Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes Celebrates 80th Birthday

May 19, 2008 - He is the most unassuming superstar you’ll ever meet but his play loomed large. For 15 seasons, Dolph Schayes starred for the Syracuse Nationals and was one of the most consistent scorers and rebounders in NBA history. The 6-9 forward-center averaged more than 17 points and 12 rebounds for nine straight seasons.
Schayes joined the NBA in its third year of existence and along with George Mikan, Bob Cousy, Bob Davies, Bob Pettit and Bill Sharman, helped spur the league’s growth in the ’50s.

Schayes led the Nats to three Finals appearances and one NBA title, a grueling seven-game classic versus George Yardley and the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1955. The series produced one of the greatest and most underrated moments in Finals history – the George King steal in Game 7.

Syracuse’s favorite son and Hall of Famer turned 80 today and reflected on the Nats rabid following, King’s steal, the 24-second shot clock innovation, the greatest player of all time and his favorite current NBA player.

NBA.com: The 1955 Finals between the Syracuse Nats and Fort Wayne Pistons seems to be one of more underrated series in Finals history, especially the George King play in Game 7.

Schayes: Obviously, that series was overshadowed because it was between two of the smallest franchises in the NBA and it wasn’t covered universally. There is very little footage of that series and probably the newspapers didn’t go crazy for it. But it was big in Syracuse.

An interesting thing happened in that Fort Wayne didn’t play any games in Fort Wayne during the Finals. The building was being used by some other venue and they played in Indianapolis. In fact, that forced the Fort Wayne Pistons into Detroit because Fred Zollner, the Pistons owner, was so angry he told the mayor of Fort Wayne, “We’re getting out of here. We’re a major franchise in this city, part of the NBA, and we can’t even play in our building.”

Probably a contract was signed years before and they knew at that time they wouldn’t have the building. But still. They had to go to Indianapolis and they played well in Indianapolis. But they didn’t draw because the following was more in Fort Wayne. And they used to play at North High School in Fort Wayne. Then they built the Allen County Memorial Coliseum for the Fort Wayne Pistons. It was a wonderful building. They had an NBA All-Star Game there. But Fred Zollner, who would be the equivalent of a billionaire today, provided pistons for the automobile industry. That was the excuse for moving to Detroit.

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source : NBA.com