Dolph Schayes
(1928-2015)
Hall of Fame Induction: 1973
Card Shown:
2014-15 Panini Flawless
Association Autographs
Position: C/PF
Height: 6’7″
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Dolph Schayes played his entire fifteen-year career for one franchise, the Syracuse Nationals. Before Dolph’s final year in the NBA, the Nationals moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers. Schayes was a top scorer and rebounder in the NBA. He was known for his two-handed set shot, which he regularly hit from distance. He was also adept at hitting running one-handers with both his left and his right hand. Dolph led his professional basketball teams into the postseason fifteen times during his sixteen years of competition. He played one year for the Nationals in the National Basketball League (NBL) before Syracuse joined the newly-formed NBA for the 1949-50 season. Dolph retired as the leading scorer in NBA history and was one of its first superstars. He was an NBA pioneer who helped popularize the league.
Awards and Honors
- Dolph was a twelve-time NBA All-Star during his fifteen-years in the league.
- Schayes was selected to the All-NBA First Team six times during his career. He also was named to the All-NBA Second Team six times.
- In 1955, Dolph led the Nationals to their first NBA championship, defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons in seven games in the Finals. Joining Dolph on that Nationals team were Paul Seymour, Red Rocha, Earl Lloyd, and Red Kerr. The Fort Wayne Pistons starred George Yardley and included Andy Phillip, Larry Foust, Max Zaslofsky, and Mel Hutchins.
- When Dolph retired in 1964 he was the NBA’s all-time leader in both games played and points scored.
- Schayes was named to the NBA’s 25th Anniversary Team in 1970 and was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.
Points of Interest
- Dolph was selected by the New York Knicks with the fourth overall selection in the first round of the 1948 Basketball Association of America (BAA) Draft. The Knicks offered him the rookie maximum salary of $5,000. However, Schayes decided to sign with the Syracuse Nationals of the National Basketball League (NBL) who offered him $7,000 plus a $500 bonus.
- Schayes was the first NBA player to score 15,000 points.
- Dolph could really fill up the stats sheet. He finished with the NBA’s top free throw percentage three times, including 1957-58 when his average was .904. Schayes also finished in the top ten is scoring and rebounding eleven times each. In 1950-51 he led the league in rebounding with 16.4 per game. Dolph finished his NBA career with averages of 18.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
- Dolph’s son, Danny Schayes, enjoyed a long (18-year) career in the NBA from 1981-1999. He played for seven different teams including the Denver Nuggets (8 seasons), the Milwaukee Bucks (4 seasons), the Orlando Magic (3 seasons), and the Utah Jazz (2 seasons). Danny averaged 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game during his career.
- In 1966, Dolph was named the NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Philadelphia 76ers (starring Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, and Billy Cunningham) to a record of 55 wins and 25 losses. The 76ers lost in the first round of the playoffs to Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics.
Statistics
Dolph Schayes Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com