1949–50 Tri-Cities Blackhawks season
1949–50 Tri-Cities Blackhawks season
The 1949–50 season was the Blackhawks’ fourth season and their first in the NBA after the NBL–BAA merger. The year started poorly with head coach Roger Potter going 1–6 before he was fired. Red Auerbach then coached the rest of the season, finishing 28–29. The team ended 29–35 overall (.453).
They placed 3rd in the Western Division and lost in the West Division Semifinals, 1–2. Home games were at Wharton Field House. On October 29, the Blackhawks defeated the Denver Nuggets in the first NBA game after the merger.
Context: After this season, several Central Division teams left the NBA to form the National Professional Basketball League. The Blackhawks would be the only Central Division team to survive to the present day, later becoming the Atlanta Hawks. The Indianapolis Olympians folded a few seasons later after their two star players were banned from the NBA.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:22 (CET).