The 1959-60 season marked a challenging year for the Philadelphia 76ers, who were then known as the Syracuse Nationals. During this season, the Nationals finished with a solid record of 45-30, placing them second in the Eastern Division of the NBA. Their performance was largely bolstered by the stellar play of Dolph Schayes, a future Hall of Famer, who consistently delivered high scoring and rebounding numbers.
In the playoffs, the Nationals faced the Philadelphia Warriors in the Eastern Division Semifinals. They emerged victorious in a tightly contested five-game series. However, their playoff run was halted in the Eastern Division Finals by the eventual NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, who defeated them in a five-game series. Despite the early exit, the Nationals’ competitive spirit set a foundation for future successes as they later became the Philadelphia 76ers in 1963.
- Regular Season Record: 45-30
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 1-2
Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats for 1959-60 Season
POINTS
Dolph Schayes
22.5
REBOUNDS
Dolph Schayes
9.9
ASSISTS
Larry Costello
3.4
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Dolph Schayes | 75 | 22.5 | 9.9 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 29.3 | 16.0 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George Yardley | 73 | 20.2 | 5.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 13.3 | 5.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Red Kerr | 75 | 14.7 | 9.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 13.7 | 8.3 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Costello | 71 | 14.0 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 16.7 | 4.7 | 6.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hal Greer | 70 | 13.2 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 15.7 | 4.7 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Barnett | 57 | 12.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 10.0 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Hopkins | 75 | 8.7 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Bianchi | 69 | 7.7 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Connie Dierking | 71 | 6.8 | 4.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Frank Selvy | 19 | 6.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Barney Cable | 49 | 4.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 4.7 | 9.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Togo Palazzi | 7 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Ray | 5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Seymour | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Philadelphia 76ers in the 1960 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Philadelphia Warriors
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 11, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 115-92 | |
| Mar 13, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 125-119 | |
| Mar 14, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 132-112 |
Philadelphia 76ers 1959-60 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1959-60 season for the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 121-109 | |
| Oct 28, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 117-102 | |
| Oct 30, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 136-127 | |
| Oct 31, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 117-108 | |
| Nov 04, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 124-113 | |
| Nov 07, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 103-101 | |
| Nov 08, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 118-107 | |
| Nov 12, 1959 | @ New York Knicks | W 113-104 | |
| Nov 14, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 116-108 | |
| Nov 17, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 121-116 | |
| Nov 18, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 138-103 | |
| Nov 20, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-101 | |
| Nov 21, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 116-107 | |
| Nov 22, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 114-103 | |
| Nov 24, 1959 | @ New York Knicks | W 120-107 | |
| Nov 25, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 100-93 | |
| Nov 26, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 112-95 | |
| Nov 28, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 111-105 | |
| Dec 01, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 106-101 | |
| Dec 02, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 130-121 | |
| Dec 05, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 108-95 | |
| Dec 08, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 93-89 | |
| Dec 09, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 96-86 | |
| Dec 11, 1959 | @ New York Knicks | L 152-121 | |
| Dec 13, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 150-121 | |
| Dec 16, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 116-113 | |
| Dec 19, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 120-112 | |
| Dec 20, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 132-127 | |
| Dec 25, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 129-121 | |
| Dec 26, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 117-104 | |
| Dec 28, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 120-106 | |
| Dec 30, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 131-127 | |
| Jan 01, 1960 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 109-98 | |
| Jan 03, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 114-113 | |
| Jan 04, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 127-120 | |
| Jan 05, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | W 145-143 | |
| Jan 07, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 132-114 | |
| Jan 08, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 118-107 | |
| Jan 09, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 119-112 | |
| Jan 10, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 108-103 | |
| Jan 12, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | W 127-120 | |
| Jan 13, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 132-131 | |
| Jan 14, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 119-112 | |
| Jan 15, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 141-140 | |
| Jan 17, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 129-117 | |
| Jan 20, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 129-123 | |
| Jan 23, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 130-121 | |
| Jan 24, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 131-110 | |
| Jan 26, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 121-114 | |
| Jan 27, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 144-108 | |
| Jan 29, 1960 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 119-112 | |
| Jan 31, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 117-110 | |
| Feb 02, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | W 119-102 | |
| Feb 04, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 137-110 | |
| Feb 05, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 124-100 | |
| Feb 06, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 129-126 | |
| Feb 07, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 135-112 | |
| Feb 09, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 117-111 | |
| Feb 10, 1960 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 110-109 | |
| Feb 11, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 116-109 | |
| Feb 14, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 121-119 | |
| Feb 16, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | L 125-116 | |
| Feb 17, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 123-116 | |
| Feb 18, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 136-122 | |
| Feb 20, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | W 126-121 | |
| Feb 21, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 122-120 | |
| Feb 23, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 135-133 | |
| Feb 24, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 128-110 | |
| Feb 25, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 110-105 | |
| Feb 27, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 114-111 | |
| Mar 01, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | W 124-121 | |
| Mar 03, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 149-108 | |
| Mar 05, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 132-115 | |
| Mar 06, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-117 | |
| Mar 09, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 137-126 |