History of the Philadelphia 76ers facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Philadelphia 76ers are an American basketball team that plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They are part of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers are one of the most successful teams in NBA history, ranking third in total wins and playoff appearances.

The Early Years: Syracuse Nationals (1946–1963)

Dolph Schayes was a star player for the Syracuse Nationals for many years.

The team started in 1946 as the Syracuse Nationals. They were based in Syracuse, a city in upstate New York. The Nationals joined the National Basketball League (NBL) and later became one of the teams that formed the NBA in 1949.

Becoming an NBA Team (1949–1963)

The Nationals quickly found success in the NBA. In their first NBA season (1949–1950), they won their division with the best record in the league (51 wins, 13 losses). They made it all the way to the NBA Finals but lost to the Minneapolis Lakers.

The team continued to be strong, often reaching the playoffs. A key moment for the NBA happened in the 1954–1955 season. The Nationals' owner, Danny Biasone, suggested a new rule: the shot clock. This rule limits how long a team can hold the ball before shooting. It made games much faster and more exciting!

In that first season with the shot clock, the Nationals won their first NBA Championship! They beat the Fort Wayne Pistons in a thrilling seven-game series. A player named George King made a game-winning free throw and then stole the ball to seal the victory.

Even though they were a small-town team, the Nationals kept playing well. They had star players like Dolph Schayes. They often made the playoffs, but they faced tough rivals like the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia Warriors.

Moving to Philadelphia (1963)

After the 1962–1963 season, the Syracuse Nationals moved to Philadelphia. This was because Syracuse was becoming too small to support an NBA team. The move filled the spot left by the Warriors, who had moved to San Francisco. Fans helped choose a new name for the team: the "76ers," celebrating the year 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. People often call them the "Sixers" for short.

The team played in different arenas in Philadelphia, including the Philadelphia Arena and Civic Center-Convention Hall. Dolph Schayes became the team's first coach in Philadelphia.

The Wilt Chamberlain Era (1964–1967)

Wilt Chamberlain led the Sixers to an NBA title in 1967.

In the 1964–65 season, the 76ers got a legendary player: Wilt Chamberlain. He was already a superstar and had played for the Warriors when they were in Philadelphia. With Chamberlain, the Sixers became a top team. In the 1965 playoffs, they had a close series against the Celtics but lost in the final seconds of Game 7.

The 1966–67 season was amazing for the 76ers. Led by coach Alex Hannum, they had a record of 68 wins and only 13 losses. This was the best record in league history at the time! Chamberlain was incredible, leading the league in shooting percentage and rebounds. Along with other stars like Billy Cunningham and Hal Greer, the team was unstoppable. They finally beat the Celtics in the semifinals, ending Boston's eight-year championship streak. Then, they won their second NBA Championship (and first in Philadelphia) by defeating the Warriors in six games. This 1966–67 Sixers team is often called one of the best teams ever!

A Period of Decline (1967–1976)

After winning the championship, the 76ers continued to be strong in the 1967–68 season. They had the best record in the NBA again, and Chamberlain won his third straight MVP award. However, they lost to the Celtics in the playoffs after being up 3–1 in the series.

After that season, the 76ers traded Wilt Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers. This trade, along with other player changes, caused the team to struggle. By the 1971–72 season, just five years after winning the title, the 76ers missed the playoffs for the first time in their history.

The 1972–73 season was especially tough. The team finished with a terrible record of 9 wins and 73 losses. This was the worst record in NBA history at the time. Fans even called them the "Nine and 73-ers." It was a very difficult period for the franchise.

The team slowly started to improve. By the 1975–76 season, they made the playoffs again, but they needed a new spark to truly compete for a championship.

The Julius Erving Era (1976–1987)

Julius Erving, known as "Dr. J," was a superstar for the 76ers.

The 76ers made a huge comeback in the 1976–77 season, thanks to a trade that brought them superstar Julius Erving. Erving, known as "Dr. J," was an exciting player who thrilled fans with his amazing dunks and athletic plays. With Erving leading the way, the 76ers reached the NBA Finals but lost to the Portland Trail Blazers.

For the next few seasons, the 76ers were always a top team, but they kept falling short of winning the championship. They lost in the NBA Finals in 1980 and had tough playoff losses to the Celtics in 1981 and 1982. Despite these setbacks, the team was building towards something special.

Winning the Championship (1982–83 Season)

The final piece of the championship puzzle arrived before the 1982–83 season when the 76ers acquired center Moses Malone from the Houston Rockets. With Malone joining Erving, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones, the team was incredibly strong. They won 65 games in the regular season, which is still one of the best records in franchise history.

Moses Malone famously predicted the playoffs would be "fo', fo', fo'," meaning they would sweep all three rounds (win four games in each series). While they didn't quite sweep every series, they dominated the playoffs. They swept the New York Knicks, then beat the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. In the NBA Finals, they swept the Los Angeles Lakers, who had beaten them the year before. This gave the 76ers their third NBA Championship (and second in Philadelphia)! Their playoff record of 12 wins and only 1 loss is one of the best in NBA history.

The Arrival of Charles Barkley

After the championship, the team had a disappointing season in 1983–84. But then, a new star arrived: Charles Barkley. Barkley was a powerful and entertaining player who quickly became a fan favorite. For the next eight seasons, he was the face of the Sixers.

In Barkley's first season (1984–85), the Sixers reached the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Celtics. Unfortunately, they wouldn't go that far again during Barkley's time in Philadelphia. The team made some trades that were criticized, like trading Moses Malone and a valuable draft pick. These moves weakened the team.

The Charles Barkley Era (1987–1992)

Philadelphia 76ers at Charlotte Hornets 1988-12-01 (ticket)

A ticket for a 1988–89 game between the 76ers and the Charlotte Hornets.

The 76ers missed the playoffs in 1987–88 for the first time in many years. However, they returned to the playoffs in 1988–89. In the 1989–90 season, Barkley had an amazing year and the Sixers won their division with a 53–29 record. They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs but then lost to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. They lost to the Bulls again in the 1991 playoffs.

By the 1991–92 season, the 76ers missed the playoffs again. On June 17, 1992, Charles Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns. This trade was very unpopular with fans.

The "Dark Ages" (1992–1996)

After Barkley left, the 76ers went through a very tough period that many fans called "The Dark Ages." The team struggled to win games, and their win total decreased every year from 1990–91 to 1995–96. They made some poor decisions with player acquisitions and draft picks.

The lowest point was the 1995–96 season, when they finished with only 18 wins and 64 losses, the second-worst record in franchise history. At the end of this season, the team was sold to new owners, including Ed Snider, who also owned the Philadelphia Flyers. A new president, Pat Croce, took over.

Despite the struggles, there was a major bright spot. Because of their poor record, the team won the lottery for the top pick in the 1996 NBA draft. With that pick, the Sixers chose a player who would change everything: Allen Iverson.

The Allen Iverson Era (1996–2006)

Allen Iverson was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2001.

With new owners, a new arena (the CoreStates Center), and Allen Iverson, things started to look up for the 76ers. Iverson was named Rookie of the Year, but the team still had a losing record. After that season, the Sixers hired Larry Brown as head coach. Brown was known for building strong defensive teams. He often had disagreements with Iverson, but together they started to turn the team around.

The team began to improve, adding key defensive players like Aaron McKie and Theo Ratliff. In the 1998–99 season, which was shortened by a lockout, the Sixers made the playoffs for the first time since 1991. They upset the Orlando Magic in the first round before losing to the Indiana Pacers. The next season, they improved again, but lost to the Pacers in the second round.

The Amazing 2000–01 Season

The 2000–01 season was incredible for the 76ers. They started strong, winning their first ten games, and easily won their division. Larry Brown coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars, and Allen Iverson was named MVP of the All-Star Game. Before the playoffs, the Sixers traded for star center Dikembe Mutombo, a great defensive player.

The 76ers finished with 56 wins and 26 losses, earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, they had tough series against the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors. Iverson had some amazing scoring games, including two games with over 50 points. They won a thrilling Game 7 against the Raptors. Then, they faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning another Game 7 to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1983!

In the NBA Finals, they faced the powerful Los Angeles Lakers, who had not lost a single playoff game yet. In Game One, the Sixers pulled off a shocking upset, winning in overtime! Iverson scored 48 points and famously stepped over Lakers player Tyronn Lue after a key shot. However, the Lakers, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, were too strong and won the next four games to take the championship.

Even though they lost the Finals, the 2000–01 76ers had an amazing season. Allen Iverson was the NBA MVP, Larry Brown was Coach of the Year, Dikembe Mutombo was Defensive Player of the Year, and Aaron McKie was Sixth Man of the Year.

After the Finals

The 76ers had high hopes after their Finals run, but they couldn't repeat their success. Larry Brown resigned as coach in 2003. The team struggled with injuries and coaching changes. In 2004, they drafted Andre Iguodala, a talented young player.

In the 2004–05 season, Iverson had another great year, and the team acquired Chris Webber. They made the playoffs but lost in the first round. The team continued to struggle to find consistent success.

The Andre Iguodala Era (2006–2012)

On December 19, 2006, Allen Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets. This marked the end of an era for the 76ers. The team then focused on building around Andre Iguodala.

The Sixers made the playoffs in 2008, their first appearance since Iverson left. They lost to the Detroit Pistons, but fans were happy with the team's improvement. In 2008, the Sixers signed Elton Brand, a talented power forward. They also re-signed Iguodala and Louis Williams.

The team fired coach Maurice Cheeks during the 2008–09 season, and Tony DiLeo took over. They still made the playoffs but lost to the Orlando Magic.

Iverson's Return (2009–10 Season)

In December 2009, Allen Iverson briefly returned to the 76ers, which excited many fans. However, he left the team later in the season due to a family illness. The Sixers finished with a poor record that year.

Doug Collins as Coach (2010–2012)

Doug Collins coached the 76ers from 2010 to 2013.

In 2010, former Sixers player Doug Collins became the head coach. The team also drafted Evan Turner. Collins helped turn the team around, and they made the playoffs in 2011, losing to the Miami Heat.

In the 2011–12 season, the 76ers had a strong start. They made the playoffs as the eighth seed and pulled off a big upset, beating the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in six games! This was the first time an eighth seed beat a first seed in NBA history. They then faced their rivals, the Boston Celtics, in a close series that went to seven games, but the Sixers were eliminated.

Rebuilding Years (2012–2014)

Josh Harris led the group that bought the 76ers in 2011.

Before the 2012–13 season, the 76ers made a big trade, sending Andre Iguodala away and acquiring All-Star center Andrew Bynum. However, Bynum never played a game for the Sixers due to knee injuries. The team struggled with many injuries and missed the playoffs.

After the season, Doug Collins resigned as coach, and Sam Hinkie became the new general manager. Hinkie decided to start a full "rebuilding" process, often called "The Process" by fans. This meant trading away established players for draft picks and young talent, even if it meant losing many games in the short term.

In the 2013 NBA draft, the Sixers traded their star point guard Jrue Holiday for Nerlens Noel and a future draft pick. Noel was injured and couldn't play right away. The team drafted Michael Carter-Williams to replace Holiday. The 76ers had a very tough 2013–14 season, losing 26 games in a row at one point, which tied an NBA record. They finished with only 19 wins. However, Michael Carter-Williams won the Rookie of the Year award.

The Joel Embiid Era (2014–Present)

Drafting New Talent (2014–2016)

In the 2014 NBA draft, the Sixers selected Joel Embiid with the third pick. Embiid was also injured and would miss his first two seasons. They also traded for Dario Šarić, another young player who would play overseas for a few years before joining the team. The team continued to trade away veterans for more draft picks, focusing on building for the future.

The 76ers had very difficult seasons in 2014–15 and 2015–16, losing many games as part of "The Process." In December 2015, they set an NBA record for the longest losing streak, with 28 losses in a row stretching across two seasons. However, they eventually broke the streak.

Building a Contender (2017–Present)

After years of rebuilding, the Sixers started to see their young talent develop. Joel Embiid finally made his NBA debut in the 2016–17 season and quickly showed he was a superstar. The team also drafted Ben Simmons, who became another key player.

In the 2018–19 season, the 76ers made big trades to acquire Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, adding more star power. They finished as the third seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, they beat the Brooklyn Nets but lost a very close, exciting series to the Toronto Raptors in seven games. The Raptors won on a last-second shot by Kawhi Leonard.

The 76ers continue to build around Joel Embiid, aiming to win another NBA Championship.

Images for kids

The 1958–59 Syracuse Nationals team.
Philadelphia-born Joe Bryant played for the 76ers from 1975 to 1979.
Andre Iguodala was drafted by the 76ers in 2004.
Thaddeus Young was a key player for the 76ers after Allen Iverson left.
Allen Iverson during his second time playing for the Sixers.