Dolph Schayes, a 12-time All-Star with the Syracuse Nationals who later became the first head coach in Philadelphia 76ers history, passed away on Thursday, December 10th. He was 87 years old.
A native of New York City, Schayes’ 15-year playing career coincided with the Nationals’ inaugural campaign in 1949. He continued on with the franchise when it moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers for the 1963-1964 season, serving as a player-coach before taking on full-time sideline responsibilities the next year. Schayes remained in that role until the end of the 1965-1966 slate, after which he received NBA Coach of the Year honors. He left the Sixers with a 129-111 record, having guided the team to the playoffs in each of his three seasons.Originally the fourth overall pick of the Basketball Association of American and National Basketball League Drafts in 1949, Schayes’ rights were later shipped to Syracuse. It was there, with the Nationals, that he proved to be a dominant power forward / center. In just his second season, Schayes led the NBA in rebounding, hauling in 1,080 caroms. He finished ranked among the league’s top eight in scoring elevan years. Schayes also paced the NBA in free throw percentage three times. For his career, he averaged 18.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 34.4 minutes per game. Schayes is one of just four players in a group that also includes Wilt Chamberlain to generate those averages.Prior to breaking into the NBA, Schayes attended New York University, where he was recognized as an All-American. Among his numerous professional accolades, Schayes received six All-NBA First-Team selections, while also earning just as many nominations to the All-NBA Second-Team. He was included on the league’s 25th Anniversary and 50th Anniversary Teams as well. Schayes was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1972, and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Following a brief coaching stint with the Buffalo Braves from 1970 to 1972, Schayes would later go on to assume the helm of the United States’ basketball entrant in the 1977 Maccabiah Games, the international Jewish sports competition held in Israel every four years. His team took home the gold medal.
