Ned Irish (January 20, 1905 – May 28, 1982) was an American sports promoter and businessman best known for his role in the development of professional and college basketball in the United States. He served as the inaugural owner of the New York Knicks, a franchise of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) that later became the National Basketball Association (NBA), and was a prominent promoter of college basketball games at Madison Square Garden.
Early life and education
Born in New York City, Irish attended St. John’s University, where he participated in varsity sports and developed an interest in athletics administration. Details of his early career prior to his involvement in basketball promotion are limited in publicly available sources.
Career in basketball promotion
In the 1930s, Irish began organizing college basketball games at Madison Square Garden, securing contracts that brought prominent Eastern college teams to the venue. His promotional efforts helped popularize the sport in the New York metropolitan area and contributed to the growth of postseason college basketball tournaments.
Ownership of the New York Knicks
With the formation of the BAA in 1946, Irish secured the franchise rights for New York and became the team's first owner and general manager. Under his leadership, the Knicks played their inaugural season (1946–1947) at Madison Square Garden. Irish maintained ownership of the team until 1951, after which he sold his interest. During his tenure, the Knicks established themselves as a competitive franchise in the early professional basketball landscape.
Later activities and legacy
After selling the Knicks, Irish continued to be active in sports promotion and business ventures in New York. He remained an influential figure in the basketball community until his death in 1982. Irish’s contributions to both professional and collegiate basketball are recognized for helping to expand the sport’s popularity in the United States, particularly in the mid‑20th century.