The Philadelphia 76ers were founded in 1946 and began play in Syracuse and were known as the Nationals, they moved to Philadelphia in 1963 and have called the “City of Brotherly Love” home since. Winners of three NBA titles, nine conference titles, and five division titles, the Sixers have left their mark in the city and the league.
The Sixers have had some all-time great NBA players suit up for them, some went on to other cities and continued their great careers, others stayed and retired wearing their colors. Here are the greatest 25 Philadelphia 76ers in history!
Honorable Mentions: Archie Clark, Luke Jackson, Red Rocha, Clarence Weatherspoon, Caldwell Jones
25. Paul Seymour – PG
Paul Seymour #5 (Getty)
Stats: Points:5,836 , Rebounds: 1,694, Assists: 2,341
Accolades: 3-Time NBA All-Star
Championships: 1
Paul Seymour played for the then Nationals from 1948 to 1960, he actually played as a player/coach in the 1959/1960 season. Seymour averaged 9.6 points per game, 3.9 assists, and 3.1 rebounds. He played 600 games for the Sixers and won 1 title.
24. Steve Mix – F
Steve Mix (Getty)
Stats: Points: 8,357 , Rebounds: 4,160 , Assists: 1,393
Accolades: NBA All-Star 1975
Steve Mix became the mayor of Philadelphia so to speak with his 688 games. He played one All-Star game and averaged 11.3 points per game. Despite some deep playoff runs with the Sixers, a championship eluded him.
23. Samuel Dalembert – C
Samuel Dalembert (Getty)
Stats: Points: 6,814, Rebounds: 6,942, Assists: 465
Sometimes history can be cruel to some, Samuel Dalembert may not have the accolades or the titles, but in his Sixers career, he was a skilled rebounder and hard shot blocker. He played 582 games for the Sixers and averaged 8.3 points per game. There will be much fancier names on this list, but Dalembert was a hard worker.
22. George McGinnis – F
George McGinnis (Getty)
Stats: Points: 17,009, Rebounds:9,233, Assists:3,089
Accolades: 3- Time NBA All-Star
George McGinnis was a bonafide star in the old ABA, in his three seasons with the Sixers he led the team to the 1977 championship, although came up short, he was an All-Star twice. McGinnis averaged 21.6 points for the team and played 234 games.
21. Hersey Hawkins – G
Hersey Hawkins (Getty)
Stats: Points: 14,470, Rebounds:3,466, Steals: 1,622
Accolades: 1991 NBA All-Star, 1999 NBA Sportsmanship Award
Hersey Hawkins better known as “Hawk” was the co-star to the Charles Barkley show in Phili. His 19 points per game were proof of his commitment to the cause. He was a 1991 All-Star and against the Magic, Hawkins scored 43 points in a game.
20. Fred Carter – G
Fred Carter (Getty)
Stats: Points: 9,271, Rebounds:2,381, Assists: 2,122
The Mad Dog, Fred Carter was a hometown kid, who averaged 15 points per game in his six years in Philadelphia. He was a very versatile player, playing in various positions. Carter once said he was the best player on the worst team in NBA history. In 1972/73 the Sixers only won just nine games.
19. John “Red” Kerr – C
John “Red” Kerr
Stats: Points: 12,480, Rebounds:10,092, Assists: 2,004
Accolades: 3-Time NBA All-Star
Championships: 1
John Kerr played a total of 834 games for Syracuse and then Philadelphia, he was a mobile center that averaged 14 points per game and was a part of the 1955 championship team. Kerr would move on to coaching afterward winning coach of the year in 1967.
18. Darryl Dawkins – C
Darryl Dawkins (Getty)
Stats: Points: 8,733, Rebounds:4,432, Blocks:1,023
Chocolate Thunder, Darryl Dawkins was a 6-11 center that just took it to the rim, literally, he broke two backboards in 1979. While he made multiple playoff runs with the Sixers they could not win a title coming up short against the Lakers and Portland. After playing on various NBA teams, Dawkins would play the remainder of his career in Italy where he was an All-Star.
17. Doug Collins – G
Doug Collins (Getty)
Stats: Points: 7,427, Rebounds:1,339, Assists: 1,368
Accolades: 4- Time NBA All-Star
Doug Collins would be much higher on this list had injuries not cut his career short. He played his whole career for the Sixers, averaging 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. Collins was one of the players on the 1977 NBA Finals team, but again the Sixers fell short. In total, he played 415 games for the team.
16. Andre Iguodala – F
Andre Iguodala (Getty)
Stats: Games Played: 1,129, 12 Points Per Game
Accolades: NBA Finals MVP 2015, 2012 NBA All-Star,
Championships: 3
Andre Iguodala has had an amazing career, and it all started in Philadelphia. Iggy as he hates to be called ranks among the top 10 in defensive rebounds, steals, and assists. He was a tough defender and while he would go on to greater things with the Warriors, his time in Philadelphia will not be forgotten.
15. Andrew Toney – SG
Andrew Toney (Getty)
Stats: Points: 7,458, Rebounds:1,009, Assists: 1,965
Accolades: 2-Time NBA All-Star
Championships: 1
Andrew Toney was a franchise player playing his whole career with the Sixers. He averaged 15.9 points per game and 2.4 assists in his 468 games. During the 1983 playoffs, he was pivotal in the four-game sweep over the Lakers. Toney’s career was cut short due to injuries, but he did bring one home for the Phili fans.
14. Chet Walker -PF
Chet Walker (Getty)
Stats: Points: 18,831, Rebounds: 7,314, Assists:2,126
Accolades: 7-Time NBA All-Star
Championships: 1
Chet Walker was a beast, The Jet, was one of the most consistent players ever, the team reached the postseason in all his seven years with the 76ers. In the 1966/67 season, Walker averaged 19.3 points per game, he would win one title with the 76ers before moving to the Bulls.
13. Larry Costello – PG
Larry Costello (Archive)
Stats: Points: 8,622, Rebounds:2,705, Assists:3,215
Accolades: 6-Time NBA All-Star
Championships: 1
In his two stints with Philadelphia, Larry Costello won 1 championship in 1967 averaging 12.9 points per game with 4.7 rebounds. In total, he played 10 years with the 76ers. Costello ranks among the assists leaders in franchise history with over 2,900 assists.
12. Bobby Jones – PF
Bobby Jones (Getty)
Stats: Points: 11,391, Rebounds: 5,739, Assists:2,522
Accolades: 4- Time NBA All-Star, 8- Time NBA All-Defensive First Team, NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1985), NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1983), No. 24 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
Championships: 1
Bobby Jones played a total of 617 games for the Sixers and his accolades show what his worth was. He was a defensive beast, averaging 4.8 rebounds per game as well as being a pest when blocking. All that hard work paid off as the Sixers won an NBA title in 1983.
11. Ben Simmons – PG
Ben Simmons (Getty)
Stats: Games Played: 217, Points Per Game: 16.4
Accolades: 2- Time NBA All-Star, NBA All-Defensive First Team (2020), NBA Rookie of the Year (2018), NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018), NBA steals leader (2020)
In time Ben Simmons will be higher on this list, but for now, his short career looks very promising. Extremely talented, a good triple-double shooter, he already ranks high in field gold percentage, steals, and box plus-minus. Simmons is on the cusp of doing great things in Philadelphia.
10.Billy Cunningham – PF
Billy Cunningham (Getty)
Stats: Points: 16,310, Rebounds: 7,981, Assists:3,305
Accolades: 4- Time NBA All-Star (1969–1972), NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 32 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
Championships: 1
Billy Cunningham did it all in a Sixers uniform, he won a championship as a player and then as a coach. He played 654 games for the team and even at 6-6 he still averaged 20.8 points per game and 10 rebounds. On the bench, he is the winningest coach in the team’s history.
9. Maurice Cheeks – PG
Maurice Cheeks (Getty)
Stats: Points: 12,195, Assists:7,392, Steals:2,310
Accolades: 4-Time NBA All-Star, 4-Time NBA All-Defensive First Team, No. 10 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
Championships: 1
Maurice Cheeks is considered by many to be one of the best point guards in NBA history. He ranks fifth in all-time steals in the NBA and first in 76ers history. He was one of the main pieces of the 1983 championship and his number was retired as a testament to the man who played 853 games for the team.
8. Moses Malone – C
Moses Malone (Getty)
Stats: Points: 29,580, Rebounds:17,834, Assists:1,936
Accolades: 3- Time NBA MVP, 12-Time NBA All-Star, 6-Time NBA rebounding leader, NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 2 retired by Philadelphia 76ers, No. 24 retired by Houston Rockets, Mr. Basketball USA (1974)
Championships: 1
Moses Malone is a great, hands down. He should be much higher on this list but we are only looking at his four seasons in Philadelphia. Which were not at all bad, he was the Finals MVP and averaged 21 points per game in his four seasons. He has the honor of having his number retired by two teams, the Sixers and the Rockets. An all-time great.
7. Joel Embiid – C
Joel Embiid (Getty)
Stats: Games Played: 209, 23.9 Points per Game
Accolades: 3-Time NBA All-Star
Joel Embiid has built quite an impressive resume in Philadelphia. He has already been to three All-Star games and is considered one of the best defensive players in the league. Embiid’s play could be key if the Sixers are to make a return trip one day to the Finals.
6. Dolph Schayes – F
Dolph Schayes (New York Times)
Stats: Games Played: 996
Accolades: 12-Time NBA All-Star, NBA rebounding leader (1951), NBA 25th Anniversary Team, NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 4 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
Championships: 1
Dolph Schayes is the Sixers rebound king at 11,256. He was pretty decent at free throws shooting 6,712. Schayeswas a 12-time NBA All-star and won 1 championship in 1955. He would move on to head coaching where he won coach of the year in 1966. Schayeswas just 4 games shy of playing 1,000 games for the Sixers.
5. Charles Barkley – PF
Charles Barkley (Getty)
Stats: Points: 23,757, Rebounds: 12,546, Assists:4,215
Accolades: NBA MVP (1993), 11-Time NBA All-Star, NBA All-Star Game MVP (1991), NBA rebounding leader (1987), No. 34 retired by Philadelphia 76ers, No. 34 retired by Phoenix Suns, NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
Sir Charles Barkley, what can we say, he did it all, the only thing that was missing was a championship. There is no question he is one of the greatest players in NBA history. In Philadelphia, he averaged 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds. He played over 600 games and played six All-Star games representing the team. His numberwas retired by both the 76ers and Suns.
4.Hal Greer – PG
Hal Greer (Getty)
Stats: Points: 21,586, Rebounds:5,665, Assists:4,540
Accolades: 10- Time NBA All-Star, NBA All-Star Game MVP (1968), No. 15 retired by Philadelphia 76ers, NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
Championships: 1
Hal Greer played his whole career in Philadelphia, playing over 1,100 games. Greer had 20.4 points per game in his Sixers career and won 1 title in 1967. Greer holds the record for most points scored, most field goals, games played and minutes played in team history.
3. Wilt Chamberlain – C
Wilt Chamberlain (Getty)
Stats: Points: 31,419, Rebounds: 23,924, Assists: 4,643
Accolades: NBA Finals MVP (1972),4- Time NBA MVP, 13- Time NBA All-Star, NBA All-Star Game MVP (1960), 2- Time NBA All-Defensive First Team (1972, 1973), NBA Rookie of the Year (1960), 7- Time NBA scoring champion, 11- Time NBA rebounding champion, NBA assists leader (1968), No. 13 retired by Golden State Warriors, No. 13 retired by Philadelphia 76ers, No. 13 retired by Los Angeles Lakers, No. 13 retired by Harlem Globetrotters, NBA 35th Anniversary Team, NBA 50th Anniversary Team
Championships: 2
God damn! That’s all you can say when you look at the career of Wilt Chamberlain, he was a baddddd man on the Basketball court. What didn’t he do? A native of Philadelphia he brought a title home in 1967. He averaged 27.6 points per game, 23! Rebounds per game. He won NBA MVP three years in a row and just was a points machine. Wilt should be on the top of the list but he split his time between the Sixers and Lakers.
2. Allen Iverson – PG
Allen Iverson (Getty)
Stats: Points: 24,368, Rebounds: 3,394, Assists: 5,624
Accolades: NBA MVP (2001), 11- Time NBA All-Star, 2- Time NBA All-Star Game MVP (2001, 2005), NBA Rookie Game MVP (1997), 4-Time NBA scoring champion (1999, 2001, 2002, 2005), 3-Time NBA steals leader (2001–2003), No. 3 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
The answer, Allen Iverson, is there a player in the modern-day more identified with Philadelphia than Iverson? He was quick, sneaky, he led in so many categories, that championship was all that was missing. A tremendous player, but do us all a favor, don’t talk to him about practice.
1. Julius Erving – F
Julius Erving (Getty)
Stats: Points: 30,026, Rebounds: 10,525, Assists: 5,176
Accolades: NBA Most Valuable Player (1981), 11-Time NBA All-Star, 2-Time NBA All-Star Game MVP (1977, 1983), J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1983), No. 32 retired by Brooklyn Nets, No. 6 retired by Philadelphia 76ers, NBA 35th Anniversary Team, NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Championships: 1
Dr. J, Julius Erving, was a symbol of the sixers in 11 seasons. He made the All-Star team every year while playing for Philadelphia and would win the 1983 NBA title. He averaged 22 points per game, 6.7 rebounds, and played 1,243 games. If you count his ABA stats Erving was just a dominating force. He is well-deserving of number 1.
