3. 1954-55 season (43-29, won NBA Finals)
When I set out to write this article, one foundational principle was clear: the top three spots belong to the Sixers’ three championship-winning seasons. While a .597 win percentage isn’t beyond compare, 1954-55 was the franchise’s first NBA title. That means something.
The Syracuse Nationals were immediately competitive upon joining the NBA in 1949. That first season yielded a 51-13 record, good for first place in the league and a runner-up finish in the playoffs. After a few down years, 1954 marked a swift return to prominence.
In this case, however, the word ‘prominence’ gives a slightly warped perception of reality. The NBA dwindled to eight teams in 1954, losing several franchises during a period of extreme financial distress. It was a low point in league history. It also opened up a new window of opportunity for the Nationals.
Syracuse was bolstered by multiple star talents — Red Kerr, Dolph Schayes and Paul Seymour chief among them. The Nationals’ 43-29 record wasn’t great, but it did earn first place in a decimated division. After getting a first-round bye, the Nationals defeated Boston in four games to earn the franchise’s second NBA Finals bid.
The Finals — which pitted Syracuse against the Fort Wayne Pistons — went back and forth. Syracuse took the first two at home, followed by three consecutive wins for the home-team Pistons. Games 6 and 7 were, by definition, must-wins for Syracuse.
The Nationals pulled it off, cementing a majestic season for a fledging NBA franchise. Syracuse also gets credit for pushing the league in a more positive direction. It was team owner Daniel Biasone who suggested a 24-second shot clock be added in 1954. That boosted scoring league-wide, which helped push the game to more popular heights.