CAREER AVERAGES

18.5

Points

3.1

Assists

38.0%

12.1

Rebounds

34.4

Mins

84.9

THE RAINBOW KID

Relying more on skill than brawn, Dolph Schayes helped transform the NBA in its early days. He earned twelve All-NBA selections, was named an NBA All-Star twelve times, and led the team to the playoffs fifteen times in his 16-year career. Schayes holds the franchise record for most seasons (16) and ranks third in points (19,249).

In his time with the franchise, Schayes was among the league's premier scorers and rebounders. Originally drafted by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in the 1948 National Basketball League (NBL) Draft, his rights were traded to the Syracuse Nationals where he would win the NBL’s Rookie of the Year. The following season, the Nats would move to the National Basketball Association, and in 1963, they would move to Philadelphia and become known as the 76ers.

Schayes, who stood at 6’8” and was considered tall for his time, was largely known across the league for his high-arching perimeter jump shot. His high accuracy and ability to drive to the basket with impressive ball-handling made him difficult to defend. “The Rainbow Kid” remains the franchise record-holder for consecutive games played (706); he didn't miss a contest from February 17, 1952 to December 26, 1961.

AWARDS + Recognition

1 time NBA Champion

Led by Head Coach Al Cervi, Dolph Schayes and the Syracuse Nationals finished the 1954-55 regular season with the Eastern Division’s best record en route to the franchise’s first Championship. Schayes averaged 19 points and 13 rebounds in the postseason and the Nats beat the Fort Wayne Pistons in seven games.

12 time NBA All-Star

All 12 of Schayes’ NBA All-Star appearances came in consecutive seasons from 1951-62; he averaged 11.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game and was an incredibly efficient 44% from the field in the exhibitions.

12 time All-NBA

Schayes was named All-NBA 12 times in his career, with six nominations to the All-NBA First Team (1952-55, 1957, 1958) and six to the All-NBA Second Team (1950, 1951, 1956, 1959-61). Though he was never named Most Valuable Player, he did finish second in voting behind Bill Russell in 1957-58.

1 time NBL Rookie of the Year

In his first professional season, Schayes impressed, averaging 12.8 points per game in 63 total games, earning him the NBL’s Rookie of the Year award. In six postseason games that year, he upped his average to 14.3 points per game.

1 time NBA Rebounding Champion

Schayes led the league in both total rebounds – 1,080 – and rebounds per game – 16.4 – in the 1950-51 season. In two fewer games, he grabbed 122 more rebounds than George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers, who finished in second place.

3 time NBA Anniversary Team

In October 1980, Schayes was named one of the 35 greatest players in NBA history to commemorate the league’s 35th anniversary. He has since also been named to the 50th (1996) and 75th (2022) Anniversary teams.

Schayes and the Franchise's First Title

The 1955 NBA World Championship Series was a best-of-seven between the Syracuse Nationals and the Fort Wayne Pistons that went the distance. After taking down the Boston Celtics in the best-of-five Eastern Finals in four games, the Nats won the first two games against the Pistons behind Schayes, who averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds. Syracuse dropped the next three games before climbing back to win Games 6 and 7 at home behind two masterful performances by Schayes. To date, this series remains the only instance of the NBA Finals in which the home team has won all seven games.

More 76ers Alumni

DOLPHSCHAYES

CAREER AVERAGES

THE RAINBOW KID

AWARDS + Recognition

Schayes and the Franchise's First Title

More 76ers Alumni

DOLPH
SCHAYES