- 1946
- 1949
- 1950
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Tri-Cities Blackhawks Formation
Along the banks of the Mississippi River in the area known as tri-cities, where the cities of Moline, Illinois; Rock Island, Illinois; and Davenport, Iowa form a consolidation the newest franchise in the National Basketball League began to play after starting the season as the Buffalo Bisons for a few games, with General Manager Leo Ferris who was instrumental in ... -
Hire “Red” Auerbach
After losing their next six games Coach Roger Potter was fired and replaced by Arnold “Red” Auerbach. Under Auerbach, the Blackhawks would go on to finish in third place with a 29-35 record finishing in third place in the Western Division. IN the playoffs the Blackhawks would be knocked off by the Anderson Packers in a three-game series. Following the ... -
Cousy to the Chicago Stags
Following the season Auerbach would not renew his contract taking the coaching job with Boston Celtics where he would go on to build a dynasty, along with Bob Cousy who the Blackhawks would trade to the Chicago Stags shortly after the draft. Cousy who end up in Boston after the Stags folded prior to the start of the next season.
History of the Blackhawks
On December 25, 1946, Leo Ferris, the team's General Manager, announced that the team would be moving to Moline, Illinois, which at that time was part of an area then known as the "Tri-Cities": Moline, Rock Island, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa. Upon relocation to Moline, the team was renamed the Tri-City Blackhawks, and played their home games at Wharton Field House, a 6,000-seat arena in Moline.
After 38 days in Buffalo, the team moved to Moline, Illinois, where they were renamed the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. In 1949, they joined the NBA as part of the merger between the NBL and the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and briefly had Red Auerbach as a coach. In 1951, Kerner moved the team to Milwaukee, where they changed their name to the Hawks.
Established
1946
City
Tri-Cities - Milwaukee - St. Louis - Atlanta
League History
1949 – Present / National Basketball Association
1946 – 1949 / National Basketball League
Team History
1968 – Present / Atlanta Hawks
1955 – 1968 / St. Louis Hawks
1951 – 1955 / Milwaukee Hawks
1946 – 1951 / Tri-Cities Blackhawks
Nickname
Blackhawks - Tri-Cities located in the midwest, in lands which once belonged to the Kickapoo, Sauk, and Fox Indians. The three tribes fought a long war against the United Stated called the Blackhawk war after their chief Blackhawk.
Championship
NBA Championships 0
1958
Arena
2019 - Present / State Farm Arena
1999 - 2018 / Philips Arena
1997 – 1999 / Georgia Dome & Alexander Memorial Coliseum
1972 – 1997 / The Omni
1968 – 1972 / Alexander Memorial Coliseum
*St. Louis*
1955 – 1968 / Kiel Auditorium
*Milwaukee*
1951 – 1955 / Milwaukee Arena
*Moline*
1946 – 1951 / Wharton Field House
Owner
2015 – Present / Tony Ressler
2004 – 2015 / Atlanta Spirit, LLC
1977 – 2004 / Ted Turner/Turner Broadcasting
1968 – 1976 / Tom Cousins/Cousins Corporation, Carl Sanders
1946 – 1968 / Ben Kerner
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
9 / Bob Pettit
21 / Dominique Wilkins
23 / Lou Hudson
44 / Pete Maravich
55 / Dikembe Mutombo
59 / Kasim Reed
– / Ted Turner
*Blue is this team’s history