The 1960-61 Philadelphia 76ers season was the franchise’s final year as the Syracuse Nationals before relocating. Coached by Alex Hannum, the team ended the regular season with a 38-41 record, securing third place in the Eastern Division. Despite a slightly below .500 record, the Nationals made a playoff appearance, showcasing their competitive edge.
In the postseason, the Nationals faced the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Division Semifinals. The series was fiercely contested, yet the Nationals fell to the Celtics in five games, losing 3-2. Key players like Dolph Schayes and Hal Greer were instrumental in the Nationals’ performance, but they couldn’t overcome the Celtics’ dominance. This season marked the end of an era for the team in Syracuse, as they would move to Philadelphia and become the 76ers in the following season.
- Regular Season Record: 38-41
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 3-0, Division Finals: 1-4
Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats for 1960-61 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Dolph Schayes | 79 | 23.6 | 8.4 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 20.6 | 11.4 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hal Greer | 79 | 19.6 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 14.4 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Barnett | 78 | 16.9 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 15.5 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Costello | 75 | 14.5 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 16.3 | 4.4 | 6.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Gambee | 79 | 13.7 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 12.6 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Red Kerr | 79 | 13.4 | 7.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 9.5 | 12.4 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Barney Cable | 75 | 8.1 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Bianchi | 52 | 5.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Swede Halbrook | 79 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 7.9 | 9.8 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Roberts | 68 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ernie Beck | 2 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cal Ramsey | 2 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 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 1961 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Philadelphia Warriors
In the 1961 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers, known then as the Syracuse Nationals, faced the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Division Finals. Despite a strong effort, the Nationals were unable to overcome the Celtics' dominance, losing the series 4-1. Boston's formidable lineup, led by Bill Russell, proved too challenging for Syracuse, who struggled to contain their opponents' defense and depth.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 115-107 | |
| Mar 16, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 115-114 | |
| Mar 18, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 106-103 |
1961 Conference Championship vs. Boston Celtics
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-115 | |
| Mar 21, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 115-98 | |
| Mar 23, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 133-110 | |
| Mar 25, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 120-107 | |
| Mar 26, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-101 |
Philadelphia 76ers 1960-61 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1960-61 season for the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 133-123 | |
| Oct 25, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 123-100 | |
| Oct 27, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 143-140 | |
| Oct 29, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 125-118 | |
| Nov 05, 1960 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-110 | |
| Nov 06, 1960 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-113 | |
| Nov 11, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-108 | |
| Nov 12, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 128-117 | |
| Nov 16, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 124-87 | |
| Nov 17, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 106-105 | |
| Nov 19, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 114-94 | |
| Nov 23, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 122-115 | |
| Nov 24, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 132-97 | |
| Nov 26, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 129-110 | |
| Nov 29, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 129-105 | |
| Nov 30, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 135-126 | |
| Dec 01, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 137-126 | |
| Dec 03, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 130-113 | |
| Dec 06, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 113-107 | |
| Dec 07, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | W 142-134 | |
| Dec 09, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 131-118 | |
| Dec 10, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 117-107 | |
| Dec 11, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 132-121 | |
| Dec 13, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 107-105 | |
| Dec 15, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-105 | |
| Dec 18, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 104-103 | |
| Dec 20, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | L 122-112 | |
| Dec 25, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 162-100 | |
| Dec 26, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 133-112 | |
| Dec 27, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 129-124 | |
| Dec 28, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 115-113 | |
| Dec 30, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 121-112 | |
| Jan 01, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 113-96 | |
| Jan 02, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 126-125 | |
| Jan 03, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | W 129-104 | |
| Jan 04, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 134-126 | |
| Jan 05, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 139-127 | |
| Jan 07, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | L 120-117 | |
| Jan 08, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 138-115 | |
| Jan 11, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 133-128 | |
| Jan 12, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 124-118 | |
| Jan 13, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | W 106-105 | |
| Jan 15, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 116-113 | |
| Jan 18, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 129-118 | |
| Jan 21, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 127-124 | |
| Jan 22, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-109 | |
| Jan 24, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-107 | |
| Jan 25, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-112 | |
| Jan 27, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 138-126 | |
| Jan 29, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 125-108 | |
| Jan 31, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | W 122-106 | |
| Feb 01, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 122-113 | |
| Feb 03, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 121-118 | |
| Feb 04, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-104 | |
| Feb 05, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 129-115 | |
| Feb 08, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 130-108 | |
| Feb 09, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 136-126 | |
| Feb 11, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 141-111 | |
| Feb 12, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 148-122 | |
| Feb 15, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | L 129-127 | |
| Feb 16, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 132-120 | |
| Feb 17, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 115-113 | |
| Feb 18, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 129-110 | |
| Feb 19, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 116-106 | |
| Feb 20, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 126-121 | |
| Feb 21, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 123-118 | |
| Feb 23, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 144-116 | |
| Feb 24, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 144-128 | |
| Feb 26, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 136-110 | |
| Mar 01, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 149-128 | |
| Mar 02, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-110 | |
| Mar 03, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 123-116 | |
| Mar 04, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 116-115 | |
| Mar 05, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 125-114 | |
| Mar 07, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | L 114-113 | |
| Mar 08, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 136-127 | |
| Mar 09, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 129-119 | |
| Mar 11, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-116 | |
| Mar 12, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 136-134 |