Philadelphia 76ers

On a winter night in 1963, the Syracuse Nationals packed up their playbooks and headed east, leaving behind a championship legacy for a new identity in Philadelphia. Renamed the 76ers to honor the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the franchise quickly became a powerhouse. They won their first title as the Sixers in 1967, led by Wilt Chamberlain, and added another in 1983 with Julius Erving and Moses Malone. The team's third championship came in 1955, back when they were still the Nationals.

Home games now shake the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia, a venue that has hosted everything from Allen Iverson's crossovers to Joel Embiid's MVP season. The Sixers boast five league MVPs who wore their jersey: Chamberlain, Erving, Malone, Iverson, and Embiid. Their blue, red, and white colors are a fixture in a city that demands grit and loyalty.

The franchise has weathered rebuilds, including the infamous 'Process' era from 2013 to 2017, which stockpiled draft picks and eventually yielded Embiid and Ben Simmons. Today, the roster features Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, a trio that aims to end a championship drought stretching back to 1983.[edit]

The franchise began in 1946 as the Syracuse Nationals, a charter member of the National Basketball League. They joined the NBA in 1949 and won their first championship in 1955, defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons in seven games. In 1963, the team moved to Philadelphia and rebranded as the 76ers. Under new ownership, they drafted Wilt Chamberlain, who led them to a 68-13 record in 1967 and a championship over the San Francisco Warriors.

The 1970s brought Julius Erving, acquired in a 1976 trade with the New York Nets. Erving's flair and leadership pushed the Sixers to multiple Finals appearances, but they fell short until 1983, when Moses Malone joined and famously predicted 'Fo', Fo', Fo'. They swept the Lakers to win the title, losing only one playoff game. The 1980s also featured Charles Barkley, a force who never reached the Finals in Philadelphia.

Allen Iverson arrived in 1996 and electrified the league, winning MVP in 2001 and carrying the team to the Finals against the Lakers. They lost in five games. The next decade saw mediocrity, leading to the 'Process' rebuild under Sam Hinkie. The strategy of tanking for high draft picks produced Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, but playoff success remained elusive. In 2023, Embiid won MVP, and the team hired Nick Nurse as head coach. The 2024 offseason brought Paul George, signaling a new push for a championship.[edit]