Philadelphia 76ers: 15 greatest NBA playoff moments

5. 1967 championship run

The 1967 Sixers will go down as one of the most dominant teams in NBA history. After losing to the Boston Celtics the previous postseason (see, the Celtics, again), the Sixers turned into an absolute juggernaut in 1966-67. It resulted in the franchise’s first NBA title in Philadelphia.

Wilt Chamberlain was a statistical marvel, averaging 24.1 points, 24.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game. He commanded the paint like no other big man in that era, soaring for blocks on defense and out-muscling defenders on the other end.

In Chamberlain alone, the Sixers had the foundation for a championship team. With other Basketball Hall of Fame caliber players alongside him, though, Philadelphia was in prime position. Chet Walker and Billy Cunningham checked that box.

The Sixers were dominant in the regular season, winning 45 of the first 49 games and finishing the season with a 68-13 record. Wilt went on to win NBA MVP and the Sixers carried ample momentum into the postseason.

There was significant competition on the docket, but Philadelphia handled Boston in five games in the conference finals, earning a title showdown with the then-San Francisco Warriors. It ended up being Sixers in six, as Wilt and company claimed the city’s first NBA championship.

For most moderately aged fans, 1967 lives more in the history books than it does in memories. Even so, older generations and historians can still reminisce about one of the franchise’s pivotal moments. It’s impossible not to include Philadelphia’s first taste of basketball glory.