> NBA History > Hawks History >
History of the Buffalo Bisons (NBL)
The Buffalo Bisons were one of professional basketball's earliest franchises, competing in the National Basketball League (NBL) during the 1946–47 season. Although the team existed for only a few months in Buffalo before relocating, its legacy is significant because it eventually evolved into one of the NBA's oldest franchises—the Atlanta Hawks. Despite their brief stay in western New York, the Bisons were part of the post-World War II boom that laid the foundation for modern professional basketball.
Professional Basketball Comes to Buffalo
Following World War II, professional basketball experienced rapid expansion across the United States. The National Basketball League, founded in 1937, had become one of the nation's premier professional basketball organizations.
Seeking to expand into larger cities, the NBL awarded a franchise to Buffalo for the 1946–47 season.
The new club was named the Buffalo Bisons, borrowing the city's long-standing sports nickname that had been used by several professional baseball and hockey teams.
Home games were played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, one of western New York's premier sports venues.
Expectations were high as Buffalo hoped to establish itself as a major professional basketball city.
A Difficult Beginning
The Bisons struggled almost immediately.
Attendance was disappointing despite Buffalo's large population and growing sports culture. The team also found it difficult to compete against more established NBL franchises.
Under player-coach Nat Hickey, Buffalo opened the season with a disappointing record.
The combination of financial losses and poor attendance quickly placed the franchise in jeopardy.
Relocation to the Tri-Cities
After only 13 games, ownership concluded that professional basketball was not financially sustainable in Buffalo.
The franchise relocated to Moline, Illinois, where it became the Tri-Cities Blackhawks.
The move occurred during the 1946–47 season, making the Bisons one of the shortest-lived franchises in professional basketball history.
Although Buffalo lost its team, the franchise itself continued to grow and eventually became one of the NBA's longest-running organizations.
Evolution of the Franchise
| Years |
Team Name |
| 1946 |
Buffalo Bisons |
| 1946–1951 |
Tri-Cities Blackhawks |
| 1951–1955 |
Milwaukee Hawks |
| 1955–1968 |
St. Louis Hawks |
| 1968–Present |
Atlanta Hawks |
Success After Buffalo
While the Bisons never experienced success in Buffalo, the franchise eventually flourished elsewhere.
The St. Louis Hawks became one of the NBA's strongest teams during the 1950s.
Led by Hall of Famers:
- Bob Pettit
- Cliff Hagan
- Ed Macauley
- Slater Martin
The Hawks captured the 1958 NBA Championship by defeating the Boston Celtics, the only Finals loss suffered by Bill Russell's Celtics during their dynasty.
The franchise also reached several additional NBA Finals during its years in St. Louis.
Buffalo Returns to the NBA
Although the Bisons departed after only a few months, Buffalo remained interested in professional basketball.
The city received another NBA franchise in 1970 when the Buffalo Braves joined the league as an expansion team.
The Braves featured stars including:
- Bob McAdoo
- Randy Smith
- Ernie DiGregorio
The franchise relocated to San Diego in 1978 and eventually became today's Los Angeles Clippers.
Legacy
The Buffalo Bisons occupy a unique place in basketball history. While the franchise lasted only 13 games in Buffalo, it became the foundation of today's Atlanta Hawks, making it one of the oldest continuously operating franchises in the NBA.
The Bisons also illustrate the uncertainty surrounding professional basketball during its early years. Financial instability, travel challenges, and uneven fan support forced many teams to relocate before the NBA established itself as a major sports league.
Although often overlooked, the Buffalo Bisons represent an important chapter in both Buffalo sports history and the evolution of professional basketball in America.
Buffalo Bisons Timeline
| Year |
Event |
| 1946 |
Buffalo awarded an NBL expansion franchise. |
| 1946 |
Team begins play as the Buffalo Bisons. |
| 1946 |
Nat Hickey serves as player-coach. |
| 1946 |
Home games played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. |
| 1946 |
Franchise relocates after 13 games to the Tri-Cities. |
| 1951 |
Moves to Milwaukee and becomes the Hawks. |
| 1955 |
Relocates to St. Louis. |
| 1958 |
Wins the NBA Championship. |
| 1968 |
Franchise relocates to Atlanta. |
| Present |
Continues as the Atlanta Hawks. |
Notable Figures
- Nat Hickey – Player-coach during the Buffalo Bisons' only season.
- Ben Kerner – Longtime owner who developed the Hawks into a perennial championship contender.
- Bob Pettit – Hall of Fame forward who led the franchise to its only NBA championship in St. Louis.
- Cliff Hagan – Hall of Fame forward and key member of the Hawks' championship teams.
- Ed Macauley – Hall of Fame center who helped strengthen the St. Louis Hawks.
- Slater Martin – Hall of Fame point guard and leader of the 1958 championship team.
Historical Significance
Although their time in Buffalo was brief, the Buffalo Bisons played an important role in NBA history. The franchise's journey from Buffalo to the Tri-Cities, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and finally Atlanta mirrors the growth of professional basketball from a regional Midwestern league into a global sport.
Today, the legacy of the Buffalo Bisons lives on through the Atlanta Hawks, one of the NBA's oldest continuously operating franchises and a direct link to professional basketball's earliest days.
| 