Philadelphia 76ers: 15 greatest draft picks in franchise history
93. . PG. West Texas A&M, 1978. Maurice Cheeks. 11. player
Maurice Cheeks spent 11 seasons with the Sixers after being drafted in 1978. He was part of three different NBA Finals runs, including the Sixers’ championship win in ’83. Over that span, Cheeks averaged 12.2 points and 7.3 assists per game.
A four-time All-Star, Cheeks was known for his facilitating and defensive skills. He made the All-Defensive First Team four times, while his playmaking was the engine that paced most of the Sixers’ offense during his time with the team.
Cheeks ranks fifth all-time in steals, behind only John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Michael Jordan and Gary Payton. In an era where point guards weren’t relied on heavily in the scoring department, Cheeks was the kind of unselfish, two-way player that allowed his team to thrive.
After his playing career, Cheeks went into coaching. He was an assistant for the Sixers between 1994 and 2001, but was named head coach in 2005. He spent three seasons at the helm in Philly, but also spent time with the Portland Trail Blazers and Detroit Pistons as a head coach.
Today, Cheeks is an assistant on Billy Donovan’s staff in Oklahoma City.