A fierce competitor on the court, Paul Seymour was an integral part of the Syracuse Nationals basketball franchise as a player, a captain and a coach.

 

Seymour grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and played for the University of Toledo before embarking a professional career. He was the youngest player to start a pro basketball game at the age of 17. In 1947 after briefly playing for the Baltimore Bullets, Seymour joined the Nats and found a home in Syracuse.

 

Seymour, a 6-foot-1 playmaking guard known for his hard-nosed play and intensity, was a three-time NBA All-Star from 1953-1955. He also served as Syracuse’s team captain during its 1955 NBA championship season. He played for the Nats from 1947 to 1960 and in the 1956-57 season, Seymour became a player-coach for the Syracuse club.

 

Seymour also had coaching stints in St. Louis, Baltimore and Detroit. He finished with a NBA career coaching record of 271-241. Besides basketball, Seymour excelled at softball and was among the top players in Central New York during his playing days.

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

 

1947-1960: Played for the Syracuse Nationals.

 

1953-1955: Selected as a NBA All-Star for three years.

 

1955: Team captain for Syracuse’s NBA championship squad; Second leading scorer on the team.

 

1956-1960: Became player-coach of the Nationals.

 

1962-1964: Coached at Onondaga Community College