The NBA Draft began in 1947, pre-dating the ABA/NBA merger in 1976 by nearly 30 years. The first-ever No. 1 pick was Clifton ...

He was selected by the Pittsburgh Ironmen, but chose to pursue a high school coaching career. That was wise as the Ironmen, coming off a 15-45 season, folded in 1947 after one season of existence ...

On Nov. 7, 1946, the Philadelphia Warriors played their first game in franchise history, defeating the Pittsburgh Ironmen in a 81-75 victory, in front of a crowd of 4,185 fans in Philadelphia.

See, the best debut season in Pittsburgh pro sports history belongs not to the Steelers, the Penguins or the Pirates, but to the Pipers. In a city where two pro basketball teams — the Ironmen ...

The honorable mention goes to "The Man of a Million Shots," Clifton McNeely, who spurned the Pittsburgh Ironmen after going first overall in the NBA's very first draft in 1947.