The 1954 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA) 1953–54 season. It was contested between the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics and the Western Division champion Minneapolis Lakers. The Celtics won the series 4–3, securing the franchise’s first NBA championship. The series is notable for featuring the first NBA Finals matchup between two future Hall of Fame coaches—Red Auerbach (Boston) and John Kundla (Minneapolis)—and for the Celtics’ historic comeback after trailing 3–2 in the series.
Contents
- Background
- Teams
- 2.1 Boston Celtics
- 2.2 Minneapolis Lakers
- Series Summary
- 3.1 Game-by-game results
- Player statistics
- Aftermath and legacy
- References
- External links
1. Background
The 1953–54 NBA season consisted of ten teams split into two divisions. The Boston Celtics, coached by Red Auerbach, finished the regular season with a 42–30 record, second in the Eastern Division behind the Syracuse Nationals. The Minneapolis Lakers, coached by John Kundla, posted a 40–32 record, topping the Western Division.
Both teams advanced through their respective division playoffs:
- Celtics defeated the New York Knicks (2–1) in the Eastern Division Semifinals and the Syracuse Nationals (2–1) in the Eastern Division Finals.
- Lakers beat the Rochester Royals (2–0) in the Western Division Semifinals and the Fort Wayne Pistons (2–1) in the Western Division Finals.
The Finals began on April 3, 1954, and concluded on April 22, 1954.
2. Teams
2.1 Boston Celtics
- Head Coach: Red Auerbach
- Key Players: Bob Cousy (point guard), Bill Sharman (guard), Tom Heinsohn (forward/center), Jim Loscutoff (forward), Ed Macauley (center).
- Season Record: 42–30 (2nd in Eastern Division)
2.2 Minneapolis Lakers
- Head Coach: John Kundla
- Key Players: George Mikan (center), Jim Pollard (forward), Vern Mikkelsen (forward), Clyde Lovellette (forward/center), Whitey Skoog (guard).
- Season Record: 40–32 (1st in Western Division)
3. Series Summary
The 1954 Finals were a best‑of‑seven series. Boston won the first two games at home, but Minneapolis tied the series with two road victories. The teams exchanged wins in Games 5 and 6, bringing the series to a decisive Game 7 in Minneapolis.
3.1 Game‑by‑game results
| Game | Date | Venue | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 3, 1954 | Boston Garden (Boston) | Boston Celtics | 93–71 |
| 2 | April 5, 1954 | Boston Garden (Boston) | Boston Celtics | 97–84 |
| 3 | April 7, 1954 | Minneapolis Auditorium (Minneapolis) | Minneapolis Lakers | 92–79 |
| 4 | April 9, 1954 | Minneapolis Auditorium (Minneapolis) | Minneapolis Lakers | 85–80 |
| 5 | April 12, 1954 | Boston Garden (Boston) | Minneapolis Lakers | 93–84 |
| 6 | April 14, 1954 | Boston Garden (Boston) | Boston Celtics | 108–101 (OT) |
| 7 | April 22, 1954 | Minneapolis Auditorium (Minneapolis) | Boston Celtics | 87–80 |
Game 6 went to overtime, with Boston’s Bob Cousy scoring the winning basket.
4. Player statistics
The following are series averages for the two teams.
Boston Celtics (selected players)
- Bob Cousy: 22.4 PPG, 8.6 APG, 2.0 RPG
- Bill Sharman: 19.2 PPG, 3.4 APG, 1.8 RPG
- Tom Heinsohn: 14.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG
Minneapolis Lakers (selected players)
- George Mikan: 24.9 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 2.3 BPG
- Jim Pollard: 12.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG
- Vern Mikkelsen: 11.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG
5. Aftermath and legacy
- First championship for Boston: The victory marked the beginning of the Celtics’ era of dominance; Boston would go on to win 11 championships in the next 13 seasons.
- End of the Mikan era: The 1954 Finals were the last championship appearance for the Lakers with George Mikan as a player; he would retire after the 1955‑56 season.
- Coaching milestones: The series was the first of six NBA Finals matchups between Red Auerbach and John Kundla, with Auerbach eventually winning nine titles as a head coach.
- Rule changes: The 1953–54 season introduced a 24‑second shot clock (which would be fully implemented the following season), influencing the faster pace observed in the Finals.
6. References
- NBA.com. 1954 NBA Finals – Celtics vs. Lakers. Retrieved 2024‑03‑15.
- Peterson, R. (2002). Celtics: The History of Boston's Championship Team. Sports Publishing.
- Lazenby, D. (2010). The NBA Encyclopedia. NBA Press.