Beyond the Legends: Five Forgotten Faces in Philadelphia 76ers History

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 20: JaVale McGee #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers runs up the court in the game against the Indiana Pacers on February 20, 2015, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pacers defeated the 76ers 106-95 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Before James Harden wore number 1 for the Philadelphia 76ers, journeyman center Javale McGee donned the number for a short time. McGee was in a Sixers uniform for just about a cup of coffee back in 2015 during the peak of the Process era. McGee was traded by the Denver Nuggets to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the rights to Cenk Akyol, a prospect who never played a game in the NBA, and his rights were ultimately traded several more times in the years that followed.

McGee spent just six games with the team, playing a minor role off the bench on a team that won just 10 games. His best moment as a Sixer came in his home debut when he threw down a titanic one-handed slam against the Indiana Pacers in front of passionate fans at Wells Fargo Center. This landed him on highlight reels across sports television and was a positive moment for a team that was otherwise dreadful and hard to watch. His veteran presence, even in a short stint, no doubt had an impact on some of the young players on the Sixers squad.

He was waived by the team in March 2015 and has since gone on to win three NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. McGee’s resilience and ability to contribute both as a starter and a role player have made him a respected player around the NBA. He is entering his 15th season in 2023 after signing a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings worth $3.1 million