The next stage of the first round begins, with more Philadelphia 76ers favorites on the docket.
Our tournament to determine everyone’s all-time favorite Sixer is off to a rollicking start. We had multiple upsets in the first slate — including Robert Covington, the 56th seed, thoroughly beating Darryl Dawkins. Chocolate Thunder was the ninth seed.
The next slate includes another handful of Philadelphia 76ers legends and fan favorites. It’s not unwise to expect another handful of upsets. If you want to get in on the action, follow our Twitter account (@SixerSense) and vote. Polls will roll out daily until the tournament’s completion.
Here are the results from our first eight matchups.
- (1) Allen Iverson def. (64) Michael Carter-Williams
- (32) Thaddeus Young def. (33) Aaron McKie
- (16) George McGinnis def. (49) Henry Bibby
- (17) Ben Simmons def. (48) Dario Saric
- (8) Andre Iguodala def. (57) J.J. Redick
- (25) Fred Carter def. (40) Tom Van Arsdale
- (56) Robert Covington def. (9) Darryl Dawkins
- (41) Steve Mix def. (24) Red Kerr
You can view the full bracket here.
Today’s matchups are as follows…
(4) Wilt Chamberlain vs. (61) Jim Washington
Wilt is a legend. He scored 100 points in a single game, and by the numbers, is the most prolific offensive weapon in NBA history. Chamberlain remains one of the single greatest athletes the league has ever seen, even to this day. He may be the greatest player of all-time.
On the other hand, Jim Washington had a fruitful two-and-a-half year stint in Philadelphia. He stepped into the Philadelphia frontcourt soon after Wilt left for L.A., and proved to be a constant double-double threat.
(29) Evan Turner vs. (36) Jerry Stackhouse
A staple of the pre-process Sixers, Turner played a significant role in Philadelphia’s surprise 2012 playoff push. He spent the first three years of his career in South Philly, going from productive reserve to full-time starter over that span. He was traded to Indiana in 2014.
Stackhouse spent the first two years of his career and change in Philadelphia. He never lived up to pre-draft hype, but Stack was an electric scorer on the perimeter. He struggled to share the backcourt with Allen Iverson, but even so, he averaged 20.0 points per game over his first two NBA seasons.
(13) Chet Walker vs. (52) Nik Stauskas
Chet Walker is a legend. He spent seven years between Syracuse and Philadelphia, averaging 16.2 points and 7.9 rebounds over that span. “The Jet” contributed in a big way to the Sixers’ 1967 championship run, and he remains one of the more under-appreciated weapons in franchise history.
Sauce Castillo is a legend in a different sense. Not because of his talent, but because of what he symbolized. He was part of Sam Hinkie’s greatest trade-market heist, and while he never quite lived up to his potential in Philadelphia, Stauskas’ positive attitude made him a fan favorite.
(20) Lou Williams vs. (45) Dana Barros
Sweet Lou started his bucket-getting career in Philadelphia, though it took a few seasons for him to find his footing. Never a great defender nor an elite playmaker, Williams has always found ways to carry an offense with his scoring. He’s as crafty as they come, and what has since become a historic career, began on a fairly strong seven-year note with the Sixers.
Borros spent a couple seasons with Philadelphia in the 90s, including his lone All-Star appearance in 1995. He averaged 20.6 points per game that season — by far the highest mark of his career — while also dropping 7.5 assists. Known for his skill and fundamentals, Borros was a fan favorite packaged into a small 5-foot-11 package.
(5) Charles Barkley vs. (60) Jeff Hornacek
The Round Mound of Rebound, Barkley spent the first eight years of his NBA career in Philadelphia, including six All-Star appearances. A uniquely strong and powerful athlete, Barkely overcame his short, stout stature to average 23.3 points and 11.6 rebounds in his Sixers career.
Now an ousted head coach, Jeff Hornacek was once an All-Star player. He didn’t reach All-Star heights with the Sixers, and he was only in Philadelphia for a shade under two seasons, but Hornacek was still a talented scorer who earned a positive reputation.
(28) Elton Brand vs. (37) Spencer Hawes
Brand spent four years of his career in Philadelphia following many successful years in Los Angeles. He wasn’t overly special, and his best years came beforehand, but Brand was both a productive member of the frontcourt and a well respected veteran. After a couple years on different teams, he came back to Philadelphia for a fifth season in 2015-16 before retiring. Now he’s GM.
On the other hand, Hawes was part of the Sixers’ 2012 run, the same as Brand. He brought valuable floor spacing to the center spot, and his defense was an underrated attribute. He was a solid role player and quickly earned the title of fan favorite.
(12) Andrew Toney vs. (53) Mike Scott
The Boston Stangler. A special nickname for a special player. Toney spent his entire eight-year career in Philadelphia, and was part of the Sixers’ 1983 championship squad. He became legend for his performances against Boston in the postseason, and if it weren’t for career-ending injuries, his successful run may have stretched even further.
Mike Scott has an entire subsection of the Sixers fanbase devoted to him — The Hive. There are Mike Scott candles, Mike Scott t-shirts, and countless twitter photos of fans dressed in ninja-styler headbands and covered in temporary tattoos. He’s here for a reason.
(21) Bobby Jones vs. (44) Andre Miller
Jones spent seven years in Philadelphia and earned the nickname “Secretary of Defense,” which is simply magnificent. He was a top-notch defender and an emotional leader for a number of talented Sixers teams, including the 1983 championship squad. He was a fan favorite if there ever was one.
Miller spent two and a half years of a long NBA career in Philadelphia in the mid-2000s. In 2007-08, his first full season with the Sixers, he averaged a career-high 17.0 points per game. Miller’s reputation was centered on basketball I.Q. and a measured, meticulous approach to the game. In Philadelphia, he was unleashed as much as ever.
As a reminder, you can vote on these matchups today over at our Twitter page. Go get in on the action.