About the Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers, are a professional basketball team and reside in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the NBA.  The 76ers play in the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and wear jerseys of black, gold and white. The team is named after the year 1776, when at the political center of the United States in Philadelphia our nation’s forefathers declared independence from Great Britain. 

In the 1966-67 season the team consisted of guard Hal Greer, center Wilt Chamberlain, and forwards Billy Cunningham and Chet Walker.  That team won 68 games and the NBA title. In the late 70s and early 80s the 76ers had four shots at the title and eventually claimed it in 1983 behind forwards Julius Erving, George McGinnis, and Bobby Jones; guards Maurice Cheeks and Andrew Toney; and center Moses Malone.

The 76ers selected Charles Barkley in the 1984 draft and he immediately made an impact helping Philadelphia reach the Eastern Conference finals in 1985. Erving retired two years later, in 1986-1987. After trading Barkley to the Phoenix Suns in 1992 the 76ers spiraled into mediocrity.  After several losing seasons and high draft picks, the 76ers drafted Allen Iverson who won rookie of the year in his inaugural season.  In the lock-out shortened 1999 season, Iverson led the 76ers to the Easter Conference Finals. 

Coming into the 2004-2005 season, Philadelphia is looking to make another run at the NBA Finals Championship Trophy.  Leading the was is one of the most exiting and dangerous players in the NBA, point guard Allen Iverson.  Don’t let his short, wiry frame fool you, Iverson plays with the bravado of a big man.  His quick moves to the hole usually result in 2 points on the board or a trip to the free throw line.  Labeled as a cancer in the locker room, Coach Jim O’Brien has seen some leadership qualities in his star player and no one doubts that Iverson comes to play on game day.  For his career Iverson is averaging 27 points/game with almost 6 assists and 3 steals.

Rounding out the starting lineup is three veterans and a rookie.  Coming into his  thirteenth season, Aaron McKie is a solid outside shooter and a career .350 three point shooter.  His veteran experience has helped the team stay focused in the playoffs and 10 out of thirteen years in Philadelphia makes him a fan favorite.  At 6’7’’ Andre Iguodala is prototypicaly sized to play small forward.  In high school he high jumped his own height to take second place in the state, and was an all around track star.  He hopes to transfer that athletiscism into points and rebounds as the Sixers make a run at an NBA finals championship.

Coach Jim O’Brien  has been an NBA coach for three years.  After three rebuilding years in Boston, O’Brien was let go and picked up by the 76ers.  O’Brien posts a .539 career winning percentage and is .500 in the playoffs.  Known for his perimiter shooting teams, O’Brien hopes to bring some outside shooting savvy to the in-the-paint 76ers.