The Sixer Sense
Fansided

6 Worst Philadelphia 76ers starters of the Allen Iverson era

By Jonathan Geib

PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 16: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers gestures to hear cheers from the crowd during the NBA game against the Washington Wizards at First Union Center on March 30, 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Sixers won 107-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 16: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers gestures to hear cheers from the crowd during the NBA game against the Washington Wizards at First Union Center on March 30, 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Sixers won 107-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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29 Dec 1996: Michael Cage of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Lakers won the game 115-102. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport
29 Dec 1996: Michael Cage of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Lakers won the game 115-102. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport /

Michael Cage (1996-97)

Cage was a first-round draft pick in the 1984 NBA Draft with high expectations coming off of back-to-back WAC Players of the Year at San Diego State. He was a dominant front-court force who impressed early with the Los Angeles Clippers. In just his third year in the league, he averaged a career-high 15.7 points and added 11.5 rebounds as well. This was the start of a four-year stretch where Cage would border a double-double.

During the 1987-88 NBA season, Cage was the NBA rebounding leader with an impressive 13 rebounds per game, including over 5 per on the offensive glass. If Cage had been a member of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of his NBA career, he would have been far from consideration for this list, but unfortunately for his sake that is not the case.

By the time Cage arrived in Philadelphia, he was entering his 13th season in the NBA and had seen a steady decline in his points and rebounding production for the past five to six seasons. It is uncertain what the Sixers were hoping to get out of Cage at this point in his career, but the team was coming off an 18-64 record the year before.

The 1996-97 season was Allen Iverson’s first year in the NBA and he started alongside Cage in 24 games that season. Cage averaged a measly 1.8 points and 3.9 rebounds for the Sixers and his career was all but over by this time. The Sixers did not improve much, finishing with a four-game improvement over the prior year for a 22-60 record. The good news for the franchise was their fortunes were on the verge of a drastic positive shift.