1. Charles Barkley
The 76ers drafted Barkley with the fifth overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. He quickly became one of the best power forwards in the league. Barkley was a six-time All-Star in Philadelphia, but the franchise made its deepest playoff run in his rookie season when they reached the conference finals. He was a special talent, but after missing the postseason in 1992, the 6’6 forward demanded a trade.
The Sixers traded him for three role players, but the deal turned into a disaster as Jeff Horncek left after a season and a half. Barkley continued to be one of the best forwards in the world. He made five more All-Star appearances and led the Suns to the NBA Finals in 1993.
Barkley was afraid he would never win with the 76ers, but the all-time great did not win a championship in his Hall of Fame career. Could Philadelphia have built a contender around him? It is impossible to know, but the franchise would have certainly tried. Barkley decided to move on in the middle of his prime, and the whole situation was a disaster for the Sixers.
The Philadelphia 76ers are no strangers to drama and players turning their backs on the organization. These are the worst, and the franchise hopes to avoid another incident.