1950–51 NBA season

Notable occurrences

• The NBA began recording rebounds.
• The NBA contracted, losing six teams and shrank from 17 teams to 11 before the season starts. Midway through the season, the Washington Capitols folded as well, bringing the number of teams in the league down to ten. Washington, D.C. would not have another professional basketball team until the American Basketball Association’s Oakland Oaks relocated there for one season in 1969–70. Washington’s next NBA team would not be established until a future reformed version of the Baltimore Bullets relocated there in 1973.
• The lowest scoring game in NBA history occurred on November 22, 1950, where the Fort Wayne Pistons would defeat the Minneapolis Lakers by the final score of 19–18. It would be a catalyst for the NBA to implement the shot clock a few seasons later.
• The longest game in NBA history took place on January 6, 1951, between the Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals. The game ended 75–73 after 78 minutes, including six overtimes.
• The first annual NBA All-Star Game, a showcase of the league's top players, was played in Boston, Massachusetts, with the East beating the West 111–94. Ed Macauley of the Boston Celtics received the first NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award.

  Final standings

Eastern Division

Western Division

Statistics leaders

NBA awards

• All-NBA First Team:
• *Alex Groza, Indianapolis Olympians
• *Ralph Beard, Indianapolis Olympians
• *Bob Davies, Rochester Royals
• *George Mikan, Minneapolis Lakers
• *Ed Macauley, Boston Celtics
• All-NBA Second Team:
• *Frank Brian, Tri-Cities Blackhawks
• *Joe Fulks, Philadelphia Warriors
• *Dick McGuire, New York Knicks
• *Vern Mikkelsen, Minneapolis Lakers
• *Dolph Schayes, Syracuse Nationals