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The Philadelphia 76ers is one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NBA along with the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Sixers entered the league in 1949 and they were known back then as the Syracuse Nationals.
As the Nationals, the franchise never missed the playoffs in Syracuse until they relocated to Philadelphia in 1963. They even won the 1955 NBA Finals against the Fort Wayne Pistons in seven games. The Nationals were led by Hall of Famer, Dolph Schayes.
The Sixers continued their success in Philadelphia, making the playoffs in their first eight seasons in the city. With a superstar player in Wilt Chamberlain, the Sixers won their second NBA championship in 1967. The Sixers missed the postseason from 1972 to 1975 but their fortunes changed when Julius Erving arrived from the ABA in 1976.
With Erving as their franchise player, the Sixers made the playoffs every season and they capped it off by winning the 1983 NBA championship. The team have not won their fourth NBA championship since then but they were able to produce players like Allen Iverson, Andre Iguodala, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid.
A total of 16 Hall of Famers have played for the Sixers so it is difficult to narrow it down to their ten best players. Nevertheless, here are the all-time starting five for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Guard – Hal Greer
A speedy point guard back in his day, Hal Greer played his entire 15-year career with the Nationals-Sixers franchise from 1958 to 1973. Greer was the perfect complimentary star alongside the towering Wilt Chamberlain. Together, the duo helped the Sixers win their first NBA championship in 1967.
Greer was a ten-time All-Star with the Sixers and he was even named All-Star Game MVP in 1968. He is still the all-time leading scorer for the Sixers with 21,586 points. He also ranks sixth in rebounds and second in assists. Besides his No. 15 jersey hanging from the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center, he has a statue at the team’s training center.
Honorable Mention: Guard – Maurice Cheeks
Another Hall of Famer point guard, Maurice Cheeks played for the Sixers in his first ten seasons. He was a four-time All-Star and a four-time All-NBA Defensive Team member during that time. Cheeks also helped the Sixers win an NBA title in 1983. He served as the Sixers’ head coach from 2005 to 2008.
Guard – Allen Iverson
One of the greatest players of his generation, Allen Iverson was drafted first overall by the Sixers in 1996. He helped bring back the team to the spotlight, as well as to the NBA Finals in 2001. Iverson became an icon in Philadelphia, being named the NBA MVP and a seven-time All-Star.
“The Answer” helped the Sixers make the playoffs six times while scoring a lot of points, winning the scoring title four times. He ranks second in the all-time franchise leaderboard in points, third in assists, second in steals, and first in three-pointers made. Iverson also had his iconic No.3 jersey retired by the Sixers in 2014.
Honorable Mention: Forward – Bobby Jones
Although not a Hall of Famer, Bobby Jones is one of the greatest Sixers of all time. He was instrumental in winning the 1983 NBA championship as the team’s defensive maestro. Jones played in Philadelphia for eight seasons with his No. 24 jersey being retired by the team. He was also a four-time All-Star and a seven-time All-NBA Defensive Team member with the Sixers.
Center – Wilt Chamberlain
A difficult choice for center between Wilt Chamberlain and Moses Malone but we’ll go with Wilt. The first true superstar for the franchise, as well as the NBA, Chamberlain played for the Sixers in just three seasons. However, he spent his first seven seasons in Philadelphia with the Warriors.
As part of the Sixers, Chamberlain led the team to their first ever NBA championship in 1967 wherein he was also named as league MVP. Despite just three seasons in Philly, Wilt scored 7,651 points and he is second in the all-time rebounds list.
Honorable Mention: Center – Moses Malone
Moses Malone was already a two-time MVP with the Houston Rockets when he arrived in Philadelphia in 1983. Malone made an immediate impact with the Sixers, winning the NBA MVP in his first season in Philly. He also helped the Sixers win their third NBA championship that same season with him being named as the Finals MVP.
Forward – Charles Barkley
An undersized power forward, Charles Barkley proved that size does not matter as he became one of the all-time greats. Barkley was drafted fifth overall by the Sixers in 1984. Initially, as a sixth man in his rookie season, he blossomed into a superstar with the guidance of Julius Erving and Moses Malone.
In eight seasons in Philadelphia, Barkley produced a lot of memories and controversies. He was also a six-time All-Star with the Sixers, winning All-Star Game MVP honors in 1991. Barkley was an All-NBA First Teamer in three years in Philly but he never led the team to a championship. Nevertheless, the franchise retired his No. 34 jersey in 2001.
Honorable Mention: Forward – Dolph Schayes
The first franchise player in Sixers history, Dolph Schayes helped the Sixers win their first NBA championship in 1955. He played his entire 16-year career with the Sixers and he ranks third in the team’s all-time scoring list, first in rebounds, and fifth in assists.
Forward – Julius Erving
The greatest Sixers player of all time, Julius Erving brought consistency to the team as well as swagger. In 11 seasons with the Sixers, Erving helped the team make the playoffs every year, culminating in an NBA championship win in 1983. He was also an All-Star all his seasons with the Sixers which is a remarkable feat.
“Dr. J” also won the NBA MVP Award in 1981 and he was also a two-time All-Star Game MVP. Erving was nothing short of great during his years with the Sixers. He ranks fourth in the team’s all-time scoring list, seventh in rebounds, fourth in assists, third in steals and first in blocks. Erving also became a Philly legend, commemorated by a statue in South Philadelphia.
Honorable Mention: Forward – Billy Cunningham
Before Julius Erving, Billy Cunningham was the Sixers’ superstar forward. He had two stints with the team, from 1965 to 1972 and from 1974 to 1976. Cunningham helped the team win an NBA title in 1967. He also coached the Sixers for eight seasons after his retirement, leading them to a championship in 1983.
