Last Updated on March 4, 2025 by Mat Diekhake

Dolph SchayesHere are the detailed biographical and career details for Dolph Schayes:

  • Full Name: Adolph Schayes
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: May 19, 1928
  • Date of Death: December 10, 2015
  • Hometown: The Bronx, New York, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)
  • Weight: 195 pounds (88 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 9 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Position: Power Forward
  • Jersey Numbers: 55, 4 (Syracuse Nationals); 4, 8 (Philadelphia 76ers)
  • High School: DeWitt Clinton High School, The Bronx, New York
    • Excelled in basketball, leading the team to a borough championship.
  • College: New York University (NYU) (1944–1948)
    • Earned All-American honors in 1948.
    • Received the Haggerty Award as the top player in the New York Metropolitan area.
  • Professional Career:
    • NBA Draft: Selected by the New York Knicks in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 1948 BAA Draft.
    • Teams Played For:
      • Syracuse Nationals (1948–1963)
      • Philadelphia 76ers (1963–1964)
  • Career Highlights:
    • NBA Champion (1955)
    • 12-time NBA All-Star (1951–1962)
    • 6-time All-NBA First Team (1952–1955, 1957, 1958)
    • 6-time All-NBA Second Team (1950, 1951, 1956, 1959–1961)
    • NBA rebounding leader (1951)
    • Named to the NBA’s 25th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams
    • Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1973)
  • Coaching Career:
    • Player-coach for the Philadelphia 76ers (1963–1966)
    • NBA Coach of the Year (1966)
    • Head coach for the Buffalo Braves (1970–1972)
  • Children:
    • Danny Schayes (son) – Played 18 seasons in the NBA.
  • Siblings: A brother, Danny Schayes; also a basketball player

Dolph Schayes, a Hall of Fame basketball player known for his versatility, skill, and longevity during the 1950s and 1960s, had a unique playing style that combined inside scoring, rebounding, and outside shooting.

Notes:

  • Similar players to Dolph Schayes include Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Love, Bob Pettit, Larry Bird, Pau Gasol, Chris Bosh, Jack Sikma, Dan Issel, Nikola Jokić, and Rasheed Wallace.

Fun Facts

  • Dolph Schayes was one of the first stars to play in the NBA. He led the Syracuse Nationals to an NBA title in 1955.