Ossie Schectman's name often appears in short histories of the NBA as the player who scored the league's first officially recorded points. That attribution rests on surviving documentation from the league's first season and on later articles and obituaries that consolidated the record. This piece walks through the evidence, the relevant league context and practical guidance for writers or trivia hosts who want to cite the fact responsibly. It focuses on primary sources where available and explains what the surviving records do and do not show.

Ossie Schectman is identified as the scorer of the first officially recorded NBA points.

The inaugural game was played November 1, 1946, at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto.

Primary box score records and later retrospectives consistently support the attribution.

Quick answer: who scored the first basket and why the 'first basket prop' phrase matters

One-sentence answer

Ossie Schectman of the New York Knickerbockers scored the first points recognized in modern NBA history, opening the scoring with a basket in the league's inaugural game on November 1, 1946.

The primary game record and later retrospectives report the matchup, date, location and result that anchor this conclusion; the official box score shows Schectman's scoring line and the game's final score, providing the core documentation for the claim Basketball-Reference box score.

Key facts at a glance

Game date and place: November 1, 1946, Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

Opponent and result: New York Knickerbockers defeated the Toronto Huskies, 68-66.

Scoring detail: Ossie Schectman is credited with the first points and finished the game with 11 points according to the archived box score and later retrospectives NBA.com obituary and recap.

Historical context: the 1946 BAA season and how it became the modern NBA

What the BAA was and the 1946-47 season

The league that staged the November 1, 1946 game was the Basketball Association of America, founded that year as a new professional circuit and later treated as the origin point of the modern NBA because of organizational continuity and record consolidation. (See Ossie Schectman on Wikipedia.)

Contemporary and retrospective league materials explain that the BAA's 1946-47 season is the starting season used in official NBA histories, so events from that year are counted in long-form NBA records NBA.com season recap.

How the BAA merged with the NBL to form the NBA

Three years after the 1946-47 season the Basketball Association of America merged with the National Basketball League to create the National Basketball Association, a legal and historical consolidation that makes BAA statistics and milestones part of NBA heritage.

Because the BAA's records were incorporated into the merged organization's archives, the inaugural BAA game and its scoring are referenced in modern NBA timelines and histories Canadian Encyclopedia on the Toronto Huskies.

The play and the proof: Ossie Schectman, the box score and contemporary accounts

What contemporary box scores and reports say

The surviving box score from the November 1, 1946 game lists individual scoring totals and the final result, and it attributes 11 points to Ossie Schectman while recording a 68-66 victory for New York, which is the primary documentary basis for identifying the game's first scorer Basketball-Reference box score.

Newspaper coverage and later obituaries and league retrospectives reiterate the box score narrative and name Schectman as the player who opened the scoring in that game The New York Times obituary.

Who made the first basket in the NBA?

Ossie Schectman of the New York Knickerbockers scored the first officially recognized basket on November 1, 1946 in the BAA inaugural game.

Descriptions of the actual shot and Schectman’s game line

Close up archival box score sheet with vintage basketball era typeface and faded pencil notes showing first basket prop on aged ledger paper against dark branded background

Multiple retrospectives describe the first score as a layup that began the game scoring, and those accounts pair the descriptive detail with the box score totals that show Schectman's 11 points that night NBA.com obituary and recap.

Because full moment-by-moment play-by-play records are incomplete for many games of the era, the combination of contemporaneous box score data and later reporting is the standard evidence used to assert both the scorer and his final line.

Why the first basket still matters: legacy and record-keeping

How the play is treated in NBA history

The opening basket is treated as a milestone because it marks the first officially recorded scoring event in the continuity of the league's historical record; the event is cited in league histories and player obituaries as a foundational moment for the professional game in North America NBA.com season recap.

Writers and historians often use the first basket as a clear, relatable anchor when summarizing the origin story of the NBA, and the Schectman attribution appears consistently in those summaries and in retrospective reporting.

Cultural and historical significance

Beyond the raw statistic, naming the first scorer gives the moment a human face and helps connect modern audiences to the league's early years; that human connection is why the detail appears in obituaries and anniversary pieces that discuss the sport's development The New York Times obituary.

As with many firsts in sports history, the significance is partly symbolic: it stands for the organized, documented evolution of professional basketball rather than for a single lasting athletic achievement.

Source reliability: what the surviving records show and what they do not

Box score strengths and play-by-play limitations

The archived box score robustly records scorer totals and the final result, offering reliable confirmation that Schectman scored 11 points and that New York won 68-66; for that reason the box score is the central primary source for the claim Basketball-Reference box score.

At the same time, many contemporaneous games lack the second-by-second play-by-play logs common in modern record-keeping, so exact timing of individual plays and possessions is often unavailable for 1940s contests History.com retrospective.

Verify the primary sources behind historical sports claims

Check the primary box score and a modern league recap to confirm the scorer, date and final score before citing the fact in writing.

Read the FundedPlays Challenges page

Why some timing details remain uncertain

Because early box scores were primarily summary documents, they tell us who scored and how many points they had, but not always the moment-by-moment sequencing that would definitively show which specific action opened the scoring in real time.

Researchers therefore rely on a combination of the box score and contemporaneous reporting to reconstruct events; when both sources align, historians treat the identification as well supported The New York Times obituary.

Using the fact: responsibly referencing the first basket prop in writing, trivia and analysis

How to cite the fact in articles or social posts

When you reference the first basket in writing, use precise language such as "Ossie Schectman scored the first points in NBA history" and include a direct citation to the box score or a reputable league history to back the line. See the Funded Plays blog for tips on clear citations: Funded Plays blog.

As a quick citation template, give the scorer, date and opponent followed by a parenthetical reference to the Basketball-Reference box score or the NBA retrospective; this clear attribution keeps the statement accurate and verifiable. For examples see how Funded Plays evaluations work.

Responsible language for prop or trivia contexts

Avoid implying that the historical fact is a prediction or a guarantee for present-day betting; treat "first basket prop" as a trivia phrase or a historical curiosity rather than as evidence for wagering outcomes.

For social posts or trivia overlays, short copies like "First NBA points: Ossie Schectman, Nov 1, 1946 (New York 68, Toronto 66)" give the essential facts and leave the sourcing to a linked reference or footnote.

Common myths and errors: claims to watch for and how to spot them

Frequent misstatements

Common mistakes include naming the wrong player, misdating the game, or confusing the inaugural BAA contest with exhibition games played around the same time; primary documentation attributes the first recognized league basket to Schectman and pinpoints the date and opponent The New York Times obituary.

Funded Plays Challenges

Read the FundedPlays Challenges page

How to verify competing claims

To check a competing account, consult archived box score repositories and reputable retrospectives; if the box score and multiple contemporary reports agree on scorer and result, that alignment is strong evidence for the standard attribution Basketball-Reference box score.

If a claim rests on memory or a later anecdote without documentary support, treat it cautiously and prefer sources that preserve the original scoring records.

Practical example snippets and scenarios for writers and trivia hosts

Short article lead using the fact

Example lede: "Ossie Schectman scored the first points recognized in NBA history, opening the scoring for the New York Knickerbockers on November 1, 1946 in a 68-66 win over the Toronto Huskies"; cite the Basketball-Reference box score or a league recap after the sentence for verification Basketball-Reference box score.

Two-line trivia question and answer format

Trivia Q: Who made the first officially recorded basket in NBA history? A: Ossie Schectman, New York Knickerbockers, Nov 1, 1946. Short fact note: Schectman finished with 11 points in the game NBA.com obituary and recap.

Common myths and errors: claims to watch for and how to spot them

Note: This H2 appears earlier in the outline; ensure you check box score and major retrospectives before repeating a claim that contradicts primary evidence History.com retrospective.

Conclusion: key takeaways about the NBA's first basket

Summary of evidence

Ossie Schectman is consistently credited with scoring the first officially recognized points in the NBA's recorded history, based on the November 1, 1946 box score and corroborating league and media retrospectives Basketball-Reference box score.

Final verification tips

To verify the attribution yourself, consult the archived box score and an authoritative league history; aligned primary and secondary sources are the clearest path to confirmation NBA.com season recap. Or visit Funded Plays.

Who scored the first points in NBA history?

Ossie Schectman of the New York Knickerbockers is credited with the first points, scored on November 1, 1946.

Is the 1946 game really part of NBA history?

Yes. The 1946 Basketball Association of America season is included in NBA historical records because the BAA merged with the NBL to form the NBA.

How can I confirm the first basket myself?

Check the November 1, 1946 box score archive and a reputable league retrospective to confirm scorer and final score.

The record is clear enough for most historical and journalistic uses: Ossie Schectman is the name tied to the NBA's first officially recorded basket, with the November 1, 1946 box score as the central source. If you need to confirm the detail for publication or a trivia set, check the archived box score and a league retrospective to ensure accurate citation. Keeping sourcing transparent helps preserve the distinction between documented milestones and anecdotal memories when recounting early sports history.

Quick answer: who scored the first basket and why the 'first basket prop' phrase matters

One-sentence answer

Key facts at a glance

Historical context: the 1946 BAA season and how it became the modern NBA

What the BAA was and the 1946-47 season

How the BAA merged with the NBL to form the NBA

The play and the proof: Ossie Schectman, the box score and contemporary accounts

What contemporary box scores and reports say

Descriptions of the actual shot and Schectman’s game line

Why the first basket still matters: legacy and record-keeping

How the play is treated in NBA history

Cultural and historical significance

Source reliability: what the surviving records show and what they do not

Box score strengths and play-by-play limitations

Verify the primary sources behind historical sports claims

Why some timing details remain uncertain

Using the fact: responsibly referencing the first basket prop in writing, trivia and analysis

How to cite the fact in articles or social posts

Responsible language for prop or trivia contexts

Common myths and errors: claims to watch for and how to spot them

Frequent misstatements

How to verify competing claims

Practical example snippets and scenarios for writers and trivia hosts

Short article lead using the fact

Two-line trivia question and answer format

Common myths and errors: claims to watch for and how to spot them

Conclusion: key takeaways about the NBA's first basket

Summary of evidence

Final verification tips

References