Dec 3, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers shorts with logo against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The 76ers defeated the Timberwolves 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the longest running teams in the NBA’s history. From way back in the day, they were the Syracuse Nationals, and then moved in 1963 to Philadelphia where we know them today. Throughout their years, plenty of players have stepped through and impacted the franchise.
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Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlin and Julius Erving are just a few of the names of classic 76ers players. None of these players were actually drafted by the Sixers, though. They were brought in via trades or free agency along the way. None of the mentioned players started their careers on draft night in Philly.
Despite the fact that those classic names weren’t drafted into Philadelphia, there were plenty of players brought in that will have an impact on the team, or have already had a tremendous impact on the team. They’ve had successes in the draft as well as failures, but let’s go ahead and look at some of the successes, and acknowledge the top ten Sixers draft picks of all time.
Next: No. 10
World B. Free undoubtedly wins the award for the best name on this countdown. He did sort of cheat, though, as he changed it from Lloyd in 1981. Free had a great career, averaging 20.3 points per game and 3.7 assists. The only reason he fell this far in the countdown was because he wasn’t utilized well by the Sixers, and his years in Philly weren’t nearly as good as his seasons elsewhere.
Although he’s at the end of the countdown here, he would be one of the top members on a list of “best sleeper picks,” regarding the Sixers. The numbers he produced aren’t typically ones you see from a second round draft pick.
Free spent three years with the 76ers, averaging 12.9 points per game, 2.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He shot at a rate of 45%, with a nasty pull up jumper. With other teams he averaged up to 29 points. He was no stranger to dishing out the basketball, as 20% of plays with the Sixers with him on the floor were assisted by him in his last year. This isn’t as high as some master assisters, but still, maybe State Farm would’ve given him a call.
World exploded the years after he left Philadelphia. In the two seasons after he went to another team besides the Sixers, he was in the top two as far as scoring throughout the league. I think this could be credited to his usage percentage. This percentage is “an estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while he was on the floor,” according to Basketball-Reference.com
Although this statistic wasn’t available with Basketball-Reference until after his first two seasons with Philadelphia, the one year it was available (one of his best statistical years) was his lowest usage percentage year in his entire career.
It’s a shame to look back and see how World was misused by the Sixers, but I still rank him in the top ten as far as draft picks by the team.
Next: No. 9
Dec 1, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A giant Ben Franklin character sits court side with fans during a break in the action between the Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. The Spurs defeated the 76ers 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Luke Jackson was a classic 76er. Drafted fourth overall in in 1964, he was a member of the all rookie team his first year, and even played in an all star game right out of the gate. Deservingly so, since he was averaging nearly 15 points per game that season.
Jackson averaged three double doubles throughout his career, using the fact that he could play power forward and center to his advantage.
In 1966-67 he was a starter of the Sixers’ iconic championship team that defeated the Celtics’ long running streak of championships. This team featured Wilt Chamberlin as well, who was traded away two seasons later. Once he was traded, Jackson was expected to step up and become a great player, but was injured and would never be the same following that.
He never played for any team other than the Sixers, and averaged 9.9 points and 8.8 rebounds throughout his entire career.
Next: No. 8
Jun 19, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard
Andre Iguodala(9) puts his hands in the air during the Golden State Warriors 2015 championship celebration at the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Andre Iguodala
Andre Iguodala was the ninth overall pick of his draft class with the Sixers. He started all 82 games of his rookie season, and had a great year, especially for a rookie. Alongside Allen Iverson, he was poised to succeed. Although his efforts weren’t good enough to get him rookie of the year in the league, he was certainly one of the most valuable Sixers.
Iguodala had some very iconic days as a Sixer, which was highlighted by great performances in his first few years with the rookie challenge, and them exploded with the Slam Dunk Contest where he lost by a single point to Nate Robinson.
After averaging 12 points in 2005-06, he jumped up to 18 points the next season when he left the shadow of Iverson. He would spend five more years with the Sixers, improving his skill set for years. Despite his good performances, he often got off to some slow starts, which left the Sixers in a whole trying to improve.
After years of failed playoff trips, Iguodala was traded to the Nuggets, and this past season, was the Finals MVP for the Golden State Warriors.
In his eight seasons with the 76ers, Iguodala averaged 15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.
Next: No. 7
As a prospect in the 1954 NBA Draft, Red Kerr was coming off of a 25.3 point per game season with Illinois. Of course, he was expected to go early.
Sir Charles In Charge
And early he went, as Kerr was the sixth overall pick of his draft class, drafted by the Syracuse Nationals. Kerr had a great career, and was a personality as a commentator. He also coached for a few years, but was prematurely force to resign after leading the Phoenix Suns through some bad seasons.
As a player, he had a great career. In his inaugural season, the Nationals won a title and he was already averaging double digit points per game. Eight out of his twelve seasons played he averaged a double-double with points and rebounds. He neared 15 rebounds per game in 1962, and he was a dominant force in the paint.
He was a part of the relocation of the Nationals, when they moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers, as they are today. He only spent two seasons as a Sixer before he was traded to the Baltimore Bullets, but will forever be known as a National/Sixer, due to the 11 seasons he spent with the team.
He was an All Star three different times with the Nationals.
Next: No. 6
Good old “chocolate thunder.” Darryl Dawkins shattered two different backboards in the NBA, but that wasn’t even close to being his best highlights. Dawkins spent his first seven years with the Sixers before they traded him away.
Dawkins career got off to a slow start, but he was years ahead of some players, as he didn’t play any college basketball. He was a player who needed development, but after he did develop, he was great. It took two years of riding the bench, but he finally hit 11.7 points per game in his third season, and found a stride even better throughout the prime of his career, nearing 15 points in a few seasons, and getting 16.8 in 1984.
In 12 different years, Dawkins shot with great accuracy, over 50%. In 1981 he did over 60% from the field, better than Shaquille O’Neal ever shot from the free throw line in all but one season.
Dawkins unfortunately didn’t get a chance to win a title in the playoffs, although he played in several title games. The Sixers and Dawkins always seemed to fall short.
Darryl was a very funky guy, and a very likable personality. In today’s media centered world, I think he would have done well. If there was Twitter when he was around, I’m willing to bet he would have been even more popular. His nickname, “Chocolate Thunder,” shows he was a fun one.
After breaking a backboard the first time, he called this signature dunk the, “Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Wham-Bam, Glass-Breaker-I-Am-Jam.” Only a few days later, he showed off this dunk again, breaking another backboard. He forced the league to ban these, and intact a fine any time a player did so.
Also, according to Wikipedia, Dawkins used to claim he was an alien from “Lovetron,” where he spent his off times. His girlfriend allegedly lived on this planet.
Next: No. 5
May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Former NBA player and current TNT television personality Charles Barkley prior to game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Charles Barkley
Most kids nowadays know Charles Barkley is just the annoying personality on TNT before basketball games, but Sixers fans recognize him as something much more important. He was taken fifth overall in 1984 by Philly. His first eight years were spent with Philadelphia, and they were certainly some good ones, averaging 23.3 points as a Sixer, with 3.9 assists.
Right off the bat, Barkley started a good chunk of games (60) in his rookie season. Partway through his tenure as a Sixer, the pro names that were around when Barkley arrived started to dwindle off, and suddenly Barkley found himself as the leader, after years of being mentored by these players.
For his last six years in Philly, he was an All Star player, averaging 25.5 points per game throughout these six years. Although Barkley and the 76ers came up short in the playoffs every time, his individual accomplishments as a Sixer weren’t lacking.
He was a league All Star the year after leaving Philadelphia, but was the All Star game MVP in one of his last years with the Sixers. He was first in offensive rebounds for the league in three years with Philly, and first in league offensive rating twice.
His years with other teams were arguably better, but still, is known to this day as one of the best Sixers to play the game.
Next: No. 4
Standing at just six feet and two inches, Greer is one of the shorter Sixers. Greer was another classic, getting drafted by the Nationals in 1958, as another sleeper pick in the second round. We referenced World B. Free being at the top of that list, but Greer would come above him.
When Greer joined the team, the franchise was three seasons removed from a championship, and had been back to the division finals twice, and semifinals once. Determined to lead the team back to their championship days, Greer averaged under 15 points per game in his first two seasons, but hit a nice pace in his third year with 19.6 points per game. He would follow that up the next year with 22.8, and averaged 21.6 points in between the years of 1960 and 1971.
These years of high performance led the team to the playoffs, but often came up short. After getting knocked out of the divisional semifinals four times, and the divisional finals four times, the then Philadelphia 76ers won their first championship, four years into the new name, and nine years into Greer’s career.
This was the team that ended the Boston Celtics “reign of terror,” where they had won eight championships in a row prior. Greer was a huge part of this team, playing in 80 regular season games and averaging over 22 points per game that season. He averaged 27.7 points per game that year in the playoffs.
The Sixers would then make the playoffs four more times, and stopped making the playoffs for the last two seasons of Greer’s career, where his performance trailed off significantly with 11.8 points per game and 5.6 points per game, clearly displaying how important he was to the team’s success.
One of the most memorable parts of Greer’s career was his irregularly shot free throws, in which he jumped and stood off-center.
Greer was an All Star 10 different times and is now in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Next: No. 3
Chet Walker was one of the last faces to see the Nationals, and one of the first to see the 76ers as they relocated. He was drafted as a National, and played his rookie year there, sticking along as they moved to Philadelphia. The small forward had a decent career, and spent the first several years of it with the 76ers franchise.
Walker played 13 years in the NBA, and seven as a Sixer/National. He had four seasons as an All Star not with the Sixers, but had that honor three times as a Sixer, totaling up to being a seven time All Star throughout his career.
He was a member of the team that set the best at the time record ever, with just 13 losses, coming out to be an 84% winning rate that season. Walker played in every single game that season, and averaged nearly 20 points per game. His field goal percentage was 48.8% that season. They would go on to claim the championship that year, and Walker was a huge part of that.
Walker could be compared to the likes of John Wall with his speed, although they play different positions. Chet The Jet was his nickname.
Walker was inducted to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2012.
Next: No. 2
Another All Star and Hall of Famer, Billy Cunningham is one of the best sixth-men to a championship team of all time. Along with Chet Walker as mentioned earlier, he was a part of one of the most impressive rosters of all time.
On any other team, Cunningham probably would have started. But with this roster that boasted Wilt Chamberlin, Hal Greer, and many others, there was just so much talent to try and start everyone.
Still, as a rookie, winning a championship and being a part of such a historic team in a huge way isn’t anything to look down on. That season he averaged 14.3 points per game and 7.5 rebounds, good enough to get him the honors of the NBA All-Rookie team that season.
Cunningham was only just getting started this season with his nearly 15 points per game. Once Wilt The Stilt left, Cunningham went on to average 23, 24 and even 26 points in one season. He double-doubled in six different seasons, and shot with a field goal percentage of 45%.
Partway through his career, Cunningham switched leagues and went to the ABA to play for the Carolina Cougars where he still had success, leading the Cougars to a championship round where they lost.
He would eventually come back to where he started, with the Sixers, and finish his career there after he suffered a career ending injury.
Next: No. 1
Mar 1, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A banner with the jersey number of Philadelphia 76ers former guard Allen Iverson is raised to the rafters during a ceremony at halftime of game between the 76ers and Washington Wizards at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Allen Iverson
There’s no way we talk about draft picks and don’t bring up “The Answer.” Allen Iverson was the first overall pick in the 1996 draft, coming off of two strong years at Georgetown. He paved the way for short men. Although short guys had played in the league before (Spudd Webb), Iverson was the shortest man (6’0) to ever be selected as the first overall pick.
Determined to shut doubters up, Iverson came out strong, averaging 23.5 points per game in his rookie season, rightfully winning the honor of Rookie of the Year award. In 2000-2001 he was the All Star of the All Star Game, as well as the All Star of the league itself.
Additionally, he led the Sixers to the Finals this year, averaging an insane 31.1 points per game 2.5 steals, and 4.6 assists. He was the scoring champion in this season, and came up as the champion in steals as well. Again, paving the way for the little guys, Iverson was at the time the shortest, as well as the lightest player to ever win MVP.
Iverson went off in the Finals game one, scoring 48 points, even against the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. This was the only game the Sixers would win, unfortunately in the series.
Following this was a lot of tough years for the Sixers and their relationship with AI. Iverson was known for being late to events, missing practices, and more, and was fined and benched on multiple occasions.
Towards the end of his first ride with Philly, things got real bad, and Iverson was practically begging to leave the team. He was eventually traded, and to this day denies any and all rumors of him demanding a trade. Still, it’s fairly evident he wanted out.
Throughout his ten and a half seasons with the Sixers, he averaged over 20 points per game in every season. Additionally, he was the scoring champion of the league on four different occasions. He led the Sixers to the playoffs and Finals, and will be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever come through the organization, despite any trouble he stirred up.
He returned to the Sixers for a last hurrah in the NBA before playing overseas, and officially retired in 2013. He said he would be a Sixer until he dies on that night, and just recently had his number retired as a Sixer.
While some argue that because Iverson didn’t bring a championship to the city he can’t be the number one draft pick of all time, I disagree. Iverson was one of the highest awarded Sixers, if not the highest. He brought the city some great basketball, and in my opinion, the best basketball in a long time.
He ushered in the modern era of basketball that we are accustomed to and paved a way for players who had been doubted because of their size. Iverson was an amazing player who is the best player that has ever been drafted by the 76ers.
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