1955-56 NBA Season

As originally written by Tony Miller:

Onward to 1955-1956, when the NBA began its first full season as an eight-team league. The Hawks moved from Milwaukee to St. Louis, where they made their nest in the Kiel Auditorium (and occasionally St. Louis Arena). The Royals left their throne in Edgerton Park Arena and began a two-season run at the Rochester Community War Memorial Arena.

Curt Gowdy replaced Marty Glickman as the principal play-by-play voice. Nelson slid over to the alpha role on four occasions (maybe Gowdy was in Florida with the Red Sox?). Joe Lapchick, a star of the ‘20s and ‘30s who left the Knicks coaching job in February, was the fill-in analyst beginning two weeks after his resignation.

Data from ”The NBA on NBC 1954-55 to 1961-62”, courtesy librarybob and jtgrace1.

DECEMBER

Saturday 12/10:

Lakers-Celtics, 3:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson

Saturday 12/17:

Knicks-Pistons, 3:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson

JANUARY

Saturday 1/7:

Knicks-Warriors, 3:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson

Saturday 1/14:

Celtics-Warriors, 3:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson

Saturday 1/21:

Lakers-Knicks, 3:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson

Saturday 1/28:

Nationals-Hawks, 3:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson

FEBRUARY

Saturday 2/11:

Lakers-Warriors, 3:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson

Saturday 2/18:

Pistons-Nationals, 3:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson

Saturday 2/25:

Hawks-Knicks, 3:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Lapchick

MARCH

Saturday 3/3:

Lakers-Royals, 3:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Lapchick

Saturday 3/10:

Lakers-Hawks, 3:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson, Joe Lapchick

Saturday 3/17:

East semis, g1: Nationals-Celtics, 3:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson

Saturday 3/24:

West finals, g2: Pistons-Hawks, 3:00, NBC. Lindsey Nelson

Saturday 3/31:

NBA finals, g1: Pistons-Warriors, 3:00, NBC. Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson

3/10/56 was George Mikan’s last national-TV appearance.