The Philadelphia 76ers were established as an NBA franchise in 1949. A lot has happened since then. Here are the 15 best seasons.
In 1949, the Syracuse Nationals joined the burgeoning NBA. While both the franchise and the league struggled to traverse the choppy waters of professional sports in the mid-1900s, things worked out well on both accounts. In 1963, the team relocated and became the Philadelphia 76ers.
Celtics, Lakers, Sixers, Bulls. Those are the four most prominent teams when perusing the annals of NBA history. Few franchises can claim the degree of success and historical relevance Philadelphia has achieved.
During their NBA tenure, the Sixers have won three championships. They have come close on numerous other occasions — this past season being a prime example. The Sixers have been constantly relevant, a steady force in the ever-changing NBA landscape. There’s a lot to discuss.
As the 2019-20 season creeps closer, it’s time to open the history books and glance back at the events that shaped this Philadelphia franchise. We will break down the 15 greatest campaigns in Sixers history. Everything is fair game — even the earliest days in Syracuse.
Per usual, several factors determine these rankings. Regular season success, postseason success, historical relevance, individual performances — all played a role in pinpointing the right years to spotlight.
Here are the top 15.
Honorable mentions: 2017-18 (52-30), 1952-53 (47-24), 1989-90 (53-29), 1983-84 (52-30), 1951-52 (40-26)
15. 2018-19 season (51-31, lost in conf. semifinals)
In many ways, the 2018-19 season represented a shift in focus for the Philadelphia 76ers. After an uninspiring second-round exit in 2018, Elton Brand took over as GM and made his goals clear — title or bust.
While the Sixers ultimately fell short, it was arguably the most entertaining season since Allen Iverson‘s idyllic 2001 run. Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris were brought on via trade, proving the Sixers’ mettle as a legitimate contender. It was a year of reckoning for Brett Brown as well.
There were hurdles. Neither Butler nor Harris were a clean fit, as the Sixers grappled with how to move the ball, run the offense and split the workload. It took months for Butler to settle into a role as backup point guard. Harris never quite found his groove as the fifth option.
Once the dust settled, however, Philadelphia was a quadruple-bounce nightmare away from potentially beating the eventual NBA champions. No team gave Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors more trouble than Philadelphia. It did, in the end, click.
It was also Ben Simmons‘ first season as an All-Star. Embiid made his second All-Star appearance, finished second-team All-Defense again and established himself as basketball’s top center. Harris will now spend the next five seasons in Philadelphia, barring a trade.
While it didn’t yield the highest levels of success, the 2018-19 season marked a large step in the right direction for Philadelphia. Bryan Colangelo’s demons were washed clean, the roster was reconfigured after a demoralizing 2018 finish and the Sixers came close. If Kawhi’s shot bounces five degrees to the left, there’s a chance 2018-19 lands top-five on this list.
14. 1977-78 season (55-27, lost in conf. finals)
In retrospect, one might view the 1977-78 season as a letdown. The Sixers were coming off a Finals appearance in 1977– a loss to Moses Malone and the Houston Rockets. The motto “We owe you one” was subsequently coined as Philadelphia’s rallying cry.
It didn’t work out. The Sixers exited a round earlier, losing in the conference finals to the Washington Bullets. While regression stings and fans tend to look at underachieving and failure in the same light, it’s tough to knock Philadelphia’s success.
A 55-27 record is nothing to scoff at. The Sixers were a really good team — Julius Erving anchoring the wing, World B. Free getting buckets on the perimeter and Darry Dawkins pounding home dunks inside.
It was Dr. J’s second season with the team, just the fledging state of a fruitful 11-year partnership. It was Free’s third and final season in Philadelphia, marking a partnership cut short. It was Dawkins’ first season in an extended role — averaging 11.7 points and 1.8 blocks in 24.7 minutes per contest.
There were several dynamics at play and the end result was lesser than fans anticipated. Lesser than fans expected. But wins are wins, and the Sixers were building a competitive roster that would finally get over the hump in 1983.
It’s just as important to recognize the beginning of an ascent as it is to recognize the top. Not all growth is linear. The Sixers went to the Finals, lost, and didn’t get right back the next season. But that’s as fine as it is natural. Teams ebb and flow, and 1978 should still be viewed through a positive lens.
13. 1965-66 season (55-25, lost in div. finals)
As mentioned in the previous slide, success is not linear. But it’s also not spontaneous. There are moments — or, in this case, seasons — that lead up to a breakthrough. Right on the cusp of the Sixers’ 1967 championship was a 55-win campaign.
Behind two all-timers in Wilt Chamberlain and Chet Walker, the Sixers were a dominant force in the Eastern Division. In a league with just nine teams, there was room for rivalries to play out. Philadelphia vs. Boston dominated the decade.
The Sixers won the division. Chamberlain averaged 33.5 points on 54 percent shooting, both league-high marks. Walker made one of his seven All-Star appearances, giving Philadelphia a dynamic threat on multiple levels.
Boston finished only one game behind Philadelphia, however, countering the Sixers’ elite offense with a Bill Russell-led defense. Red Auerbach is a legend for a reason. He coached winners, and the Celtics were a difficult out.
When the postseason game, Boston beat Philadelphia in five games. A four-overtime loss in Game 4 killed the Sixers’ momentum, with Chamberlain’s 41 percent free-throw clip casting a cloud over the series. It was a gut-wrenching defeat against a hated rival.
It obviously provided a spark, though — one the Sixers would act on the next season. Even seasons that end in bitter defeat can bring about positives, and the seasons listed so far are prime examples of that notion.
12. 1985-86 season (54-28, lost in conf. semifinals)
Following up a conference finals appearance in 1985 — Charles Barkley‘s rookie season — the Sixers took a minor step back in 1986. Under new head coach Matt Guokas, the Sixers didn’t quite live up to the prior season. Even so, there were plenty of positives.
It would end up being Moses Malone’s final season in Philadelphia. He made his fourth All-Star appearance in four seasons with the team, averaging 23.8 points and 11.8 rebounds. The Malone-Barkley frontcourt was quite formidable.
Barkley built on a promising rookie season, averaging 20.0 points and 12.8 rebounds in 36.9 minutes per game. He appeared and started in 80 contests, establishing himself as a long-term cornerstone.
For Guokas, there were big shoes to fill. His predecessor, Billy Cunningham, was legendary for both his on-court production and his coaching. It was Cunningham who led Philadelphia to a title in 1983. It’s difficult to improve the season after losing a Hall of Fame coach.
Even so, the Sixers managed 54 wins and a competitive conference semifinals appearance. Philadelphia took Milwaukee to seven games — close to a second consecutive conference finals run. Goukas would last until 1987-88.
11. 1984-85 season (58-24, lost in conf. finals)
The 1984-85 season brought renewed hope for Philadelphia 76ers fans. Moses Malone and Julius Erving were still going strong, despite advanced age. Charles Barkley burst onto the scene as a highly-regarded rookie, averaging 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds in under 30 minutes per game.
It culminated in a tremendous season. The Sixers fell short of the primary goal — a championship — but the result was still positive. 58 wins, a trip to the conference finals and the birth of a new franchise centerpiece. It was an all-around splendid year.
Once the dust settled, it also became the end of an era. Billy Cunningham retired after the season, ending a strong multi-decade tenure with the Sixers franchise — both as a Hall of Fame player and an all-time coach.
Cunningham still stands as one of history’s greatest coaching minds. He helped bring a title to Philadelphia on multiple fronts. It was a heartbreaking loss on the heals of a genuinely great season.
In the end, it was fitting for Cunningham to go out swinging. The Sixers were competitive, riding the momentum of elite youth and seasoned star power. It was a short-lived ‘Big 3’, but Erving, Malone and Barkley were amply entertaining.
The season was also a sign of growth. The Sixers improved by six wins over the 1983-84 season, with Barkley’s arrival playing a key role. It was tied for the fourth-highest win total in Cunningham’s historic run as coach.
10. 1967-68 season (62-20, lost in div. finals)
Following the franchise’s second NBA championship in 1967, the Sixers moved into a new arena — The Spectrum. It was another strong campaign, featuring 62 wins and a variety of strong individual campaigns.
The Sixers would again make it to the division finals, facing the vaunted Boston Celtics for a second consecutive season. Philadelphia jumped out to a commanding 3-1 lead, but well before the Golden State Warriors popularized the phrase, the Sixers blew it.
It resulted in a Celtics-Lakers title fight, with Philadelphia watching in agony from home. Wilt Chamberlain was dealt the following summer — heading to L.A. and ending his 3.5-season run in South Philly. Chamberlain remains arguably the greatest player the franchise has seen.
In his final season with the team, Wilt averaged 24.3 points, 23.8 rebounds (!!!), 8.6 assists and 46.8 minutes per contest. Those numbers are hard to swallow compared to the modern NBA. He was a singular, unique talent. He holds a special place in NBA (and Sixers) history.
In addition to Chamberlain, the Sixers were home to Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham, Chet Walker and Luke Jackson. Among the others was Matt Guokas — the same one who took over Cunningham’s coaching void in 1985.
Despite minor regression after a championship run, it’s impossible not to leave 1967-68 in the top 10. There was too much winning and too much history at stake. It was the final run for an all-time great on what, by modern standards, qualifies as a super team.
9. 1980-81 season (62-20, lost in conf. finals)
From approximately 1977-1987, the Sixers put up the best decade in team history. While 1980-81 wasn’t the peak of that decade, it did feature great success. The Sixers won 62 games, the second-most in Billy Cunningham’s tenure as head coach. It also represented Dr. J at his peak.
As the Sixers’ top weapon, Julius Erving averaged 24.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. His combination of explosive athleticism and dynamic skill were captivating. There’s a reason he made 11 All-Star appearances in 11 NBA seasons.
It was also one of Darryl Dawkins‘ most efficient, effective seasons in the NBA. He helped anchor the interior — a staunch rim protector and a dominant force on the block. In conjunction with Erving, his powerful presence made Philadelphia a handful on both ends.
The birth of Andrew Toney — The Boston Strangler — also took place. He averaged 12.9 points per game as a rookie. In broad strokes, the Sixers had more than enough talent to compete — which they did.
Philadelphia couldn’t quite get over the hump, though. Despite an impressive roster, the Sixers were (again) unable to capitalize on a 3-1 series lead over the Boston Celtics. The conference finals ended in bitter defeat, the Sixers choking away a prime championship opportunity.
Aside from blowing another 3-1 lead to Boston, 1980-81 was overwhelmingly positive for the Sixers. It was one point in a series of contending seasons leading up to 1983, when Cunningham and the squad finally got over the hump.
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.
7. 1981-82 season (58-24, lost in NBA Finals)
As mentioned earlier, success is rarely sporadic. There are often indicators. Signs of success or potential leading up to an inevitable breakthrough. In 1982, just one season prior to the Sixers’ 1983 championship, Philadelphia was back in the NBA Finals.
It was a typical landmark season for Julius Erving, as the Doctor averaged 24.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists. It also highlights the consistency of Billy Cunningham as coach. In his eight seasons at the helm, Philadelphia fell short of the conference finals twice.
The Sixers were a burgeoning juggernaut, even without a Finals win to prove it. The team was consistently competitive and consistently atop the Eastern Conference, battling with Boston on a near-yearly basis.
In 1982, it was the conference finals. The Sixers jumped out to a 3-1 series lead — similar to the season prior, when Boston rallied for three straight wins. This time around, the Celtics again forced a 3-3 tie. It had serious hints of deja vu for fans.
But then, in a spell-breaking performance, the Sixers won Game 7 on the road. It was peak Boston Stangler, as Andrew Toney poured in 34 points in 43 fateful minutes. Erving pitched in with 29 points of his own.
The Lakers defeated the Sixers in the Finals, but it was a positive sign — another booming announcement of Philadelphia’s presence in the NBA title hunt. That summer, the Sixers swung a deal for MVP big man Moses Malone. We know what happened in 1983.
6. 1979-80 season (59-23, lost in NBA Finals)
During the Sixers’ decade of success between 1976 and 1986, the franchise made four Finals appearances. While only one resulted in victory, it’s still an impressive feat — one that illustrates just how good that era of Sixers basketball was.
The Sixers’ 1980 Finals run was similar to the others — a deep team, a strong culture under Billy Cunningham and Julius Erving leading the charge. It was also boosted by Maurice Cheeks, who was a mere sophomore at the time.
With Erving spearheading the perimeter attack, Cheeks operated as the conductor. He led the train where it needed to go, whipping on-point passes and epitomizing the now-extinct label of ‘pure point guard.’
The Sixers also had valuable role players, such as Steve Mix and Henry Bibby, to help shoulder the load. It was a talented team with a strong bench. More than enough to live up to the Sixers’ overwhelming potential.
Unfortunately, it did end in heartbreak. The Lakers would end up winning the Finals in six games. Rookie Magic Johnson led the way, dropping 42 points in Game 6 while filling in at center for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
It was part of the string of events that culminated in 1983, though. While the Sixers struggled to get over the hump for years, it can hardly be considered failure. In the ever-shifting NBA, the Sixers were a constant threat for 10 years. That shouldn’t be taken lightly.
5. 1949-50 season (51-13, lost in NBA Finals)
The Philadelphia 76ers — well, technically, the Syracuse Nationals — made their NBA debut in 1949. It’s fair to say the Nats started on the right foot, winning 51 games en route to a .797 win percentage — the second highest mark in franchise history.
At the time, only 17 teams inhabited the league. It was a mix of NBA originals and NBL mergers, the Nationals falling into the latter category. A 51-13 record was good for No. 1 in the league, meaning the franchise quite literally started out on top.
In the postseason, Syracuse went on to beat the Philadelphia Warriors (yes, that’s weird) in two games. Then came the New York Knickerbockers, who were swiftly dispatched. It led to a Finals matchup with the Minneapolis Lakers. While not in L.A. yet, the Sixers-Lakers rivalry has been brewing since the franchise’s first season.
The Lakers wound up winning the title, sending the Nationals home empty handed. Such a strong beginning to an NBA franchise deserves props, though. The Nationals weren’t quite as dominant the following years, but would end up winning a title in 1955 — just five years removed from their first NBA game.
Dolph Schayes was the Nats’ leading man, averaging 16.8 points and 4.0 assists in his de facto NBA rookie season. He would end up going down as an all-time legend and a top-10 player in franchise history.
4. 2000-01 season (56-26, lost in NBA Finals)
Few seasons carry more weight when viewing the Sixers through a holistic, historic lens. 2000-01 was iconic, as much for the Sixers’ success as it was for the culture around the team. It was Allen Iverson’s thunderous overture — a display of just how special his talent was.
While it wasn’t Iverson’s first good season, it was unequivocally his best. He averaged 31.1 points and 4.6 assists per game. His 2.5 steals led the NBA. He won the All-Star Game MVP, and then the league MVP. All that, and the undermanned Sixers finished first in the Eastern Conference.
There were valuable role players on the roster — Dikembe Mutombo, Aaron McKie, Eric Snow — but Iverson was the lone star. He carried a massive load, operating as the primary threat on offense and playing strong point of attack defense.
Iverson, both as a bucket-getter and a passer, was able to push the Sixers’ offense to impressive heights. He had the innate ability to break down defenders, using crossovers and hesitations to loose his man before wreaking havoc as a pull-up threat.
On the whole, it was a magical season — one that will live on in Sixers lore. Philadelphia won its first 10 games, quickly separating itself from the Eastern Conference pack. A mid-season deal for Mutombo cemented their status as contenders.
In the postseason, the Sixers fought through two grueling seven-game series. The Sixers knocked off Toronto in the conference semis and Milwaukee in the conference finals, all building up to a Finals matchup with the Lakers.
While L.A. won swiftly in five games, it’s important to point out a key detail. The Sixers’ lone win — a thrilling OT victory in Game 1 — was the Lakers’ only loss that postseason. Despite being massively outgunned by a deeper L.A. squad, Iverson managed to get the Sixers a win on the biggest stage.
3. 1954-55 season (43-29, won NBA Finals)
When I set out to write this article, one foundational principle was clear: the top three spots belong to the Sixers’ three championship-winning seasons. While a .597 win percentage isn’t beyond compare, 1954-55 was the franchise’s first NBA title. That means something.
The Syracuse Nationals were immediately competitive upon joining the NBA in 1949. That first season yielded a 51-13 record, good for first place in the league and a runner-up finish in the playoffs. After a few down years, 1954 marked a swift return to prominence.
In this case, however, the word ‘prominence’ gives a slightly warped perception of reality. The NBA dwindled to eight teams in 1954, losing several franchises during a period of extreme financial distress. It was a low point in league history. It also opened up a new window of opportunity for the Nationals.
Syracuse was bolstered by multiple star talents — Red Kerr, Dolph Schayes and Paul Seymour chief among them. The Nationals’ 43-29 record wasn’t great, but it did earn first place in a decimated division. After getting a first-round bye, the Nationals defeated Boston in four games to earn the franchise’s second NBA Finals bid.
The Finals — which pitted Syracuse against the Fort Wayne Pistons — went back and forth. Syracuse took the first two at home, followed by three consecutive wins for the home-team Pistons. Games 6 and 7 were, by definition, must-wins for Syracuse.
The Nationals pulled it off, cementing a majestic season for a fledging NBA franchise. Syracuse also gets credit for pushing the league in a more positive direction. It was team owner Daniel Biasone who suggested a 24-second shot clock be added in 1954. That boosted scoring league-wide, which helped push the game to more popular heights.
2. 1982-83 season (65-17, won NBA Finals)
The Sixers’ golden decade — 1976 through 1986 — has been mentioned throughout this article. 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986 all have a spot on this list. It was the height of Sixers fandom and the team’s most competitive stretch since its NBA inception in 1949.
Julius Erving, George McGinnis, Moses Malone, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, Charles Barkley, Doug Collins, World B. Free, Darryl Dawkins. And more. All those names, in some capacity, are tied to the Sixers’ greatest era. Its highest point was 1983.
After a drought of over 15 years, the Sixers finally brought a second championship to the city of Philadelphia. It came one year after a gut-wrenching loss to the Lakers in 1982, the Sixers exacting their revenge on L.A. with a clean Finals sweep.
It was Moses Malone’s first stand with the team. He was traded in the summer of ’82, adding the final piece to Philadelphia’s talent-laden puzzle. He won regular season MVP before going on to win Finals MVP. That alone cemented Malone’s status in Sixers history.
His famous ‘fo, fo, fo’ prediction never came to fruition — the Bucks stole one game in the conference finals — but it was close. The Sixers rolled through the playoffs, putting together one of the most dominant seasons of the past 40 years.
Across 13 postseason games, Malone averaged 26.0 points, 15.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.5 steals. He was aided by Julius Erving and Andrew Toney, who averaged 18.4 and 18.8 points, respectively. Cheeks’ playmaking skills helped everything come together.
It was validation for Billy Cunningham, a coaching (and playing) legend. It was validation for Dr. J, adding substance to his unmistakable flash. It was validation for Maurice Cheeks, an all-time facilitator and textbook point guard. It was validation for Harold Katz, who bought the Sixers in 1981 and helped facilitate Malone’s arrival.
There were numerous moving parts and several seasons of important developments leading up to Philadelphia’s breakthrough in 1983. It deserves this spot, without question.
1. 1966-67 season (68-13, won NBA Finals)
For a while, the 1966-67 season stood alone in history. It was, at the time, the best record in NBA history — a whopping .840 win percentage. Wilt Chamberlain and the Sixers were 46-4 through 50 games. That’s the same record the 2015-16 Warriors had through 50 games.
It wasn’t until Michael Jordan and the Bulls soared to 72 wins in 1996 that the Sixers’ record fell. For a long period of time, the 1966-67 Sixers were considered the best team the league had seen. They’re still a part of that conversation today.
Wilt deserves immense credit, for obvious reasons. He’s a top-five player in NBA history — a physical anomaly hitherto undreamt of prior to the 1960s (shoutout to Dr. Stange, for no particular reason). In the postseason, Chamblerlain averaged 21.7 points, 29.1 rebounds and 9.0 assists.
It wasn’t all on Chamberlain, though. The Sixers had five other All-Stars in Hal Greer, Chet Walker, Billy Cunningham, Wali Jones and Luke Jackson. In the modern era, that’s what we call a superteam.
Philadelphia was stacked top to bottom, elevated by Chamberlain’s omnipresent greatness. It wasn’t a dynasty — Chamberlain was traded after just one more season — but it was a dynasty killer. The Sixers put an end to the Celtics’ eight-year run as NBA champions.
As the conference finals drew to a close — a resounding five-game series win for Philadelphia — fans chanted “Boston is dead.” It emphatically punctuated the end of an expansive era. The Sixers took down arguably the greatest dynasty that ever was.
While 1983 often gets more credit in modern-day conversations, 1966-67 is the greatest season in franchise history. Both in the regular season and postseason, the Sixers were a dominant force — driven by the prodigious talents of Wilt ‘The Stilt.’ It’s a fitting way to cap off this list.