The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Fans Ask: How Much Longer?

By Bret Stuter

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson talks about his selection for enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2016 during a press conference at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson talks about his selection for enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2016 during a press conference at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Sixers track record

Prior to the 2016 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers have enjoyed selecting first just twice previously: in 1973 when the team selected guard Doug Collins from Illinois State, and in 1996 when the team selected guard Allen Iverson from Georgetown.

In 1973, the Philadelphia 76ers 9-73 season is the worst performance by an NBA team in an 82 game season. The team selected Collins, and the team finished the following year at 25 wins and 57 losses. While that was not good, it was a tremendous improvement over the previous season’s finish. Besides Collins, the team got good performances out of Tom Van Ardsdale with 19.6 points per game, and a surprise in Steve Mix, who chipped in 14.9 points per game. The following year, the team surged ahead to a 34-48 record, as Collins continued to improve. Finally, the team scored paydirt in signing ABA star George McGinnis, and with his help ended the season at 46-36 and finally returned to the playoffs. The following year, the Philadelphia 76ers purchased the rights to Julius Erving, and the team would never look back. From 1973 to the signing of Julius Erving took four years, but an NBA championship would need many more years before it would arrive to the city.

In 1995-1996, the Philadelphia 76ers bottomed out after a long slide of ever increasing losses for six straight seasons. In selecting Iverson, the Philadelphia 76ers placed the franchise’s future in the rookie guards hands. Coming out of winning just 18 games, the team modestly improved to 22-60, solely on the performance of Iverson. But the team’s strengths were the backcourt and ended with the starting lineup.

The following season the team showed improvement once more, climbing to 31 wins.  The following season, the team finished with a 28-22 record, good enough to make the playoffs in a strike shortened season.  Finally in the 1999-2000 season, four years after Iverson arrived to the team, the 76ers won 49 games and were a playoff team.

Next: So... how long will it take?