1949–50 Syracuse Nationals season
The 1949–50 Syracuse Nationals season was the 1st season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association. The Nationals played their previous three seasons in the National Basketball League, which merged with the Basketball Association of America to form the NBA. Al Cervi, nicknamed "Digger" for his superior defensive skills, guided the team with his competitive nature while serving as a player-coach. As the Syracuse Post-Standard describes, "The Nationals shot poorly but succeeded because they played Cervi-style basketball: nasty, with an emphasis on defense." The Nationals went to the NBA Finals after beating the Philadelphia Warriors and New York Knicks, but lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in six games.Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
Roster
Regular season
Standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
Playoffs
- Syracuse Nationals vs. Philadelphia Warriors: Nationals win series 2–0
- Game 1 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 93, Philadelphia 76
- Game 2 @ Philadelphia: Syracuse 59, Philadelphia 53
- Eastern Division: Syracuse Nationals vs. New York Knicks: Nationals win series 2–1
- Game 1 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 91, New York 83
- Game 2 @ New York: New York 80, Syracuse 76
- Game 3 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 91, New York 80
NBA Semifinals
The Nationals had an NBA Semifinal bye.NBA Finals
- Syracuse Nationals vs. Minneapolis Lakers: Lakers win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ Syracuse: Minneapolis 68, Syracuse 66
- Game 2 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 91, Minneapolis 85
- Game 3 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 91, Syracuse 77
- Game 4 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 77, Syracuse 69
- Game 5 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 83, Minneapolis 76
- Game 6 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 110, Syracuse 95
Awards and records
- Al Cervi, All-NBA Second Team
- Dolph Schayes, All-NBA Second Team
