The 1953-54 NBA season marked the second year of existence for the Philadelphia 76ers franchise, although they were known at the time as the Syracuse Nationals. Under the guidance of head coach Al Cervi, the Nationals finished the regular season with a record of 42 wins and 30 losses, securing a second-place finish in the Eastern Division.
In the playoffs, the Nationals faced the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Division Semifinals. They emerged victorious in a tight three-game series, winning 2-1. However, their campaign ended in the Eastern Division Finals against the eventual champions, the Minneapolis Lakers. The Nationals were defeated 2-1 in the series, falling short of their goal of reaching the NBA Finals. Despite the postseason exit, the season was a solid showing, further establishing the franchise as a competitive team in the league’s early years.
- Regular Season Record: 42-30
- Playoff Result: Division First Round: 2-0, Division Finals: 2-0, NBA Finals: 3-4
Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats for 1953-54 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Dolph Schayes | 76 | 17.5 | 10.4 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 11.7 | 6.6 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Seymour | 75 | 13.2 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 15.1 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George King | 75 | 11.4 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 6.9 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Gabor | 65 | 9.1 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Earl Lloyd | 75 | 9.1 | 5.8 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 5.7 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wally Osterkorn | 74 | 8.7 | 5.7 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 12.6 | 6.7 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Billy Kenville | 76 | 6.3 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 8.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Lavoy | 64 | 5.3 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 11.2 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Neal | 69 | 4.6 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Masino | 20 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bato Govedarica | 23 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Knostman | 5 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ed Earle | 2 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Novak | 5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Philadelphia 76ers in the 1954 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Boston Celtics
In the 1954 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers, then known as the Syracuse Nationals, faced the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Division Semifinals. The Nationals, led by Dolph Schayes, emerged victorious in the series, defeating the Celtics 2-0. This win advanced them to the Eastern Division Finals, showcasing their strong playoff capabilities.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 1954 | @ Boston Celtics | W 96-95 | |
| Mar 18, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 75-68 | |
| Mar 21, 1954 | @ New York Knicks | W 103-99 | |
| Mar 22, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 98-85 |
1954 Conference Championship vs. Syracuse Nationals
The Philadelphia 76ers did not participate in the 1954 NBA Playoffs, as the team was not established until 1963. During the 1954 NBA Playoffs, the Syracuse Nationals, who would later become the 76ers, were the Eastern Division champions but lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in the NBA Finals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 109-94 | |
| Mar 27, 1954 | @ Boston Celtics | W 83-76 |
1954 NBA Finals vs. Minneapolis Lakers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1954 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 79-68 | |
| Apr 03, 1954 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 62-60 | |
| Apr 04, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 81-67 | |
| Apr 08, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 80-69 | |
| Apr 10, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 84-73 | |
| Apr 11, 1954 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 65-63 | |
| Apr 12, 1954 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 87-80 |
Philadelphia 76ers 1953-54 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1953-54 season for the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1953 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 79-73 | |
| Nov 01, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 85-61 | |
| Nov 05, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 77-65 | |
| Nov 07, 1953 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 88-77 | |
| Nov 08, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 85-66 | |
| Nov 10, 1953 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 74-59 | |
| Nov 12, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 78-74 | |
| Nov 14, 1953 | @ Boston Celtics | L 77-66 | |
| Nov 15, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 69-61 | |
| Nov 19, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 79-76 | |
| Nov 21, 1953 | @ New York Knicks | L 68-67 | |
| Nov 22, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 84-80 | |
| Nov 24, 1953 | @ Rochester Royals | W 89-80 | |
| Nov 25, 1953 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 66-58 | |
| Nov 26, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 93-86 | |
| Nov 28, 1953 | @ Boston Celtics | L 91-80 | |
| Nov 29, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 101-82 | |
| Dec 01, 1953 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 76-69 | |
| Dec 03, 1953 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 87-74 | |
| Dec 05, 1953 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 90-80 | |
| Dec 06, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 78-77 | |
| Dec 09, 1953 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 92-77 | |
| Dec 10, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 96-76 | |
| Dec 12, 1953 | @ Rochester Royals | L 90-85 | |
| Dec 13, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 108-74 | |
| Dec 19, 1953 | @ Boston Celtics | W 90-83 | |
| Dec 20, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 81-76 | |
| Dec 23, 1953 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 76-72 | |
| Dec 25, 1953 | @ New York Knicks | L 89-80 | |
| Dec 27, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 96-75 | |
| Dec 30, 1953 | @ Boston Celtics | W 96-89 | |
| Dec 31, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 86-81 | |
| Jan 01, 1954 | @ Boston Celtics | L 95-92 | |
| Jan 02, 1954 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 74-66 | |
| Jan 03, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 90-77 | |
| Jan 05, 1954 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 72-60 | |
| Jan 07, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 79-67 | |
| Jan 10, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 77-73 | |
| Jan 13, 1954 | @ New York Knicks | W 93-72 | |
| Jan 14, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 96-71 | |
| Jan 16, 1954 | @ Rochester Royals | W 95-93 | |
| Jan 17, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 84-81 | |
| Jan 23, 1954 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 98-91 | |
| Jan 24, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 80-78 | |
| Jan 26, 1954 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 79-75 | |
| Jan 28, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 79-66 | |
| Jan 30, 1954 | @ New York Knicks | L 66-65 | |
| Jan 31, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 114-70 | |
| Feb 03, 1954 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 82-79 | |
| Feb 04, 1954 | @ New York Knicks | W 90-82 | |
| Feb 06, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 93-87 | |
| Feb 07, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 88-73 | |
| Feb 10, 1954 | @ Boston Celtics | L 94-79 | |
| Feb 11, 1954 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 76-74 | |
| Feb 13, 1954 | @ Rochester Royals | L 81-78 | |
| Feb 14, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 111-91 | |
| Feb 16, 1954 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 95-77 | |
| Feb 18, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 91-77 | |
| Feb 20, 1954 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 83-68 | |
| Feb 21, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 100-73 | |
| Feb 23, 1954 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | L 70-68 | |
| Feb 25, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 101-96 | |
| Feb 26, 1954 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 68-62 | |
| Feb 28, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 91-85 | |
| Mar 02, 1954 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 91-87 | |
| Mar 04, 1954 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 86-63 | |
| Mar 06, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 88-77 | |
| Mar 07, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 103-77 | |
| Mar 10, 1954 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 85-77 | |
| Mar 11, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 97-95 | |
| Mar 13, 1954 | @ New York Knicks | L 67-60 | |
| Mar 14, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 113-83 |