Another fifth overall pick, Billy Cunningham joined the Sixers’ loaded roster in 1965. He would go on to join Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Luke Jackson, Chet Walker and others during the Sixers’ 1967 title run, playing an important role as Philadelphia’s sixth man.
With such a loaded frontcourt, the Sixers could overwhelm teams inside. Chamberlain was an athletic freak, rivaling the greatest athletes in sports history. Jackson was a methodical, energetic presence at the four. Cunningham brought even more firepower in reserve.
It wasn’t until his fourth NBA season that Cunningham averaged over 30 minutes per contest. It didn’t affect his impact, though, as the Chapel Hill product still averaged 18.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game during the historic 1967 campaign. In 26.8 minutes per contest. In just his second NBA season.
Cunningham spent all nine of his NBA seasons in Philadelphia. After Chamberlain left and Jackson faded due to injury, Cunningham overtook the mantle of starting power forward and led the charge for Philadelphia. He was a four-time All-Star in the NBA. His first season as a starter yielded a stat line of 24.8 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.
From 1972 to 1974, Cunningham took a brief hiatus to the ABA, where he played for the Charlotte Cougars and won a league MVP. He returned for two more seasons in Philadelphia afterwards, ending his career due to injury in 1976.
While it doesn’t factor into his value as a draft pick, Cunningham’s coaching resume also gets a shout out. He coached the Sixers during their historic 1980s run and holds the third-highest win percentage in coaching history, trailing only Phil Jackson and Steve Kerr.