The Sixer Sense
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On This Day In Philadelphia 76ers History: Malone, 76ers Clinch Title

By Isaiah Rhodes

Dec 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Julius Erving shares Philadelphia 76ers legend Moses Malones jersey with family members and fans during a halftime ceremony during a game with the Los Angeles Lakers at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Julius Erving shares Philadelphia 76ers legend Moses Malones jersey with family members and fans during a halftime ceremony during a game with the Los Angeles Lakers at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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On May 31st, 1983, the Philadelphia 76ers led by Moses Malone won an NBA Title over the Los Angeles Lakers.

On this day in 1983, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to clinch the second title in franchise history. They were appearing in their fourth NBA Finals in seven years. Their opponent, the Los Angeles Lakers, had already defeated them twice to start the decade, and had the likes of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob McAdoo as security blankets, but this year was different.

Of course the 76ers had the great Julius Erving, and all-star shooting guard Andrew Toney on the wing. Sixth man extraordinaire Bobby Jones was old reliable as usual, but the 1982-83 76ers were the crème de le crème of the Association for one reason and one reason only: Moses Malone.

Before signing with the Sixers in the summer of 1982, Malone was already a proven franchise defining center, leading the Houston Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981, appearing in six all-star games (five NBA, one ABA)  and a four-time All-NBA selection. Coming off of his second league Most Valuable Player Award, Malone was looked at as the final piece that would put the already immensely talented 76ers squad over the hump into championship lore. What followed in 1982-83 had not been seen before or since in the city of Philadelphia.

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On their way to an Atlantic division crown, the Sixers went into the All-Star break with a 43-7 record. Erving and Malone’s game complimented each other as if they had played with each other for years. Malone dominated the interior with his patented pursuit for position and rebounds, averaging 24.5 points and 15.6 rebounds. Erving took a step back, but still averaged 21.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, while shooting a career best .517 from the field. The supporting cast of Toney, Jones, and defensive stalwart Maurice Cheeks only amplified the 76ers historic season with their stellar play. It wasn’t a question of if the Sixers would seal the deal with a championship, but how thoroughly would they dispatch of their opponents?

The Sixers finished with a league best 65-17 record and when asked about the team’s playoff projections, the notoriously mum Malone articulated a phrase that would go on to become synonymous with the Sixers 83′ playoff run: “Fo, fo, fo.”

The simplistic, yet authoritative answer showed the Sixers meant business, with intent to sweep all three rounds on their way to a title. The 76ers swept the New York Knicks in four games, while offering up one win to the Milwaukee Bucks before dismantling them in five games for the Eastern Conference title. This left room for one, as the Sixers were in a head-on collision with the  Los Angeles Lakers. The 76ers were poised, leaning on the broad shoulders of their off season acquisition to lead them to the top of the basketball world.

Malone had proven to be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Kryptonite over the years, using his brand of physicality and relentlessness to keep the usually stoic center in fits. The Sixers used this to their advantage as the Lakers were limited due to injuries to Norm Nixon and James Worthy, but it would not have mattered. The Lakers, no matter how hard they tried, multiple defenders and all, couldn’t handle the league MVP. Malone averaged 25.8 points and 15.3 rebounds on his way to the Finals MVP, while Toney averaged 22.0 points per game and Erving averaged 19.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists with relative ease.

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It has been 33 years since the 76ers have hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but to this day the 1982-83 Sixers are regarded as one of the greatest teams in the league history. The perfect combination of Erving, a stacked supporting cast, and a Head coach in Billy Cunningham who knew how to push all the right buttons made it easy once a prophet named Moses came along to take the city of brotherly love to the promise land.