Today in Sports History: August 3

August 3, 2019

ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 4: Montrezl Harrell of the LA Clippers poses for a portrait with his trophy as he is named the 2019-20 Kia Sixth Man Award as part of the NBA Restart 2020 on September 4, 2020 at the hotel in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

On August 3, 1949, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) merged to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). The BAA formed in 1946, nine years after the NBL, to challenge the monopoly that the NBL had created in professional basketball. After three years, the leagues decided to merge, and Maurice Podoloff, the leader of the BAA, was chosen to lead the new NBA. Podoloff served as the first NBA commissioner from 1949 until 1963, and the NBA’s MVP award was named after him.

Today in Sports History: August 3

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