The comprehensive guide to Syracuse basketball alumni in the NBA playoffs

By now, it’s been well documented that Dion Waiters is the first Syracuse basketball alumnus to appear on an NBA Finals roster in 40 years. The last time it happened, Marty Byrnes made a cameo appearance for the Los Angeles Lakers when they won the 1980 NBA Championship.

I did some research, and since Byrnes’ appearance, 19 Syracuse alumni have played in NBA playoff games. Some of those moments have been fleeting (LeRon Ellis saw the court for all of two minutes in the 1992 NBA playoffs), while some other players had more sustained success (both Danny Schayes and Carmelo Anthony have made the postseason in 12 different seasons).

Before I get to the raw data, here are some other observations:

Of the 19 players, Carmelo Anthony has appeared in the most playoff games (77). Still, that number is slightly skewed since the NBA ditched the best-of-five format in the first round for a best-of-seven by the time Anthony joined the NBA (2003). Immediately behind him is Schayes, who appeared in 69.
If you’re looking for the most successful Syracuse alumnus in the NBA playoffs, that title would have to go to Schayes. While he and Anthony both lead the Orangemen in playoff appearances since 1980, Schayes advanced beyond the first round five times, and one Conference Finals appearance in 1985. Anthony can only say he’s been beyond the first round twice.
If you’re looking for most bang for your buck, that goes to Waiters. On top of being on the Los Angeles Lakers roster this season (and headed for a NBA championship ring whether the Lakers win or lose), his only other appearance was in the 2016 playoffs, where his Oklahoma City Thunder played in the Western Conference Finals. John Wallace would be the runner up here. He played with the Knicks in 1997 and 2000 (when the Knicks were not a laughing stock), and appeared in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and Finals.
Of the 19 SU players who have appeared in the playoffs, only 10 of them have played beyond the first round.
Rony Seikaly has the worst resume of the group, appearing in the 1992, 94, 97 and 98 playoffs, but losing in the first round each time.
Both Syracuse players who were in the playoffs this year, Waiters and Jerami Grant, are unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. Grant is emerging as Syracuse’s best pro, and should have his pick of destinations with multiple reports saying he will be declining a $9.3 million player option after a season where he averaged 12.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg in 71 games. If he stays with the Nuggets, he could be one of the most successful Syracuse post-season players in history. Meanwhile, Waiters, who has had multiple disciplinary issues this year, and is not currently in the Lakers’ rotation, has a more uncertain future.

Here is the raw data of Syracuse alumni who have appeared in the NBA playoffs since 1980:

Rafael Addison

1991-92 (Nets): Lost in First Round
1992-93 (Nets): Lost in First Round

Carmelo Anthony

2003-04 (Denver Nuggets): Lost in First Round
2004-05 (Denver Nuggets): Lost in First Round
2005-06 (Denver Nuggets): Lost in First Round
2006-07 (Denver Nuggets): Lost in First Round
2007-08 (Denver Nuggets): Lost in First Round
2008-09 (Denver Nuggets): Western Conference Finals
2009-10 (Denver Nuggets): Lost in First Round
2010-11 (New York Knicks): Lost in First Round
2011-12 (New York Knicks): Lost in First Round
2012-13 (New York Knicks): Eastern Conference Semifinals
2017-18 (Oklahoma City Thunder): Lost in First Round
2019-20 (Portland Trail Blazers): Lost in First Round

Michael Carter-Williams

2014-15 (Milwaukee Bucks): Lost in First Round
2016-17 (Chicago Bulls): Lost in First Round
2018-19 (Orlando Magic): Lost in First Round

Derrick Coleman

1991-92 (New Jersey Nets): Lost in First Round
1992-93 (New Jersey Nets): Lost in First Round
1993-94 (New Jersey Nets): Lost in First Round
1999-00 (Charlotte Hornets): Lost in First Round
2001-02 (Philadelphia 76ers): Lost in First Round
2002-03 (Philadelphia 76ers): Eastern Conference Semifinals

Sherman Douglas

1991-92 (Boston Celtics): Eastern Conference Semifinals
1992-93 (Boston Celtics): Lost in First Round
1994-95 (Boston Celtics): Lost in First Round
1997-98 (New Jersey Nets): Lost in First Round

LeRon Ellis

1991-92 (Los Angeles Clippers): Lost in First Round

Tyler Ennis

2014-15 (Milwaukee Bucks): Lost in First Round

Jerami Grant

2016-17 (Oklahoma City Thunder): Lost in First Round
2017-18 (Oklahoma City Thunder): Lost in First Round
2018-19 (Oklahoma City Thunder): Lost in First Round
2019-20 (Denver Nuggets): Western Conference Finals

Jason Hart

2003-04 (San Antonio Spurs): Lost in Western Conference Semifinals
2005-06 (Sacramento Kings): Lost in First Round
2007-08 (Utah Jazz): Lost in Western Conference Semifinals
2008-09 (Denver Nuggets): Western Conference Finals

Wes Johnson

2015-16 (Los Angeles Clippers): Lost in First Round
2016-17 (Los Angeles Clippers): Lost in First Round

Louis Orr

1980-81 (Indiana Pacers): Lost in First Round
1982-83 (New York Knicks): Eastern Conference Semifinals
1983-84 (New York Knicks): Eastern Conference Semifinals
1987-88 (New York Knicks): Lost in First Round

Billy Owens

1991-92 (Golden State Warriors): Lost in First Round
1993-94 (Golden State Warriors): Lost in First Round
1995-96 (Sacramento Kings): Lost in First Round

Leo Rautins

1983-84 (Philadelphia 76ers): Lost in First Round

Danny Schayes

1982-83 (Denver Nuggets): Western Conference Semifinals
1983-84 (Denver Nuggets): Lost in First Round
1984-85 (Denver Nuggets): Western Conference Finals
1985-86 (Denver Nuggets): Western Conference Semifinals
1986-87 (Denver Nuggets): Lost in First Round
1987-88 (Denver Nuggets): Western Conference Semifinals
1988-89 (Denver Nuggets): Lost in First Round
1990-91 (Milwaukee Bucks): Lost in First Round
1994-95 (Phoenix Suns): Western Conference Semifinals
1995-96 (Miami Heat): Lost in First Round
1996-97 (Orlando Magic): Lost in First Round
1998-99 (Orlando Magic): Lost in First Round

Rony Seikaly

1991-92 (Miami Heat): Lost in First Round
1993-94 (Miami Heat): Lost in First Round
1996-97 (Orlando Magic): Lost in First Round
1997-98 (New Jersey Nets): Lost in First Round

Etan Thomas

2004-05 (Washington Wizards): Eastern Conference Semifinals
2005-06 (Washington Wizards): Lost in First Round
2006-07 (Washington Wizards): Lost in First Round
2009-10 (Oklahoma City Thunder): Lost in First Round
2010-11 (Atlanta Hawks): Eastern Conference Semifinals

Dion Waiters

2015-16 (Oklahoma City Thunder): Western Conference Finals
2019-20 (Los Angles Lakers): ***NBA Finals – still ongoing

John Wallace

1996-97 (New York Knicks): Eastern Conference Semifinals
1999-00 (New York Knicks): Eastern Conference Finals

Hakim Warrick

2005-06 (Memphis Grizzlies): Lost in First Round
2009-10 (Chicago Bulls): Lost in First Round

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