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Adolph "Dolph" Schayes

(1928 - 2015)

A New York University All-America in l948, Schayes starred for the National Basketball Association’s Syracuse Nationals (later Philadelphia 76ers) from l948 to 1964. His 1955 Nats won the NBA Championship. Named to twelve consecutive NBA All Star Games, 1951-1962, Dolph was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1972.

NBA Rookie of the Year in l949, Schayes owned five League records by the time he retired as an active player: most consecutive games played--764 games (2/17/52-12/27/61); most minutes played--29,800; most field goals--6,135; most free throws made--6,979; most points--19,249.

He finished his career fourth in rebounding (all-time), winning the rebound title in l951 with 1,080 boards. On January 11, l958, Dolph became the highest scorer in NBA history, surpassing the great George Mikan. It was Wilt Chamberlain who eventually topped Dolph’s scoring record. Regarded as the first true "power forward", Schayes had a career scoring average of 18.2 points per game.

He was 76ers player-coach in l964, confining himself to coaching after that season. The Sixers won the l965-66 NBA Championship, and Dolph was named the League's Coach of the Year. Schayes coached the NBA Buffalo Braves franchise l970-l972. From l966 to 1970, he also served as supervisor of NBA referees.

In 1977, Schayes was head coach of the U.S. Maccabiah Games basketball team.

Schayes lost a long battle with cancer and died in Syracuse, New York, on December 10, 2015, at the age of 87.


Sources: International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame