The 1956-57 season marked the Philadelphia 76ers’ final campaign as the Syracuse Nationals, before relocating and rebranding. The team competed in the NBA Eastern Division and finished the regular season with a record of 38 wins and 34 losses. Despite a positive win-loss record, the Nationals placed third in their division.
Under head coach Paul Seymour, the team was anchored by standout performances from players like Dolph Schayes, who continued to be a dominant force on the court. In the playoffs, the Nationals faced the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Division Semifinals. Despite their efforts, the Syracuse Nationals were ultimately defeated, losing the series 3-0 to the Celtics.
This season was significant as it set the stage for the team’s transition to becoming the Philadelphia 76ers, a franchise that would later become one of the NBA’s storied teams.
- Regular Season Record: 38-34
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 2-0, Division Finals: 0-3
Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats for 1956-57 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Dolph Schayes | 72 | 22.5 | 11.2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 21.4 | 18.0 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ed Conlin | 71 | 13.4 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 15.4 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Red Kerr | 72 | 12.4 | 7.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 15.2 | 13.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Togo Palazzi | 43 | 10.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 9.0 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Harrison | 56 | 9.8 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 6.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Earl Lloyd | 72 | 9.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 6.2 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Bianchi | 68 | 8.3 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 6.4 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Holup | 71 | 7.4 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Hennessy | 19 | 6.9 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Seymour | 65 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Hopkins | 62 | 5.8 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 5.6 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Schafer | 8 | 5.6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Tucker | 9 | 3.8 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Savage | 5 | 3.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Ray | 5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Forest Able | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Philadelphia 76ers in the 1957 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Philadelphia Warriors
In the 1957 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers, known then as the Syracuse Nationals, faced the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Division Finals. Despite a valiant effort, the Nationals were overpowered by the Celtics, who were led by Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, losing the series 3-0. This matchup highlighted the emerging dominance of the Celtics during that era.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 1957 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 103-96 | |
| Mar 18, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 91-80 |
1957 Conference Championship vs. Boston Celtics
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, 1957 | @ Boston Celtics | L 108-90 | |
| Mar 23, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 120-105 | |
| Mar 24, 1957 | @ Boston Celtics | L 83-80 |
Philadelphia 76ers 1956-57 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1956-57 season for the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 1956 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 109-103 | |
| Oct 28, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 91-75 | |
| Nov 03, 1956 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 75-73 | |
| Nov 04, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 78-76 | |
| Nov 10, 1956 | @ Rochester Royals | L 90-76 | |
| Nov 11, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 94-83 | |
| Nov 15, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 103-96 | |
| Nov 17, 1956 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 109-96 | |
| Nov 18, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 99-97 | |
| Nov 20, 1956 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 104-81 | |
| Nov 22, 1956 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 111-78 | |
| Nov 24, 1956 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-99 | |
| Nov 27, 1956 | @ Rochester Royals | L 90-82 | |
| Nov 29, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 92-87 | |
| Dec 01, 1956 | @ New York Knicks | L 117-100 | |
| Dec 02, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 110-100 | |
| Dec 04, 1956 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 97-96 | |
| Dec 06, 1956 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 104-92 | |
| Dec 07, 1956 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 105-97 | |
| Dec 09, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 116-110 | |
| Dec 15, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 117-108 | |
| Dec 16, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 101-91 | |
| Dec 23, 1956 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 107-97 | |
| Dec 25, 1956 | @ Rochester Royals | L 98-93 | |
| Dec 27, 1956 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 102-95 | |
| Dec 29, 1956 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 104-103 | |
| Dec 30, 1956 | @ Boston Celtics | L 105-92 | |
| Jan 01, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 106-102 | |
| Jan 03, 1957 | @ New York Knicks | L 126-111 | |
| Jan 04, 1957 | @ Boston Celtics | W 116-106 | |
| Jan 06, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 128-123 | |
| Jan 09, 1957 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 93-86 | |
| Jan 10, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 118-110 | |
| Jan 12, 1957 | @ Rochester Royals | W 97-88 | |
| Jan 13, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 91-85 | |
| Jan 17, 1957 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 108-103 | |
| Jan 18, 1957 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 96-94 | |
| Jan 19, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 104-96 | |
| Jan 20, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 101-98 | |
| Jan 22, 1957 | @ New York Knicks | L 90-88 | |
| Jan 23, 1957 | @ Boston Celtics | L 140-108 | |
| Jan 24, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 115-97 | |
| Jan 26, 1957 | @ Rochester Royals | W 99-95 | |
| Jan 27, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 94-93 | |
| Jan 28, 1957 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 112-96 | |
| Jan 30, 1957 | @ Boston Celtics | W 119-116 | |
| Jan 31, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 105-104 | |
| Feb 02, 1957 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 107-100 | |
| Feb 03, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 104-95 | |
| Feb 05, 1957 | @ Boston Celtics | L 105-101 | |
| Feb 06, 1957 | @ New York Knicks | L 119-100 | |
| Feb 07, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 112-110 | |
| Feb 09, 1957 | @ New York Knicks | W 101-89 | |
| Feb 10, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 102-100 | |
| Feb 11, 1957 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 107-101 | |
| Feb 14, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 104-95 | |
| Feb 17, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 116-106 | |
| Feb 21, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 92-86 | |
| Feb 23, 1957 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 103-101 | |
| Feb 24, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 109-93 | |
| Feb 25, 1957 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 108-102 | |
| Feb 26, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 120-108 | |
| Feb 27, 1957 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 108-93 | |
| Feb 28, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 123-112 | |
| Mar 02, 1957 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 98-85 | |
| Mar 03, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 112-86 | |
| Mar 05, 1957 | @ New York Knicks | W 99-92 | |
| Mar 06, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 100-93 | |
| Mar 07, 1957 | @ New York Knicks | L 99-94 | |
| Mar 09, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 104-102 | |
| Mar 10, 1957 | @ Boston Celtics | W 94-92 | |
| Mar 13, 1957 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 114-81 |