1953–54 NBA season
LeagueNational Basketball Association
SportBasketball
DurationOctober 30, 1953 – March 14, 1954
March 16–28, 1954 (Playoffs)
March 31 – April 12, 1954 (Finals)
Number of games72
Number of teams9
TV partner(s)DuMont
Draft
Top draft pickRay Felix
Picked byBaltimore Bullets
Regular season
Top seedMinneapolis Lakers
Top scorerNeil Johnston (Philadelphia)
Playoffs
Eastern championsSyracuse Nationals
  Eastern runners-upBoston Celtics
Western championsMinneapolis Lakers
  Western runners-upRochester Royals
Finals
ChampionsMinneapolis Lakers
  Runners-upSyracuse Nationals

The 1953–54 NBA season was the eighth season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Minneapolis Lakers winning their 5th NBA Championship in 6 years, beating the Syracuse Nationals 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. It was also the final time the Lakers would win an NBA Championship before the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1960.

Notable occurrences

Coaching changes
Offseason
Team 1952–53 coach 1953–54 coach
N/A
In-season
Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach
Milwaukee Hawks Andrew Levane Red Holzman

Final standings

Eastern Division

W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-New York Knicks4428.61118–815–1311–724–16
x-Boston Celtics4230.583217–610–1915–525–15
x-Syracuse Nationals4230.583226–611–175–721–19
Philadelphia Warriors2943.4031510–96–1613–1819–21
Baltimore Bullets1656.2222812–180–224–1611–29

Western Division

W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Minneapolis Lakers4626.63920–413–1513–719–13
x-Rochester Royals4428.611218–1012–1514–322–10
x-Fort Wayne Pistons4032.556619–811–1710–717–15
Milwaukee Hawks2151.2922511–145–176–206–26

x – clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

Division Round Robin SemifinalsDivision FinalsNBA Finals
Eastern Division
E1New York*0–4
E1Syracuse2
E2Boston2–2
E2Boston0
E3Syracuse4–0
E1Syracuse3
Western DivisionW1Minneapolis*4
W1Minneapolis*3–0
W1Minneapolis*2
W2Rochester2–1
W2Rochester1
W3Fort Wayne0–4
  • * Division winner
  • Bold Series winner (Division Round Robin Semifinals: top 2 advanced)
  • Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals

Statistics leaders

CategoryPlayerTeamStat
PointsNeil JohnstonPhiladelphia Warriors1,759
ReboundsHarry GallatinNew York Knicks1,098
AssistsBob CousyBoston Celtics518
FG%Ed MacauleyBoston Celtics.486
FT%Bill SharmanBoston Celtics.844

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

NBA awards

See also

References


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