1958–59 NBA season

1958–59 NBA season
League	National Basketball Association
Sport	Basketball
Duration	October 17, 1958 – March 11, 1959 March 13–April 1, 1959 (Playoffs) April 4–April 9, 1959 (Finals)
Number of games	72
Number of teams	8
TV partner(s)	NBC
Draft
Top draft pick	Elgin Baylor
Picked by	Minneapolis Lakers
Regular season
Season MVP	Bob Pettit (St. Louis)
Top scorer	Bob Pettit (St. Louis)
Playoffs
Eastern champions	Boston Celtics
Eastern runners-up	Syracuse Nationals
Western champions	Minneapolis Lakers
Western runners-up	St. Louis Hawks
Finals
Champions	Boston Celtics
Runners-up	Minneapolis Lakers

The 1958–59 NBA Season was the 13th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship (the first of what would be 8 straight), beating the Minneapolis Lakers 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals.

Notable occurrences

• The 1959 NBA All-Star Game was played in Detroit, Michigan, with the West beating the East 124-108. Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks and Elgin Baylor of the Minneapolis Lakers share the game's MVP award.
• The Boston Celtics set the record for the most points scored by a team in regulation, in their 173-139 victory over the Minneapolis Lakers.

Coaching changes

Offseason
Team	1957–58 coach	1958–59 coach
Minneapolis Lakers	George Mikan	John Kundla
New York Knicks	Vince Boryla	Andrew Levane
Philadelphia Warriors	George Senesky	Al Cervi
In-season
Team	Outgoing coach	Incoming coach
Cincinnati Royals	Bobby Wanzer	Tom Marshall
St. Louis Hawks	Andy Phillip	Ed Macauley

Final standings

Eastern Division

Eastern Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Neutral	Div
x-Boston Celtics	52	20	.722	–	26–4	13–15	13–1	23–13
x-New York Knicks	40	32	.556	12	21–9	15–15	4–8	19–17
x-Syracuse Nationals	35	37	.486	17	17–9	7–24	8–7	14–22
Philadelphia Warriors	32	40	.444	20	17–9	7–24	8–7	14–22

Western Division

Western Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Neutral	Div
x-St. Louis Hawks	49	23	.681	–	28–3	14–15	7–5	27–9
x-Minneapolis Lakers	33	39	.458	16	15–7	9–17	9–15	18–18
x-Detroit Pistons	28	44	.389	21	13–17	8–20	7–7	17–19
Cincinnati Royals	19	53	.264	30	9–19	2–25	8–9	10–26

x – clinched playoff spot

Statistics leaders

Category	Player	Team	Stat
Points	Bob Pettit	St. Louis Hawks	2,105
Rebounds	Bill Russell	Boston Celtics	1,612
Assists	Bob Cousy	Boston Celtics	557
FG%	Kenny Sears	New York Knicks	.490
FT%	Bill Sharman	Boston Celtics	.932

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

NBA awards

• Most Valuable Player: Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks
• Rookie of the Year: Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Lakers

• All-NBA First Team:
  • Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics
  • Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks
  • Bill Sharman, Boston Celtics
  • Bill Russell, Boston Celtics
  • Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Lakers

• All-NBA Second Team:
  • Paul Arizin, Philadelphia Warriors
  • Richie Guerin, New York Knicks
  • Cliff Hagan, St. Louis Hawks
  • Slater Martin, St. Louis Hawks
  • Dolph Schayes, Syracuse Nationals

References

• 1958–59 NBA Season Summary basketball-reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2010.