The 1961-62 Philadelphia 76ers season marked the franchise’s final year as the Syracuse Nationals before relocating to Philadelphia. The team finished with a 41-39 record, securing third place in the Eastern Division. Under head coach Alex Hannum, the Nationals were anchored by future Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes, who averaged 23.5 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.
In the postseason, the Nationals faced the Philadelphia Warriors in the Eastern Division Semifinals. The series went to a decisive fifth game, where the Nationals were defeated, ending their playoff run. This season was pivotal for the franchise as it marked the transition from Syracuse to Philadelphia, leading to the rebranding as the 76ers the following year. The move to Philadelphia would eventually lead to greater success, but the 1961-62 season remains a significant part of the team’s history.
- Regular Season Record: 41-39
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 2-3
Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats for 1961-62 Season
POINTS
Hal Greer
22.8
REBOUNDS
Red Kerr
12.3
ASSISTS
Larry Costello
3.7
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Hal Greer | 71 | 22.8 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lee Shaffer | 75 | 16.9 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 18.8 | 11.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Gambee | 80 | 16.8 | 5.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 11.2 | 9.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Red Kerr | 80 | 16.3 | 12.3 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 17.6 | 16.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dolph Schayes | 56 | 14.7 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 11.4 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Costello | 63 | 13.8 | 2.3 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 14.6 | 3.2 | 5.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Bianchi | 80 | 10.3 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 14.2 | 5.2 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Roberts | 80 | 7.7 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Swede Halbrook | 64 | 6.3 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Neumann | 77 | 6.2 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 5.6 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Graboski | 23 | 5.0 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Osborne | 4 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Philadelphia 76ers in the 1962 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Philadelphia Warriors
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 1962 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 110-103 | |
| Mar 18, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 97-82 | |
| Mar 19, 1962 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 101-100 | |
| Mar 20, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 106-99 | |
| Mar 22, 1962 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 121-104 |
Philadelphia 76ers 1961-62 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1961-62 season for the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 123-103 | |
| Oct 26, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 110-107 | |
| Oct 27, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 126-122 | |
| Oct 28, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 119-115 | |
| Oct 29, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 139-132 | |
| Oct 31, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 107-90 | |
| Nov 03, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 106-94 | |
| Nov 04, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 127-107 | |
| Nov 09, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 151-108 | |
| Nov 11, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 135-109 | |
| Nov 14, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 119-115 | |
| Nov 15, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | W 114-102 | |
| Nov 18, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 148-130 | |
| Nov 22, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-109 | |
| Nov 23, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 117-99 | |
| Nov 24, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 127-125 | |
| Nov 25, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 141-108 | |
| Nov 28, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 121-111 | |
| Nov 29, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 136-122 | |
| Dec 01, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | L 118-100 | |
| Dec 02, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 132-118 | |
| Dec 04, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 131-120 | |
| Dec 05, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 125-120 | |
| Dec 06, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-121 | |
| Dec 08, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-111 | |
| Dec 09, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 106-102 | |
| Dec 12, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | W 126-124 | |
| Dec 13, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 136-126 | |
| Dec 14, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 136-125 | |
| Dec 16, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 128-123 | |
| Dec 19, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 124-111 | |
| Dec 25, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 127-122 | |
| Dec 26, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 118-111 | |
| Dec 27, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-111 | |
| Dec 28, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 121-114 | |
| Dec 30, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 109-108 | |
| Jan 01, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 110-106 | |
| Jan 02, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 127-102 | |
| Jan 05, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 138-135 | |
| Jan 06, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 120-102 | |
| Jan 07, 1962 | @ New York Knicks | W 123-116 | |
| Jan 09, 1962 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 129-120 | |
| Jan 10, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 134-122 | |
| Jan 13, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | W 127-117 | |
| Jan 14, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 141-118 | |
| Jan 18, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 118-111 | |
| Jan 19, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-103 | |
| Jan 20, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 107-101 | |
| Jan 21, 1962 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 139-132 | |
| Jan 23, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 115-107 | |
| Jan 24, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-102 | |
| Jan 25, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 101-100 | |
| Jan 27, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 107-102 | |
| Jan 28, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 139-131 | |
| Jan 31, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 138-109 | |
| Feb 02, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 135-101 | |
| Feb 03, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 134-112 | |
| Feb 04, 1962 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 128-117 | |
| Feb 06, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 127-123 | |
| Feb 08, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 122-110 | |
| Feb 09, 1962 | @ New York Knicks | L 120-111 | |
| Feb 11, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 132-116 | |
| Feb 15, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | L 126-121 | |
| Feb 16, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 132-106 | |
| Feb 17, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 136-127 | |
| Feb 18, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 141-126 | |
| Feb 21, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 150-109 | |
| Feb 22, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 134-106 | |
| Feb 23, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-107 | |
| Feb 24, 1962 | @ New York Knicks | W 120-117 | |
| Feb 25, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 110-106 | |
| Feb 27, 1962 | @ New York Knicks | W 130-120 | |
| Mar 01, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 137-108 | |
| Mar 03, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 128-114 | |
| Mar 04, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 124-115 | |
| Mar 07, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 129-126 | |
| Mar 10, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 128-111 | |
| Mar 11, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 148-130 | |
| Mar 13, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 142-110 | |
| Mar 14, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 105-102 |