1956–57 NBA season

The 1956–57 NBA season was the 11th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship (which would be the first of their 17 NBA titles), beating the St. Louis Hawks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.

1956–57 NBA season
LeagueNational Basketball Association
SportBasketball
Duration
  • October 27, 1956 – March 13, 1957
  • March 14–25, 1957 (Playoffs)
  • March 30–April 13, 1957 (Finals)
Number of games72
Number of teams8
TV partner(s)NBC
Draft
Top draft pickSihugo Green
Picked byRochester Royals
Regular season
Season MVPBob Cousy (Boston)
Top scorerPaul Arizin (Philadelphia)
Playoffs
Eastern championsBoston Celtics
  Eastern runners-upSyracuse Nationals
Western championsSt. Louis Hawks
  Western runners-upMinneapolis Lakers
Finals
ChampionsBoston Celtics
  Runners-upSt. Louis Hawks

Notable occurrences

Coaching changes
Offseason
Team 1955–56 coach 1956–57 coach
N/A
In-season
Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach
St. Louis Hawks Red Holzman Slater Martin
Alex Hannum
Syracuse Nationals Al Cervi Paul Seymour

Final standings

Eastern Division

Eastern Division W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Boston Celtics4428.611-24-411-189-620-16
x-Syracuse Nationals3834.528623-99-156-1020-16
x-Philadelphia Warriors3735.514720-55–2512-517-19
New York Knicks3636.500818-109-199-715-21

Western Division

Western Division W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-St. Louis Hawks3438.472-17-910-207-922-14
x-Minneapolis Lakers3438.472-15-95-2214-718-18
x-Fort Wayne Pistons3438.472-23-55-236-1017-19
Rochester Royals3141.431319-107-175-1415-21
  • St. Louis finished ahead of Fort Wayne and Minneapolis by defeating them in tiebreaker matches.

x – clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

  Division Semifinals Division Finals NBA Finals
                           
 
  1 St. Louis 3  
Western Division
    2 Minneapolis 0  
3 Fort Wayne 0
  2 Minneapolis 2  
    W1 St. Louis 3
  E1 Boston 4
   
 
1 Boston 3
Eastern Division
    2 Syracuse 0  
3 Philadelphia 0
  2 Syracuse 2  

Statistics leaders

CategoryPlayerTeamStat
PointsPaul ArizinPhiladelphia Warriors1,817
ReboundsMaurice StokesRochester Royals1,256
AssistsBob CousyBoston Celtics478
FG%Neil JohnstonPhiladelphia Warriors.447
FT%Bill SharmanBoston Celtics.905

Note: Prior to the 1969–70 season, league leaders in points, rebounds, and assists were determined by totals rather than averages.

NBA awards

References


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