Al Cervi
Encyclopedia
Alfred Nicholas Cervi was an American professional basketball player and coach
in the National Basketball League (NBL)
and National Basketball Association (NBA)
. One of the strongest backcourt players of the 1940s and 1950s, he was always assigned to defend against the opposing team's best scoring threat. He earned the nickname
Digger because of his hard-nosed style of defense.
, Cervi attended East High School in his hometown, where he captained the baseball and basketball teams and achieved All-City honors in both sports. He dropped out of school after his junior year when he was recruited by the Buffalo Bisons of the newly formed NBL. He played in all of the Bisons' nine games in 1937–38, the franchise's only season of existence.
He never attended college. Instead, he served five years in the United States Army Air Forces
from 1940 through 1945.
, another NBL franchise entering its first year of operations. He immediately experienced success as the team captured the 1945–46 league title after sweeping the best-of-five championship series from the Sheboygan Red Skins. The Royals returned to the finals the following two seasons, but lost to the Chicago American Gears
and Minneapolis Lakers
in four games each. Cervi made the All-NBL First Team in 1947 and 1948. In the first of those two campaigns, he was named the circuit's Most Valuable Player
as the leading scorer with 632 points.
His time with the Royals lasted only three seasons. After discovering that other teammates were being paid more than his $7,500 annual salary, he requested a $3,500 raise, which was denied by team owner Les Harrison
. As a result, instead of moving with the Royals to the Basketball Association of America (BAA)
after the 1948 campaign, Cervi stayed in the NBL and joined the Syracuse Nationals
, who met his salary demands and appointed him player-coach
.
The Syracuse teams he piloted took on his relentlessly competitive nature. He played a major role in the development of Dolph Schayes
.
The Nationals qualified for the playoffs in eight of the nine seasons that he coached the ballclub, including three trips to the NBA Finals
. They were twice defeated by the Lakers, first in six games in 1950
and then in seven in 1954
. The pinnacle of Cervi's coaching career was leading his squad to the NBA Championship over the Fort Wayne Pistons
in seven games in 1955
.
When the Nationals began the 1956–57 campaign at 4–8, he was replaced by team captain Paul Seymour
.
as coach of the Philadelphia Warriors
in 1958, but left after one season to accept a more lucrative job in the trucking
business as an area manager
for Eastern Freightways, Inc. in Rochester, New York
. In 1960 he declined to accept a two-year offer to coach the Lakers in its first campaign in Los Angeles because his wife was reluctant to leave the Rochester area. He lived in the suburb of Brighton
for the last 58 years of his life.
Cervi was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985. He received similar honors from the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
He died on November 9, 2009 in Rochester, New York at the age of 92.
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
in the National Basketball League (NBL)
National Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
and National Basketball Association (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...
. One of the strongest backcourt players of the 1940s and 1950s, he was always assigned to defend against the opposing team's best scoring threat. He earned the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
Digger because of his hard-nosed style of defense.
Early life
Born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Cervi attended East High School in his hometown, where he captained the baseball and basketball teams and achieved All-City honors in both sports. He dropped out of school after his junior year when he was recruited by the Buffalo Bisons of the newly formed NBL. He played in all of the Bisons' nine games in 1937–38, the franchise's only season of existence.
He never attended college. Instead, he served five years in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
from 1940 through 1945.
Rochester Royals (1945–1948)
After the conclusion of World War II, he joined the Rochester RoyalsSacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, another NBL franchise entering its first year of operations. He immediately experienced success as the team captured the 1945–46 league title after sweeping the best-of-five championship series from the Sheboygan Red Skins. The Royals returned to the finals the following two seasons, but lost to the Chicago American Gears
Chicago American Gears
The Chicago American Gears were a National Basketball League team who played from 1944 to 1947.Led by George Mikan and Bobby McDermott, they defeated the Rochester Royals to win the 1947 NBL Championship....
and Minneapolis Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in four games each. Cervi made the All-NBL First Team in 1947 and 1948. In the first of those two campaigns, he was named the circuit's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
as the leading scorer with 632 points.
His time with the Royals lasted only three seasons. After discovering that other teammates were being paid more than his $7,500 annual salary, he requested a $3,500 raise, which was denied by team owner Les Harrison
Lester Harrison
Lester "Les" Harrison was an American professional basketball player, coach, and team owner and is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame....
. As a result, instead of moving with the Royals to the Basketball Association of America (BAA)
Basketball Association of America
The Basketball Association of America was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. The league merged with the National Basketball League in 1949, forming the National Basketball Association ...
after the 1948 campaign, Cervi stayed in the NBL and joined the Syracuse Nationals
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, who met his salary demands and appointed him 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....
.
Syracuse Nationals (1948–1957)
Besides being named to the All-NBL First Team for a third straight year in 1949, he also earned Coach of the Year honors. After the BAA-NBL merger to form the NBA prior to the 1949–50 campaign, he continued to serve in the dual capacity role until his retirement as an active player in 1953.The Syracuse teams he piloted took on his relentlessly competitive nature. He played a major role in the development of Dolph Schayes
Dolph Schayes
Adolph "Dolph" Schayes is a retired American professional basketball player and coach in the NBA. A top scorer and rebounder, he was a member of the 1955 NBA champion Syracuse Nationals and a 12-time All-Star....
.
The Nationals qualified for the playoffs in eight of the nine seasons that he coached the ballclub, including three trips to the NBA Finals
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
. They were twice defeated by the Lakers, first in six games in 1950
1950 NBA Finals
The 1950 NBA Finals was the championship round of the National Basketball Association's first season, the 1949–50 season.6'8" Dolph Schayes of Syracuse led his team out to the finals after a 16.8 ppg average during the regular season. George Mikan, however, averaged 27.4 ppg and led the league...
and then in seven in 1954
1954 NBA Finals
-Series Summary:Lakers win series 4-3-Team rosters:-External links:*...
. The pinnacle of Cervi's coaching career was leading his squad to the NBA Championship over the Fort Wayne Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
in seven games in 1955
1955 NBA Finals
The 1955 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1954-55 NBA season. The best-of-seven series was won by the Syracuse Nationals, who defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in the final game when Syracuse's George King made a free throw with 12 seconds left to put the Nationals up by one point...
.
When the Nationals began the 1956–57 campaign at 4–8, he was replaced by team captain Paul Seymour
Paul Seymour (basketball)
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...
.
Later years
Cervi succeeded George SeneskyGeorge Senesky
George Lawrence Senesky was an American professional basketball player and coach...
as coach of the Philadelphia Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in 1958, but left after one season to accept a more lucrative job in the trucking
Trucking industry in the United States
The trucking industry involves the transport and distribution of commercial and industrial goods using commercial motor vehicles . In this case, CMVs are most often trucks; usually semi trucks, box trucks, or dump trucks...
business as an area manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
for Eastern Freightways, Inc. in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. In 1960 he declined to accept a two-year offer to coach the Lakers in its first campaign in Los Angeles because his wife was reluctant to leave the Rochester area. He lived in the suburb of Brighton
Brighton, Monroe County, New York
Brighton is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 36,609 at the 2010 census.-History:The Town of Brighton, located on the southeast border of the city of Rochester, was originally settled approximately 1790, and formally established in 1814—earning it recognition as one...
for the last 58 years of his life.
Cervi was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985. He received similar honors from the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
He died on November 9, 2009 in Rochester, New York at the age of 92.
Coaching record
| Season | Team | Season Record | Playoff Record | Playoff Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948–49 | Syracuse Nationals (NBL) | 40–23 | 3–3 | Eastern Division Finals |
| 1949–50 | Syracuse Nationals | 51–13 | 6–5 | NBA Finals |
| 1950–51 | Syracuse Nationals | 32–34 | 4–3 | Eastern Division Finals |
| 1951–52 | Syracuse Nationals | 40–26 | 3–4 | Eastern Division Finals |
| 1952–53 | Syracuse Nationals | 47–24 | 0–2 | Eastern Division Semifinals |
| 1953–54 | Syracuse Nationals | 42–30 | 9–4 | NBA Finals |
| 1954–55 | Syracuse Nationals | 43–29 | 7–4 | NBA Champions |
| 1955–56 | Syracuse Nationals | 35–37 | 5–4 | Eastern Division Finals |
| 1956–57 | Syracuse Nationals | 4–8 | ||
| 1958–59 | Philadelphia Warriors | 32–40 | ||
| Totals | 10 seasons | 366–264 | 37–29 |