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1956 NBA Finals

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1956 NBA finals
TeamCoachWins
Philadelphia Warriors George Senesky 4
Fort Wayne Pistons Charles Eckman 1
DatesMarch 31 – April 7
Hall of FamersPistons:
Chuck Cooper (2019)
George Yardley (1996)
Warriors:
Paul Arizin (1978)
Tom Gola (1976)
Neil Johnston (1990)
Officials:
Mendy Rudolph (2007)
Eastern finalsWarriors defeated Nationals, 3–2
Western finalsPistons defeated Hawks, 3–2
← 1955 NBA finals 1957 →

The 1956 NBA World Championship Series was the championship series played at the conclusion of the 1955–56 National Basketball Association (NBA) season. The Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons four games to one. The series is notable for being one of only two Finals in which the two teams alternated home games, the other being in 1971.

Series summary

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Game Date Home team Result Road team
Game 1 March 31 Philadelphia Warriors 99–94 (1–0) Fort Wayne Pistons
Game 2 April 1 Fort Wayne Pistons 84–83 (1–1) Philadelphia Warriors
Game 3 April 3 Philadelphia Warriors 100–96 (2–1) Fort Wayne Pistons
Game 4 April 5 Fort Wayne Pistons 105–107 (1–3) Philadelphia Warriors
Game 5 April 7 Philadelphia Warriors 99–88 (4–1) Fort Wayne Pistons

Warriors win series 4–1

Team rosters

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Philadelphia Warriors

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Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
F 11 Paul Arizin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Villanova
G 7 Ernie Beck 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Penn
F/C 12 Walt Davis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Texas A&M
G 5 George Dempsey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) King's (NY)
G 17 Jack George 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) La Salle
G/F 15 Tom Gola 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) La Salle
F/C 9 Joe Graboski 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Tuley HS (IL)
G 4 Larry Hennessy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Villanova
C 6 Neil Johnston 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Ohio State
F 14 Jackie Moore 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) La Salle
G 25 Bob Schafer 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Villanova
Head coach

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Fort Wayne Pistons

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Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
PG 7 Frankie Brian 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) May 1, 1923 LSU
SF 6 Chuck Cooper 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) September 29, 1926 Duquesne
SG 7, 8 Corky Devlin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) December 21, 1931 George Washington
C 16 Larry Foust 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) June 24, 1928 La Salle
C 17 Bob Houbregs 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) March 12, 1932 Washington
PF 9 Mel Hutchins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) November 22, 1928 BYU
SG 5 Chuck Noble 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) July 24, 1931 Louisville
PG 14 Andy Phillip 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) March 7, 1922 Illinois
SF 8, 15 Odie Spears 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) June 17, 1924 Western Kentucky
SF 12 George Yardley 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) November 3, 1928 Stanford
Head coach

Charles Eckman


Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster


Box scores

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March 31
Fort Wayne Pistons 94, Philadelphia Warriors 98
Scoring by quarter: 25–20, 24–20, 15–33, 30–25
Pts: George Yardley 27
Rebs: George Yardley 15
Asts: Hutchins, Phillip 6 each
Pts: Paul Arizin 28
Rebs: Neil Johnston 14
Asts: Tom Gola 10
Philadelphia leads series, 1–0
April 1
Philadelphia Warriors 83, Fort Wayne Pistons 84
Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 26–22, 19–23, 18–19
Pts: Paul Arizin 27
Rebs: Arizin, Johnston 9 each
Asts: Ernie Beck 6
Pts: George Yardley 30
Rebs: George Yardley 19
Asts: Andy Phillip 5
Series tied, 1–1
April 3
Fort Wayne Pistons 96, Philadelphia Warriors 100
Scoring by quarter: 26–25, 25–23, 14–25, 31–27
Pts: Larry Foust 19
Rebs: Larry Foust 14
Asts: Chuck Noble 4
Pts: Paul Arizin 27
Rebs: Neil Johnston 17
Asts: Tom Gola 8
Philadelphia leads series, 2–1
April 5
Philadelphia Warriors 107, Fort Wayne Pistons 105
Scoring by quarter: 24–24, 26–32, 30–26, 27–23
Pts: Paul Arizin 30
Rebs: Tom Gola 9
Asts: Joe Graboski 7
Pts: George Yardley 21
Rebs: Larry Foust 14
Asts: Andy Phillip 6
Philadelphia leads series, 3–1
April 7
Fort Wayne Pistons 88, Philadelphia Warriors 99
Scoring by quarter: 24–22, 19–22, 20–28, 25–27
Pts: George Yardley 30
Rebs: George Yardley 20
Asts: Corky Devlin 6
Pts: Joe Graboski 29
Rebs: Joe Graboski 16
Asts: Jack George 10
Philadelphia wins series, 4–1

See also

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References

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