Philadelphia 76ers

History

In 1963, the Syracuse Nationals moved to Philadelphia and became the Philadelphia 76ers. By 1967, the 76ers held the league’s best record and won the NBA championship. Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer and Billy Cunningham starred. Cunningham would return to coach the 76ers and lead them to the NBA championship in 1983 – Philadelphia’s last major championship – with a 4-0 sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers thanks to the help of Maurice Cheeks, Julius Erving and Moses Malone.

Since that last title, the 76ers have had their ups and downs. In 1999, the team made its first trip to the playoffs, spark-plugged by Allen Iverson and team owner Pat Croce, since 1991 when the colorful Charles Barkley led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals. In 2001, the Sixers ignited that famous Philadelphia spirit by winning the NBA Eastern Conference and making it to the NBA Finals for the first time in 23 years.