Paul Seymour (basketball)

Paul Seymour
Paul Seymour
Born	30 January 1928 (age 98); United States
Died	5 May 1998 (aged 70)
Occupation(s)	Professional basketball player, coach
Years active	1947–1963 (player), 1950s–1960s (coach)
Known for	NBA player for Baltimore Bullets and Syracuse Nationals; NBA All-Star (1953–1955); NBA coach for Syracuse Nationals, St. Louis Hawks, Baltimore Bullets, Detroit Pistons

Paul Norman Seymour (January 30, 1928 – May 5, 1998) was an American professional basketball athlete and coach. He played collegiate basketball with the Toledo Rockets before embarking on a 12-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and its forerunner, the Basketball Association of America (BAA). During his NBA tenure, Seymour represented the Baltimore Bullets and the Syracuse Nationals. While playing for the Nationals, he was selected as an NBA All-Star for three consecutive years from 1953 to 1955. Seymour also held coaching positions in the NBA, leading teams such as the Nationals, St. Louis Hawks, Baltimore Bullets, and Detroit Pistons.

Playing career

Standing 6'1" and playing as a guard, Seymour began his professional journey with the Baltimore Bullets in the BAA before spending the rest of his career with the Syracuse Nationals. He received All-NBA Second Team distinctions in both 1953 and 1954 and played a key role in the Nationals' championship victory during the 1954–55 season. For much of his time with Syracuse, Seymour functioned as a player-coach.

One remarkable achievement is that Seymour holds the NBA record for the most minutes played in a playoff game—67 minutes—tied with teammate Red Rocha.

Coaching career

Following his playing days, Seymour took on coaching responsibilities for four NBA franchises across eight seasons. In 1961, he was appointed head coach of the Western Division squad for the All-Star Game.

Seymour appeared in ESPN's documentary Black Magic, which focused on African-American contributions to basketball. During the 1961–62 season, teammates Bob Pettit and Cliff Hagan exerted pressure on management to reduce African-American player Cleo Hill’s offensive involvement. Seymour opposed this directive and was consequently dismissed after only 14 games on November 17, 1961; Pettit temporarily assumed coaching duties. Seymour expressed no resentment toward team owner Ben Kerner, clarifying, "He didn't fire me. The players did."

While coaching Baltimore in the 1965–66 season, Seymour ended Johnny Kerr’s streak of 844 consecutive games by benching him for one contest, later explaining that this decision aimed to ease Kerr’s burden.

Later years

Seymour is profiled in Mark Allen Baker's 2010 publication Basketball History in Syracuse, Hoops Roots, which documents professional basketball's evolution in Syracuse, including coverage of the Syracuse Nationals (1946–1963).

In recognition of his impact, Seymour was inducted into the inaugural class of the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 alongside owner Dan Biasone and NBA icon Dolph Schayes.

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1947–48	Baltimore	22	–	.267	.595	–	.3	3.5
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	62	–	.334	.716	–	3.0	7.7
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	51	–	.325	.736	3.8	3.7	7.2
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	66	33.5	.335	.759	3.4	3.3	9.1
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	67	40.1	.383	.817	3.7	4.4	14.2
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	71	38.4	.377	.813	4.1	5.1	13.1
Template:Nbay†	Syracuse	72	41.0	.362	.811	4.3	6.7	14.6
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	57	32.0	.339	.807	2.7	4.8	11.3
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	65	19.0	.324	.821	2.0	3.0	6.0
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	64	11.9	.340	.841	1.7	1.5	4.2
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	21	12.7	.327	.897	1.9	1.7	4.3
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	4	1.8	.000	.000	0.3	0.0	0.0
Career		622	30.1	.350	.792	3.1	3.8	9.4
All-Star		3	16.2	.412	.875	2.3	2.0	7.0

Playoff Performance

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	11	–	.290	.857	–	3.1	7.1
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	7	–	.208	.667	3.7	3.6	4.9
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	7	38.6	.417	.814	3.7	3.6	12.1
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	2	56.0	.375	.947	5.0	4.0	18.0
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	13	43.0	.413	.809	2.6	4.6	14.9
Template:Nbay†	Syracuse	11	37.3	.309	.900	3.9	6.8	12.5
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	7	21.9	.291	.750	1.6	2.6	6.7
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	5	19.6	.216	.833	2.0	1.6	4.2
Template:Nbay	Syracuse	3	16.7	.348	.667	1.3	1.3	6.0
Career Totals		66	34.4	.329	.824	3.0	3.9	9.8