Al Cervi
1955 NBA Champion | Syracuse Nationals Head Coach | Hall of Fame Player
Al Cervi was born on February 12, 1917, in Buffalo, New York. Known as "Digger," he became one of the leading guards of the early professional era before moving into coaching.
Cervi became player-coach of the Syracuse Nationals and continued as head coach after his playing career ended. He led Syracuse to the 1955 NBA championship.
After leaving the Nationals, Cervi later coached the Philadelphia Warriors for one season. He finished his NBA head-coaching career with a 326-241 record.
Cervi was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1985. Coach Cervi passed away on November 9, 2009, at the age of 92.
- Overall Coaching Record: 326-241
Coaching Career
Cervi became head coach of the Syracuse Nationals for the 1949-1950 NBA season after previously serving as the team's player-coach in the National Basketball League.
Syracuse went 51-13 in 1949-1950 and reached the NBA Finals before losing to the Minneapolis Lakers.
The Nationals remained a regular playoff team under Cervi and won the 1955 NBA championship by defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons in 7 games.
Cervi coached Syracuse through the beginning of the 1956-1957 season and finished his NBA tenure with the franchise at 294-201.
Notable Players Coached
- Dolph Schayes
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 1955 NBA champion
- 12× NBA All-Star
- Paul Seymour
- 1955 NBA champion
- 3× NBA All-Star
- Johnny Kerr
- 1955 NBA champion
- 3× NBA All-Star
- Earl Lloyd
- 1955 NBA champion
- First Black player to appear in an NBA game
Cervi returned to NBA coaching as head coach of the Philadelphia Warriors for the 1958-1959 season.
Philadelphia finished 32-40 and missed the playoffs.
Cervi resigned after the season, ending his NBA head-coaching career with a 326-241 record.
Notable Players Coached
- Paul Arizin
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 1956 NBA champion
- 10× NBA All-Star
- Tom Gola
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 1956 NBA champion
- 5× NBA All-Star