Oscar Benjamin “Ossie” Schectman (March 30, 1919 – July 30, 2013) was an American professional basketball player. He is credited with having scored the very first basket in the National Basketball Association (NBA), at that time the Basketball Association of America.
On November 1, 1946, in the first ever game of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), Schectman made the opening basket for the New York Knicks against the Toronto Huskies at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. The Knicks won the game 68–66. In 1949, the BAA became the National Basketball Association (NBA); thus, Schectman’s basket is considered the first in NBA history.
In 1946–47 (his only year in the NBA), Schectman played in 54 games for the Knicks and was third in the league with 2.0 assists per game.
Ossie Schectman cause of death
Ossie Schectman died at age 94 in Delray Beach, Florida.