Philadelphia 76ers: 15 greatest NBA Draft steals in franchise history
World B. Free. 13. player. 93. . Guilford College. 23rd Pick, 1975 NBA Draft
One might be hesitant to include World B. Free on this list for a couple of reasons. He only spent three seasons in Philadelphia and peaked well after his departure, so most of his value in the NBA attributed to other teams’ success.
Even so, Free deserves credit for what he provided the Sixers compared to his draft position at No. 23. He was a late-round pick in the same draft that provided Darryl Dawkins, offering Philadelphia a talented shot-creator on the perimeter.
In three seasons with the team, Free averaged 13.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 24.1 minutes per game. He became known for his high-arcing jumper and electric athleticism, boasting an impressive 44-inch vertical.
Leaving the Sixers after the 1977-78 NBA season — one year prior to an NBA Finals run — Free would return late in his career, spending the 1986-87 NBA season where it all started. He would retire a year later before embarking on a long front office career. He’s now the Sixers’ director of player development.
It’s easy to appreciate Free for his personality and scoring, offering the Sixers’ dynamic late 1970s bench a bona fide offensive threat. He teamed up with players like Dawkins and Caldwell Jones to anchor a fun second unit, one that would later prove important in building the Sixers to a championship status.
Free didn’t get to see that through, but his overarching career success — plus three solid campaigns in Philadelphia — puts him on this list.