Dating back to their days as the Syracuse Nationals, the Philadelphia 76ers are one of the oldest and most iconic franchises in NBA history. The Sixers have had over a dozen players go to the Hall of Fame, including some of the most legendary figures in the game. But just looking at their time with the 76ers, what players stand out the most? It’s a tough question, which is why we took on the challenge of putting together the best starting five in 76ers history.
PG: Maurice Cheeks
For his career, Cheeks only averaged 11.1 points and 6.7 assists per game, but he had all of his best seasons while with the 76ers. He spent over a decade in Philly, ultimately being named an all-star four times and an NBA First-Team All-Defensive player in four straight seasons.
Cheeks was the team’s starting point guard for most of the 80s, an era in which the 76ers made the playoffs almost every season and won the 1983 NBA championship. Oddly enough, the 76ers are a little light on great guards in their history, making Cheeks the easy choice at point guard.
SG: Allen Iverson
While he could have been listed as a point guard, Iverson was always more of a shooting guard. He also did just enough to edge out Hal Greer, who was a 10-time all-star during the 1960s and 70s. Iverson was drafted by the 76ers in 1996 and was an all-star in 11 straight seasons from 2000 to 2010.
The Answer also won Rookie of the Year in 1997 and MVP honors in 2001. Team-wise, the 76ers weren’t a dominant team during Iverson’s career outside of reaching the NBA Finals in 2001. But the guy frequently led the league in minutes, carrying the 76ers on his back and doing everything he could for the organization.
SF: Julius Erving
Chet Walker deserves a shout-out, but it’s tough to compare him with a player like Erving. Dr. J joined the 76ers in 1976 and immediately turned them into an Eastern Conference powerhouse.
Philly went to the NBA Finals in four of the never seven years, finally winning a championship in 1983. Plus, his MVP award in 1981 and his 11 all-star appearances all came while he was a member of the 76ers, solidifying a Hall of Fame career in which he averaged 24.2 points per game.
PF: Charles Barkley
There’s a nice argument for Bobby Jones, but Sir Charles is undoubtedly the best power forward the 76ers have had. He spent eight years in Philadelphia and was an all-star six times during that stretch, averaging a double-double in all but his rookie season.
Unfortunately, his MVP season came after Barkley left the 76ers, although he carried the franchise for a long time in a way that few have.
C: Dolph Schayes
Conventional wisdom says that this should be either Wilt Chamberlain or Moses Malone. But neither spent more than five seasons with the 76ers, which is why Schayes is the choice for best center in franchise history.
The Hall of Famer spent all 16 seasons of his career with the Nationals/76ers, averaging 18.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game during that time. Schayes was a 12-time all-star and helped the Nationals win the 1955 NBA title. Those accomplishments far outweigh anything that Chamberlain or Malone did while they were with the 76ers.