Philadelphia 76ers fans — it’s live!
As the basketball world copes with no March Madness, we have decided to craft our own tournament here at The Sixer Sense. For fans of the Philadelphia 76ers who want to participate in the madness, follow us on Twitter (@SixerSense), where we will hold daily polls until the tournament’s conclusion.
The rules are simple. 64 players, 32 head-to-head matchups, and you — the fans — will vote for your favorite each time. The field will drop from 64 to 32, from 32 to 16, and so on. You are not voting for the best player. The bracket it comprised loosely of all-time greats and fan favorites. There is no shame in voting for the lower seed. These choices are all centered on personal preference.
Variety was a goal. From Allen Iverson, to Wilt Chamberlain, to Dolph Schayes, to T.J. McConnell, as many bases as possible we covered. NBA champs, Process legends, and the favorites in between. If a certain era speaks to you most, odds are you can find a player or two from that era to vote for.
If you want to view the bracket in full, you can click this link. Twitter, however, it where we will determine the winner. If you don’t have a Twitter, feel free to make one and join us — this should be a lot of fun!
Today, we will conduct the first quarter of the bracket. Here are the matchups…
(1) Allen Iverson vs. (64) Michael Carter-Williams
A.I. needs no introduction. He’s an all-time great — one of the single most electric scorers in NBA history. From his killer crossover to his dynamic finishes, Iverson let little stop him from creating space and getting buckets. He led the Sixers all the way to the Finals in 2001.
The No. 1 pick out of Georgetown in 1996, Iverson spent the first 10 years of his career in Philadelphia. Over that span, he averaged 28.0 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.3 steals. Not shabby.
At the tail end of the bracket is a Process cornerstone, as well as the 2014 Rookie of the Year. MCW’s time in Philly was short, but memorable. His departure was a product of Sam Hinkie’s aggressive management philosophy.
(32) Thaddeus Young vs. (33) Aaron McKie
Young spent the first seven years of his career in Philadelphia, where he posted averages of 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks — rounding into one of the NBA’s most versatile frontcourt defenders. He played a significant role in the Sixers’ magical 2012 postseason run, during which the eight-seed Sixers beat the one-seed Bulls.
On the other hand, McKie was a key sidekick to Allen Iverson during their underdog Finals run in 2001. He spent seven years in Philadelphia as well, averaging 8.2 points and 3.1 assists. A strong sixth man and a fan favorite.
(16) George McGinnis vs. (49) Henry Bibby
An all-timer in every sense, McGinnis spent three season with Philadelphia in the early years. From 1975-78, he averaged 21.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, not to mention a couple steals on the side. He was one of the most well-rounded scorers of his generation and made two All-Star appearances in three seasons as a Sixer.
Bibby shared the court with McGinnis for two seasons, emerging as a critical role player on a competitive Sixers team. A skilled point guard playing roughly 30 minutes a night with the Sixers, Bibby averaged 10.1 points and 4.6 assists over four productive years.
(17) Ben Simmons vs. (48) Dario Saric
Oh no. What have we done…
(8) Andre Iguodala vs. (57) J.J. Redick
From pre-process to post-process. Andre Iguodala started his immaculate NBA career in Philadelphia, spending eight seasons in Sixers red, white, and blue. He made an All-Star appearance in 2012, and was a key contributor to the aforementioned 2012 postseason run.
As for Redick, he spent two productive years in Philadelphia before departing last summer. In fact, they were the most productive seasons of his career — he averaged 17.6 points on 40.7 percent shooting from deep over that span.
(25) Fred Carter vs. (40) Tom Van Arsdale
More than the best player on the worst team in NBA history, Carter was extremely effective in roughly five years as a Sixer. He averaged 20 points over that span, and became a true fan favorite, known for his grit, positivity, and swagger.
Van Arsdale holds the record for most NBA games played without a postseason appearance. Not necessarily great, but it does indicate his prowess as a player. He was real good, making up for limited athleticism with craftiness. He averaged 18.6 points in just over two seasons as a Sixer.
(9) Darryl Dawkins vs. (56) Robert Covington
Chocolate Thunder. Need I say more? Darryl Dawkins, the a top-five pick in 1975, carved out a reputation for ferocious dunks and elite rim protection. He was a physical specimen, and used his tools to patrol the paint as forcefully as anyone from his era.
Robert Covington’s reputation was split down the middle at times during his Sixers stint, but it’s hard not to appreciate his contributions — both as part of the process and as part of Philadelphia’s first post-Hinkie playoff run. He’s an elite defender, a good shooter, and a delightful human.
(24) Red Kerr vs. (41) Steve Mix
A 6-foot-9 center in a bygone basketball era, Red Kerr helped lead Philadelphia to its first NBA championship in 1955 — when they were still the Syracuse Nationals. Kerr was a beast, both on the glass and in the paint, and has an irrefutable place in Sixers history.
Mix came along later and appeared in three Finals with Philadelphia, although he came up empty-handed. He wasn’t a star in the traditional sense, but he carved out his role as a hard-nosed defender and a high-effort role player. Again, a true fan favorite.
Check back tomorrow for the next quarter of our bracket.