1949–50 Syracuse Nationals season

Season for the Nationals in the National Basketball Association August 2023 March 2026 Syracuse Nationals 1950 yes 51 13 1 Eastern Al Cervi State Fair Coliseum WHEN 5 WNDR NBA Finals(eliminated 2–4) SYR The 1949–50 Syracuse Nationals season was the first season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Nationals played its previous three seasons in the National Basketball League, which merged with the Basketball Association of America to form the NBA. Because of their prior association with the NBL, they were the only Eastern Division team this season to play 62 regular season games as opposed to the full 68 games that every other team had there. As such, they were one of three new NBA teams to play 62 games this season, with four other NBA teams that were also previously associated with the NBL at the time (all the rest of whom were playing in the Western Division this season) playing 64 games this season instead.LaBlanc Michael L. Ruby Mary K. Professional Sports Team Histories: Basketball 1994 Gale Researchers, Inc. 0-8103-8860-X, pg. 6 Al Cervi, nicknamed "Digger" for his superior defensive skills, guided the team with his competitive nature while serving as a player-coach. As the Syracuse Post-Standard describes, "The Nationals shot poorly but succeeded because they played Cervi-style basketball: nasty, with an emphasis on defense."Al Cervi, Hall of Fame N.B.A. Player-Coach, Dies at 92, New York Times, November 10, 2009. The Nationals went to the NBA Finals after beating the Philadelphia Warriors and New York Knicks, but lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in six games. Draft picks The Syracuse Nationals would participate in the 1949 NBL draft, which occurred months before the National Basketball League and the rivaling Basketball Association of America would merge operations to become the present-day National Basketball Association. However, as of 2026, no records of what the Nationals' draft picks were for the NBL have properly come up, with any information on who those final selections might have been being lost to time in the process. Roster {| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%; width:100%;" |- ! colspan="2" style="background-color:#D0103A; color:#FFFFFF; text-align: center;" | 1949–50 Syracuse Nationals roster |- style="background-color:#0046AD; color:#FFFFFF; text-align: center;" ! Players !! Coaches |- | valign="top" | {| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;" ! Pos. !! # !! Name !! Ht. !! Wt. !! From 15 Al Cervi G/F 5 11 170 East HS (NY) 9 Leroy Chollet F 6 2 190 Canisius 4 Ray Corley G 6 0 180 Georgetown 7 Bill Gabor G/F 5 11 170 Syracuse 10 Alex Hannum F/C 6 7 210 USC 14 Andrew Levane F/G 6 2 190 St. John's University 5 Johnny Macknowski G/F 6 0 180 Seton Hall 50 Ed Peterson C 6 9 220 Cornell 65 George Ratkovicz C/F 6 6 220 Lindblom HS (IL) 55 Dolph Schayes F/C 6 7 195 NYU 25 Paul Seymour basketball G/F 6 1 180 Toledo Al Cervi https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SYR/1950.html Regular season Standings SYR Game log background:#0046AD; color:white 1949–50 Game LogTotal: 51–13 (Home: 31–1; Road: 15–12; Neutral: 5–0) y background:#D0103A; color:white November: 13–1 (Home: 8–0; Road: 3–1; Neutral: 2–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location High points Record |- | 1 || November 3 || Denver Nuggets || 78–58 || State Fair Coliseum || Al Cervi (17) || 1–0 |- | 2 || November 5 || vs Denver Nuggets || 84–51 || (Auburn, New York) || Billy Gabor (12) || 2–0 |- | 3 || November 6 || Philadelphia Warriors || 82–72 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (17) || 3–0 |- | 4 || November 9 || Indianapolis Olympians || 103–73 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (22) || 4–0 |- | 5 || November 10 || @ St. Louis Bombers || 67–73 || St. Louis Arena || Gabor, Hannum (13) || 4–1 |- | 6 || November 12 || @ Anderson Packers || 84–69 || Anderson High School Wigwam || Al Cervi (23) || 5–1 |- | 7 || November 13 || New York Knicks || 80–66 || State Fair Coliseum || Billy Gabor (20) || 6–1 |- | 8 || November 15 || @ New York Knicks || 77–74 || Madison Square Garden III || Dolph Schayes (13) || 7–1 |- | 9 || November 17 || Tri-Cities Blackhawks || 79–76 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (20) || 8–1 |- | 10 || November 20 || Denver Nuggets || 102–76 || State Fair Coliseum || Billy Gabor (22) || 9–1 |- | 11 || November 21 || vs Denver Nuggets || 77–67 || (Oneida, New York) || Andrew Levane (20) || 10–1 |- | 12 || November 24 || Anderson Packers || 125–123 (5OT) || State Fair Coliseum || Johnny Macknowski (21) || 11–1 |- | 13 || November 27 || Waterloo Hawks || 80–62 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (27) || 12–1 |- | 14 || November 30 || @ Boston Celtics || 87–71 || Boston Garden || Billy Gabor (16) || 13–1 |- y background:#D0103A; color:white December: 11–3 (Home: 5–0; Road: 5–3; Neutral: 1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location High points Record |- | 15 || December 4 || Indianapolis Olympians || 67–61 || State Fair Coliseum || Al Cervi (18) || 14–1 |- | 16 || December 7 || @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks || 77–69 || Wharton Field House || Dolph Schayes (31) || 15–1 |- | 17 || December 8 || @ Sheboygan Red Skins || 86–72 || Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory || Dolph Schayes (18) || 16–1 |- | 18 || December 10 || @ Rochester Royals || 63–69 || Edgerton Park Arena || Peterson, Schayes (15) || 16–2 |- | 19 || December 11 || Sheboygan Red Skins || 89–72 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (23) || 17–2 |- | 20 || December 14 || Fort Wayne Pistons || 96–83 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (29) || 18–2 |- | 21 || December 15 || @ Anderson Packers || 88–100 || Anderson High School Wigwam || Al Cervi (17) || 18–3 |- | 22 || December 18 || Chicago Stags || 86–73 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (23) || 19–3 |- | 23 || December 20 || @ Waterloo Hawks || 95–70 || McElroy Auditorium || Ratkovicz, Schayes (14) || 20–3 |- | 24 || December 21 || @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks || 96–84 || Wharton Field House || Billy Gabor (23) || 21–3 |- | 25 || December 22 || @ Sheboygan Red Skins || 83–74 || Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory || Alex Hannum (17) || 22–3 |- | 26 || December 25 || Anderson Packers || 94–88 || State Fair Coliseum || Paul Seymour (24) || 23–3 |- | 27 || December 28 || @ Washington Capitols || 85–87 || Uline Arena || Billy Gabor (23) || 23–4 |- | 28 || December 29 || vs Philadelphia Warriors || 64–62 || (Atlantic City, New Jersey) || Dolph Schayes (18) || 24–4 |- y background:#D0103A; color:white January: 9–3 (Home: 7–1; Road: 1–2; Neutral: 1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location High points Record |- | 29 || January 1 || Washington Capitols || 79–73 || State Fair Coliseum || Billy Gabor (20) || 25–4 |- | 30 || January 5 || Tri-Cities Blackhawks || 82–73 || State Fair Coliseum || Al Cervi (18) || 26–4 |- | 31 || January 8 || Waterloo Hawks || 84–68 || State Fair Coliseum || Billy Gabor (19) || 27–4 |- | 32 || January 10 || @ Waterloo Hawks || 84–86 (OT) || McElroy Auditorium || Paul Seymour (14) || 27–5 |- | 33 || January 11 || @ Minneapolis Lakers || 88–98 || Minneapolis Auditorium || Al Cervi (19) || 27–6 |- | 34 || January 12 || @ Fort Wayne Pistons || 64–62 || North Side High School Gym || Al Cervi (17) || 28–6 |- | 35 || January 15 || Indianapolis Olympians || 82–69 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (23) || 29–6 |- | 36 || January 19 || Denver Nuggets || 107–86 || State Fair Coliseum || Johnny Macknowski (19) || 30–6 |- | 37 || January 22 || Anderson Packers || 75–77 (OT) || State Fair Coliseum || George Ratkovicz (15) || 30–7 |- | 38 || January 26 || Rochester Royals || 76–72 || State Fair Coliseum || Billy Gabor (20) || 31–7 |- | 39 || January 29 || Sheboygan Red Skins || 85–70 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (21) || 32–7 |- | 40 || January 30 || vs Indianapolis Olympians || 91–75 || (Louisville, Kentucky) || Dolph Schayes (24) || 33–7 |- y background:#D0103A; color:white February: 11–4 (Home: 7–0; Road: 3–4; Neutral: 1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location High points Record |- | 41 || February 1 || @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks || 83–91 || Wharton Field House || Dolph Schayes (25) || 33–8 |- | 42 || February 2 || @ Indianapolis Olympians || 73–67 || Butler Fieldhouse || George Ratkovicz (16) || 34–8 |- | 43 || February 3 || Waterloo Hawks || 103–79 || State Fair Coliseum || Billy Gabor (32) || 35–8 |- | 44 || February 5 || Baltimore Bullets || 96–87 || State Fair Coliseum || Johnny Macknowski (22) || 36–8 |- | 45 || February 8 || Sheboygan Red Skins || 106–81 || State Fair Coliseum || Billy Gabor (19) || 37–8 |- | 46 || February 11 || @ Baltimore Bullets || 77–76 || Baltimore Coliseum || Al Cervi (18) || 38–8 |- | 47 || February 12 || Waterloo Hawks || 102–98 || State Fair Coliseum || Andrew Levane (21) || 39–8 |- | 48 || February 16 || Tri-Cities Blackhawks || 105–74 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (17) || 40–8 |- | 49 || February 19 || Indianapolis Olympians || 82–78 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (29) || 41–8 |- | 50 || February 21 || @ Denver Nuggets || 78–89 || Denver Auditorium Arena || Dolph Schayes (31) || 41–9 |- | 51 || February 23 || @ Denver Nuggets || 108–80 || Denver Auditorium Arena || Dolph Schayes (25) || 42–9 |- | 52 || February 24 || vs Indianapolis Olympians || 72–67 || (Chicago) || George Ratkovicz (19) || 43–9 |- | 53 || February 26 || Chicago Stags || 73–64 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (24) || 44–9 |- | 54 || February 27 || @ Anderson Packers || 73–97 || Anderson High School Wigwam || Dolph Schayes (17) || 44–10 |- | 55 || February 28 || @ Indianapolis Olympians || 72–110 || Butler Fieldhouse || Alex Hannum (13) || 44–11 |- y background:#D0103A; color:white March: 7–2 (Home: 4–0; Road: 3–2; Neutral: 0–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location High points Record |- | 56 || March 1 || @ Waterloo Hawks || 93–72 || McElroy Auditorium || Dolph Schayes (24) || 45–11 |- | 57 || March 2 || @ Sheboygan Red Skins || 85–95 || Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory || Dolph Schayes (26) || 45–12 |- | 58 || March 5 || Minneapolis Lakers || 84–75 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (28) || 46–12 |- | 59 || March 9 || St. Louis Bombers || 85–74 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (19) || 47–12 |- | 60 || March 12 || Boston Celtics || 96–72 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (21) || 48–12 |- | 61 || March 14 || @ Indianapolis Olympians || 65–68 || Butler Fieldhouse || George Ratkovicz (20) || 48–13 |- | 62 || March 16 || @ Sheboygan Red Skins || 88–75 || Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory || Dolph Schayes (18) || 49–13 |- | 63 || March 18 || @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks || 89–88 (OT) || Wharton Field House || Johnny Macknowski (25) || 50–13 |- | 64 || March 19 || Anderson Packers || 72–67 || State Fair Coliseum || Dolph Schayes (20) || 51–13 |- |- | 1949–50 Schedule Playoffs Syracuse Nationals 1950 #0046AD white yes Syracuse Nationals Division Semifinals yes #D0103A white yes no 1 0 1 0 yes yes |- | 1 | March 22 | Philadelphia | W 93–76 | George Ratkovicz (25) | Dolph Schayes (6) | State Fair Coliseum | 1–0 |- | 2 | March 23 | @ Philadelphia | W 59–53 | Dolph Schayes (16) | Al Cervi (2) | Philadelphia Arena | 2–0 |- Syracuse Nationals Division Finals #D0103A white yes no 2 0 0 1 yes yes |- | 1 | March 26 | New York | W 91–83 (OT) | Dolph Schayes (26) | Andrew Levane (4) | State Fair Coliseum | 1–0 |- | 2 | March 30 | @ New York | L 76–80 | George Ratkovicz (17) | Al Cervi (4) | Madison Square Garden III | 1–1 |- | 3 | April 2 | New York | W 91–80 | Dolph Schayes (24) | Schayes, Cervi (3) | State Fair Coliseum | 2–1 |- Syracuse Nationals NBA Finals #D0103A white yes no 2 1 0 3 yes |- | 1 | April 8 | Minneapolis | L 66–68 | Dolph Schayes (19) | — | State Fair Coliseum7,552 | 0–1 |- | 2 | April 9 | Minneapolis | W 91–85 | George Ratkovicz (17) | — | State Fair Coliseum8,280 | 1–1 |- | 3 | April 14 | @ Minneapolis | L 77–91 | Johnny Macknowski (25) | Paul Seymour (5) | St. Paul Auditorium10,288 | 1–2 |- | 4 | April 16 | @ Minneapolis | L 69–77 | Schayes, Hannum (18) | Bill Gabor (6) | St. Paul Auditorium10,512 | 1–3 |- | 5 | April 20 | Minneapolis | W 83–76 | Dolph Schayes (19) | — | State Fair Coliseum9,024 | 2–3 |- | 6 | April 23 | @ Minneapolis | L 95–110 | Dolph Schayes (23) | Johnny Macknowski (5) | Minneapolis Auditorium9,812 | 2–4 |- SYR 1950 yes Nationals had a bye in the NBA Semifinals as the team with the best record amongst teams who advanced past the Division Finals. Awards and records Al Cervi, All-NBA Second Team Dolph Schayes, All-NBA Second Team References Category:Philadelphia 76ers seasons Syracuse Syracuse Nationals Syracuse Nationals