8. 1976-77 season (50-32, lost in NBA Finals)
Talk about an immediate impact. In his first season with the team, Julius Erving led the Sixers to an NBA Finals berth. While it ultimately ended in defeat, it set the stage for a decade of competitive basketball in Philadelphia.
It’s fair to say the Sixers got a solid return on investment. As part of the NBA-ABA merger, the New York Nets needed to pay a $3.2 million NBA entry fee. The Sixers offered a simple deal — $3 million for Dr. J. The Nets took the deal.
Erving unleashed his impressive talent on a national scale, boosting the Sixers on both ends. His athleticism led to unprecedented highlights, while his skill pushed Philadelphia to its first 50-win season in eight years.
Pegging the Sixers’ success on Dr. J alone, however, doesn’t do the 1976-77 team justice. The likes of George McGinnis, Doug Collins and World B. Free all contributed in varying capacities. Philadelphia had pieces. Erving helped complete the puzzle.
In the conference semis, Philadelphia faced the — you guessed it — Boston Celtics. In this instance, Erving propelled the Sixers to a hard-fought series victory, pulling out the W in Game 7. They won the conference finals in six, downing Moses Malone and the Houston Rockets.
Once the NBA Finals hit, things were looking up for Philadelphia. The Sixers even took a 2-0 series lead over Bill Walton‘s Portland Trail Blazers, but would end up losing four straight. Erving and Co. fell just shy of bringing the franchise its third title.