1949–50 Syracuse Nationals season
| 1949–50 Syracuse Nationals season | |
|---|---|
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Al Cervi |
| Arena | State Fair Coliseum |
| Results | |
| Record | 51–13 (.797) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | NBA Finals (eliminated 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WHEN 5 |
| Radio | WSYR |
The 1949–50 Syracuse Nationals season was the first season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Nationals played its 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.