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The Philadelphia 76ers were known as the Syracuse Nationals during the NBA's formative years. Lance Fernandez ranks the best players in their franchise's rich and successful history.
When it comes to basketball, few franchises have a legacy as illustrious and storied as the Philadelphia 76ers. Over the years, this iconic team has been home to some of the sport's most exceptional talents, leaving an indelible mark on the NBA and captivating fans with their awe-inspiring skills and unmatched passion for the game.
In this article, we dive into the annals of Philadelphia basketball to pay homage to the 10 greatest 76ers players of all time. These legends have left an indelible mark on the game, elevating the Sixers to prominence and etching their names into the hearts of fans across multiple generations.
Philadelphia has three NBA championships and 12 division titles. Those who are included on this list had a hand in those triumphs. Therefore, here are the best players in the Philadelphia 76ers’ history.
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Honorable Mention – Maurice Cheeks
Younger basketball fans will remember him as the 76ers’ head coach from 2005 to 2008. However, he also wore the team’s uniform during his playing days. The team drafted him in the second round (36th overall) of the 1978 NBA Draft and stayed there for 11 seasons. His best year came in the 1985-86 season, wherein he averaged 15.4 points, 9.2 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.
Throughout those years, Maurice Edward Cheeks became a four-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member. He played for four more NBA teams after the Sixers traded him during the 1989 off-season. However, the franchise recognized his contributions by retiring his number 10 jersey. He also became a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 2018.
10. Bobby Jones
Robert Clyde Jones joined the 76ers in 1978 via a trade with the Denver Nuggets. He became known as “The Secretary of Defense” for his ability to lock down opponents. He became a three-time NBA All-Star and six-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member. Jones also became the first recipient of the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1983.
He played for the Sixers until his retirement after the 1985-86 season. His best season for Philadelphia was in 1981-82, wherein he normed 14.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. The 76ers retired his number 24 jersey. This former North Carolina standout became a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 2019.
9. Chet Walker
The Syracuse Nationals selected Chester Walker in the second round (12th overall) of the 1962 NBA Draft. He stayed with the team when they transferred to Philadelphia and played for the franchise until 1969. During that span, Walker became a part of the 1963 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
He also became a three-time All-Star with the 76ers. The 1966-67 season was his best in Philadelphia, with averages of 19.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. “Chet the Jet” became a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 2012.
8. Billy Cunningham
William John Cunningham was known as “Kangaroo Kid” because of his leaping ability. However, he also made a seamless jump from player to head coach. The 76ers drafted him in the first round (fifth overall) in the 1965 NBA Draft. He had two stints for the Sixers. His first stint ended after the 1971-72 season. Two years later, he returned to the team after playing in the American Basketball Association (ABA).
He ended his playing career in 1976 and became the team’s head coach the following year. Cunningham is a four-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA First Team member while with the 76ers. He is the only person on this list to win an NBA title with the franchise as a player and coach. The Sixers retired his number 32 jersey, and he became a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 1986.
7. Charles Barkley
While Charles Wade Barkley won his Most Valuable Player award with another NBA franchise, he still provided value to the 76ers from 1984 to 1992. Philadelphia drafted him in the first round (5th overall) of the 1984 NBA Draft. Two years later, he earned his first of three All-NBA Second Team selections while with the Sixers.
Barkley also had four consecutive All-NBA First Team selections from 1988 to 1991. He also represented Philadelphia in the NBA All-Star Game from 1987 to 1992. While he did not retire as a member of the 76ers, the team still recognized his efforts by retiring his number 34 jersey. His time in Philly is a massive part of his Basketball Hall of Fame induction in 2006.
6. Hal Greer
Harold Everett Greer played his entire 15-year NBA career with the Syracuse/Philadelphia franchise. The National took him in the second round (13th overall) in the 1958 NBA Draft and retired with the 76ers in 1973. Throughout that span, he became a seven-time All-NBA Second Team member and a ten-time NBA All-Star. He was also the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1968.
The 76ers retired his number 15 jersey. Meanwhile, the NBA honored him through his inclusion in the league’s 50th and 75th-anniversary teams. Greer finished his career with 21,586 points, 5,665 rebounds, and 4,540 assists. He became a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 1982. Greer passed away on April 14, 2018, at age 81.
5. Dolph Schayes
Adolph Schayes is one of the franchise’s first stars. He signed with the Syracuse Nationals in 1948 because the contract value was 50 percent higher than the New York Knicks offered. He became an NBA pioneer after the BAA and the NBL merged in 1949. Like Greer, he played his entire career with the Nationals/76ers franchise and became a six-time All-NBA First Team member.
Schayes is a six-time All-NBA Second Team member and a 12-time NBA All-Star. He led the league in rebounding in 1951, averaging 17 boards per game. The former NYU standout also led the Nationals to the 1995 NBA title. The franchise retired his number 4 jersey and became a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 1973. He passed away on December 10, 2015, at age 87.
4. Moses Malone
While Moses Eugene Malone Sr. played only four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, it was enough to put him this high on the list. He was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player awardee and three-time All-NBA First Team member during those years. Malone was also a two-time All-NBA Second Team and 1983 NBA All-Defensive First Team member with the Sixers.
The team’s fans will forever remember his “Fo’, Fo’, Fo’” prediction during the 1983 NBA playoffs. He and the Sixers missed one game to fulfill that prophecy. Malone returned to Philadelphia in the 1993-94 season, the penultimate year of his 21-season career. The “Chairman of the Boards” became a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 2001. He passed away on September 13, 2015, at age 60.
3. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman Chamberlain played for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1965 to 1968. He became a three-time NBA MVP and All-NBA First Team member in those years. The former Kansas standout was also an All-NBA Second Team member in 1965. His best statistical year with the 76ers came in the 1965-66 season, averaging 33.5 points and 24.6 rebounds per game.
However, his crowning glory came in the 1966-67 season when he won the NBA championship with Greer, Walker, and Cunningham. The 76ers retired his number 13 jersey. Beyond his accolades, his dominance led to the creation of offensive goaltending rules and the widening of the lane. Chamberlain became a Basketball Hall of Famer in 1979. He passed away on October 12, 1999, at age 63.
2. Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson may not be the tallest player on the court. However, his dominance and impact make him one of the most iconic Philadelphia 76ers players ever. His “corn rows” hair and hip-hop fashion made him a vanguard during his generation. However, he backed up his swagger with his on-court flair. The 76ers drafted him first overall in the 1996 NBA Draft and won Rookie of the Year honors.
His first stint with Philadelphia lasted until 2006. During those years, the former Georgetown standout was a three-time All-NBA First Team member. He was also the 2001 Most Valuable Player and led the league in scoring four times. Iverson also led the NBA in steals from 2001 to 2003. The 76ers retired his number 3 jersey in 2014. “The Answer” became a Basketball Hall of Famer two years later.
1. Julius Erving
Everyone paid attention when “Dr. J” was in session. Julius Winfield Erving II dazzled fans with his acrobatic shots and electrifying dunks. His highlight reel remains impressive today, leading generations of basketball players to cite him as their role model. He was also a great ambassador for the NBA and basketball in general.
Whether he had his afro or not, he made the game his avenue for artistic expression. As a result, he won the 1983 NBA championship with Malone, Jones, Cheeks, and Coach Cunningham. He was also the 1981 NBA MVP and a five-time All-NBA First Team member. The 76ers retired his number 6 jersey. Erving became a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 1993, his first year of eligibility.
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