Paul Seymour (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Paul Norman Seymour was an American basketball
player and coach. A 6'1" guard, he played collegiately at the University of Toledo
, and had a 12-year career in the NBA
and its predecessor, the Basketball Association of America
(BAA). He played his first season for the Baltimore Bullets of the BAA; the remainder of his career was with the Syracuse Nationals
. He was a three-time All-Star. For a good part of his career, Seymour was a player-coach
for the Nats.
Seymour later became a successful coach in the NBA, coaching four different teams in eight seasons.
Seymour was mentioned in the ESPN
documentary, Black Magic, which told the story of African-Americans and basketball. In a segment about Cleo Hill
, it was revealed that during the 1961–62 season, Bob Pettit
and Cliff Hagan
approached management and complained that Hill was taking too many shots. (Allegedly, this was just a cover-up for their desire to not play with an African-American teammate.) Management granted their wish, telling Seymour to severely diminish Hill's offensive role. Seymour refused and was fired 14 games into the season.
While coaching at Baltimore during the 1965-1966 season, Seymour deliberately ended Johnny Kerr
's then-record consecutive-games-played streak of 844 games by benching the team captain for one game. According to Kerr, only after the game did Seymour tell Kerr about his intention to end Kerr's streak, saying, "This will take the pressure off you."
Seymour still shares, with former teammate Red Rocha
, the NBA record
for most minutes in a playoff game with 67.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and coach. A 6'1" guard, he played collegiately at the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
, and had a 12-year career in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
and its predecessor, the Basketball Association of America
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(BAA). He played his first season for the Baltimore Bullets of the BAA; the remainder of his career was with the Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
. He was a three-time All-Star. For a good part of his career, Seymour was a player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
for the Nats.
Seymour later became a successful coach in the NBA, coaching four different teams in eight seasons.
Seymour was mentioned in the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
documentary, Black Magic, which told the story of African-Americans and basketball. In a segment about Cleo Hill
Cleo Hill
Cleo Hill , is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1st round of the 1961 NBA Draft. A 6'1" guard from the Winston-Salem State University, Hill played in the National Basketball Association for one season with the Hawks, in 1961-62,...
, it was revealed that during the 1961–62 season, Bob Pettit
Bob Pettit
Robert Lee "Bob" Pettit Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, all with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks . He was the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970...
and Cliff Hagan
Cliff Hagan
Clifford Oldham Hagan is an American former professional basketball player. A 6-4 forward who excelled with the hook shot, Hagan, nicknamed "Li'l Abner," played his entire 10-year NBA career with the St. Louis Hawks...
approached management and complained that Hill was taking too many shots. (Allegedly, this was just a cover-up for their desire to not play with an African-American teammate.) Management granted their wish, telling Seymour to severely diminish Hill's offensive role. Seymour refused and was fired 14 games into the season.
While coaching at Baltimore during the 1965-1966 season, Seymour deliberately ended Johnny Kerr
Johnny Kerr
John G. “Red” Kerr was an American basketball player, coach, and color commentator. He played in the NBA from 1954 to 1966, mainly as a member of the Syracuse Nationals...
's then-record consecutive-games-played streak of 844 games by benching the team captain for one game. According to Kerr, only after the game did Seymour tell Kerr about his intention to end Kerr's streak, saying, "This will take the pressure off you."
Seymour still shares, with former teammate Red Rocha
Red Rocha
Ephraim J. "Red" Rocha was a professional basketball player and coach.-Basketball:...
, the NBA record
NBA post-season records
This article lists all-time leading figures achieved in the NBA post-season in major statistical categories recognized by the league, including records set by teams and individuals in single games, seasons, and careers. NBA history also recognizes achievements from its original incarnation, the...
for most minutes in a playoff game with 67.