Spearheaded the amalgamation of the NBL and the BAA into the NBA on June 6, 1946
Founded the Boston Celtics in 1945 and served as co-owner and president
Posthumously honored by the NBA when it named the championship trophy after him
Elected Chairman of the Board of the Basketball Hall of Fame on November 1, 1961
Organized the first college basketball doubleheaders at Boston Garden in 1944
President of the Boston Garden (1937-64)
President of the International Olympic Ice Federation
Son of George V. Brown, originator of the Boston Marathon
As general manager of the Boston Garden, Walter Brown was a prime mover in forming the Basketball Association of America (BAA), the forerunner to the NBA. Brown was considered one of the country's foremost sports figures. He was instrumental in creating the Stanley Cup, the Ice Follies, the Ice Capades, the Boston Marathon and the amalgamation of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the BAA into the NBA in June, 1946. When Brown passed away in 1964, the NBA honored him by naming the championship trophy in his honor. Brown's biggest accomplishment was his involvement with the most storied franchise in NBA history, the Boston Celtics. Brown founded the Celtics in 1945 and served as co-owner and president. His string of six NBA championships in seven years showed his shrewd business side, but many who knew Walter Brown described him as "down-to-earth, honest, and imaginative."
