that year and Second Team the following season, and appeared in seven All-Star Games from 1951 to 1957. Gallatin's durability was legendary, holding the Knicks' record for 610 consecutive games played, a streak reflecting his role as a gritty power forward known for rebounding and defense despite modest scoring efficiency (39.8% field goal percentage).[20][1] Jim Pollard, taken 60th overall in the seventh round by the Chicago Stags (subsequently joining the Minneapolis Lakers via the NBL merger), became a cornerstone of the Lakers' early dynasty, contributing to four championships between 1949 and 1954. In 438 NBA games, he averaged 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds, excelling as a versatile forward with strong athleticism and defensive prowess that complemented George Mikan's dominance. Pollard's career win shares totaled 34.9, underscoring his impact in an era of limited player depth.[21][1] Andy Phillip, drafted 43rd overall in the fifth round by the Chicago Stags, enjoyed a 10-year career spanning 701 games, averaging 6.2 points and 3.5 assists while accumulating 60.5 win shares. Known for his playmaking as a guard, Phillip won a championship with the 1957–58 St. Louis Hawks and later coached in the NBA, highlighting the draft's value in unearthing multi-faceted talents beyond early selections.[1] Red Rocha, picked 19th overall in the second round by the Toronto Huskies (rights traded), provided solid frontcourt depth across 586 games with teams including the Sacramento Kings and Indianapolis Olympians, posting 47.9 win shares with averages of 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds. His career exemplified the reliability of mid-round selections in bolstering league rosters during the BAA's formative years.[1] In contrast, top picks like Clifton McNeely (first overall, Pittsburgh Ironmen) and Walt Dropo (fourth overall, Providence Steamrollers) bypassed professional basketball; McNeely pursued high school coaching in Texas, while Dropo opted for a distinguished Major League Baseball career, including a 1950 Rookie of the Year award and All-Star nod. Of the 78 draftees, only 33 appeared in BAA or NBA games, illustrating the draft's early challenges in talent evaluation amid competition from other leagues and non-basketball pursuits.[1]| Player | Draft Position | Original Team | Career Games | Win Shares | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Gallatin | 31st (Rd. 4) | Baltimore Bullets | 682 | 78.4 | 7× All-Star, 1954 rebounding leader |
| Jim Pollard | 60th (Rd. 7) | Chicago Stags | 438 | 34.9 | 4× champion (Lakers) |
| Andy Phillip | 43rd (Rd. 5) | Chicago Stags | 701 | 60.5 | 1958 champion (Hawks) |
| Red Rocha | 19th (Rd. 2) | Toronto Huskies | 586 | 47.9 | Consistent starter in early NBA |
Notable Draftees and Their Achievements
Harry Gallatin, selected 31st overall in the fourth round by the Baltimore Bullets, developed into one of the league's premier rebounders during a 10-year career spanning 1948 to 1958, primarily with the New York Knicks, where he averaged 13.0 points and 11.9 rebounds per game while accumulating 78.4 win shares; he earned seven All-Star selections and was known for his tenacity on the boards despite lacking elite scoring ability.[20] [1] Andy Phillip, taken 43rd overall in the fifth round by the Chicago Stags, played 11 NBA seasons from 1947 to 1958, totaling 60.5 win shares as a versatile guard-forward who contributed to the Stags' strong early performances and later teams like the Philadelphia Warriors; he appeared in six All-Star Games and was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961 for his defensive prowess and playmaking. [1] Jim Pollard, drafted 60th overall in the seventh round by the Chicago Stags, transitioned to the Minneapolis Lakers where he formed a formidable frontcourt alongside George Mikan, helping secure five NBA championships between 1949 and 1954 over seven seasons; Pollard averaged 10.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, earning four All-Star nods and recognition as a key pioneer in professional basketball's post-merger era.[21] [1] Red Rocha, picked 19th overall in the second round by the Toronto Huskies, logged nine NBA seasons from 1948 to 1957, mainly with the Fort Wayne Pistons, where he posted 47.9 win shares as a rugged forward averaging 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game; his durability and rebounding contributed to the Pistons' competitive rosters in the early 1950s. [1] These players exemplified the draft's value in unearthing talent beyond early rounds, as only 33 of the 78 selections appeared in BAA or NBA games, with later picks outperforming the inaugural first overall choice, Clifton McNeely, who declined to play professionally.[1]Undrafted Players and Alternatives
Prominent Players Bypassed in the Draft
Don Barksdale, a consensus second-team All-American and the first African American to be named an NCAA All-American during his senior year at UCLA in 1947, went undrafted in the BAA draft.[22] Instead of immediately pursuing professional basketball, Barksdale competed in amateur leagues and represented the United States at the 1948 Summer Olympics, where the team won gold; he later debuted in the BAA/NBA with the Baltimore Bullets in 1951, earning an All-Star selection in 1953 before finishing his career with the Boston Celtics.[22] The competition from the established National Basketball League (NBL), which offered contracts to many top collegians, led several prominent players to bypass the BAA draft entirely. Frank Brian, who captained Louisiana State University to the 1946 NAIB national championship and averaged 22.1 points per game as a senior in 1947, signed directly with the NBL's Anderson Packers, where he played through the 1949 merger with the BAA.[15] Harry Boykoff, a 6-foot-10 center and two-time All-American at St. John's University who led the Redmen to a 1943 NIT title, opted for the American Basketball League's Wilkes-Barre Barons before joining NBL teams, contributing to the Packers' 1949-50 World Professional Basketball Tournament championship.[15] Other bypassed collegians included Ralph Hamilton, a first-team All-American guard-forward from Washington State who joined the NBL's Toledo Jim White Chevrolets, and John Hargis, a guard-forward from the University of Texas who signed with the NBL's Anderson Packers after a standout senior season. These choices reflected the NBL's stronger foothold in the Midwest and its appeal to players wary of the fledgling BAA's financial instability, with many such talents only entering the unified NBA after the 1949 merger.[15]Post-Draft Signings and League Integration
Teams supplemented draft selections by signing undrafted college players and professionals from competing circuits like the American Basketball League (ABL), as only 33 of the 78 draftees appeared in BAA games during the 1947-48 season.[1] The New York Knicks secured guard Carl Braun from Colgate University, who had gone unselected; he averaged 7.7 points across 43 games in his rookie year, providing backcourt depth en route to a third-place finish. Similarly, the Philadelphia Warriors added forward Stan Brown from the ABL's Philadelphia Sphas, integrating experienced talent that bolstered their playoff push despite defensive inconsistencies. These acquisitions addressed roster gaps exacerbated by draftees pursuing baseball contracts or military obligations, with teams like the Providence Steamrollers relying on post-draft free agents such as Bill Downey to field competitive lineups amid the league's expansion challenges. In-season signings continued this process; on December 9, 1947, the Baltimore Bullets inked forward John Abramovic as a free agent, who logged 28 games and helped stabilize the roster during their championship campaign.[23] Such maneuvers promoted league integration by merging barnstorming veterans and regional league standouts into the BAA structure, fostering depth and rivaling the National Basketball League (NBL) ahead of their 1949 merger. The folding of the Pittsburgh Ironmen in November 1947 further necessitated these signings, dispersing available players and underscoring the BAA's reliance on flexible recruitment to sustain 11-team operations.[24] This approach ensured viability, with champion Baltimore leveraging midseason additions to defeat the Warriors in the finals on April 22, 1948.Evaluation and Legacy
Metrics of Draft Success
Out of the 78 players selected in the 1947 BAA draft, only 29 ultimately appeared in at least one BAA or NBA regular-season game, yielding a participation rate of approximately 37%.[1] This limited success reflected the nascent state of professional basketball scouting and the transition from college to pro play, with many early picks like first overall selection Clifton McNeely failing to reach the league.[1] The draft class produced three Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees—Jim Pollard, Harry Gallatin, and Andy Phillip—all selected outside the first round, highlighting inefficiencies in early draft evaluation.[25] Pollard, taken in the fourth round, won five championships with the Minneapolis Lakers and earned four All-NBA selections across seven seasons, averaging 13.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.[25] Gallatin, a fourth-round pick by the New York Knicks, garnered seven All-Star nods and two All-NBA honors in 10 seasons, leading the class in rebounding at 11.9 per game while averaging 13.0 points.[25][1] Phillip, selected in the second round by the Chicago Stags, appeared in 11 seasons with five All-Star appearances and two All-NBA selections, contributing 60.5 win shares and averaging 9.1 points and 5.4 assists.[25][1] Collectively, draftees from this class amassed 13 championships, with Pollard accounting for the majority through his Lakers tenure.[25] The group earned 12 All-NBA selections in total, concentrated among the Hall of Famers.[25] Average career length for those who played was about 3.3 seasons, underscoring high attrition rates.[25]| Player | Draft Pick | Seasons Played | Championships | All-NBA Selections | Key Stats (Career Averages) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Pollard | 4th Round | 7 | 5 | 4 | 13.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.2 APG |
| Harry Gallatin | 4th Round (31st overall) | 10 | 0 | 2 | 13.0 PPG, 11.9 RPG |
| Andy Phillip | 2nd Round | 11 | 1 | 2 | 9.1 PPG, 5.4 APG |
| Red Rocha | 3rd Round (19th overall) | 10 | 1 | 0 | 10.9 PPG (47.9 WS total) |