Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Who is the Greatest Sixer of All-Time?
Now that Allen Iverson has been moved and his era has officially ended, it is time to talk about him in regards to the other greats that have worn a Philadelphia 76ers jersey. Players such as Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, and Sir Charles Barkley. So after spending today researching, I present you the contenders:
Sir Charles- Commonly known as the Round Mound of Rebound, Barkley averaged 24.3 ppg during his Sixers tenure. During his first two years with the Sixers, the team won 58 and 54 games respectively. The Sixers also made the playoffs every year with Barkley except 1987-1988 and 1991-1992. His best with the Sixers was 1987-1988 when he averaged 28.3 ppg and 11.9 rbg. Of course he did not ever lead the Sixers to a championship or even a finals appearance.
Moses Malone- The missing piece that lead to the Sixers 1982-1983 championship. He was named the finals MVP and also was the league MVP. His best year was the Championship year when he averaged 24.5 ppg and 15.3 rpg. He lasted only four years in Philly before coming back for one more year in the 1990s but he was the piece that turned the Sixers from contenders in 1981-1982 into champions the next year.
Julius Erving- Dr. J was an electric dunker laying the foundation for many players including Michael Jordan who would follow him. During his time in Philly, he struck an intense rivalry with Larry Bird. He played eleven season with the Sixers leading them to the 1982-1983 championship and also lead them to the 1980 finals. He was the NBA MVP in 1981. His best year with the Sixers was 1979-1980 when he averaged 26.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg. He also changed the way the game is played.
Allen Iverson- The Answer played 10+ season with the Sixers. He had his ups and downs. He was league MVP, Finals MVP, and All-Star MVP in 2001. He lead a group of cast-offs along with Larry Brown to the 2000-2001 finals appearance. He was also the 1996-1997 Rookie of the Year. He is a four-time scoring champion with his best year last year. He averaged 33 ppg and 7.4 apg. AI is also probably the best small player ever and pound-for-pound one of the best ever.
While all those contenders are very good and even great players for the Sixers none of them compare to the impact the greatest player in Sixers history had on the team. Although he was here only thee years, he lead the Sixers to the best record in all three years. And the winner is:
Wilt Chamberlain- Chamberlain lead the Sixers to the 1966-1967 Championship while averaging 28.7 ppg. He also won his third MVP that year. His best year was 1965-1966, averaging 33.5 ppg and an amazing 24.6 rpg. In 1967-1968, Wilt won his fourth MVP and lead the league in total assists with 702. He was the only center to ever lead the league in that category. During his three years with the Sixers, the team won one championship and had two playoff exits at the hand of the Boston Celtics.
So there you have it. The best player ever as a Sixer is Wilt Chamberlain. AI is the only one I remember and probably will always be my favorite. He ranks in the top five as all-time Sixers but Wilt Chamberlain takes the title as Greatest Ever.
Sir Charles- Commonly known as the Round Mound of Rebound, Barkley averaged 24.3 ppg during his Sixers tenure. During his first two years with the Sixers, the team won 58 and 54 games respectively. The Sixers also made the playoffs every year with Barkley except 1987-1988 and 1991-1992. His best with the Sixers was 1987-1988 when he averaged 28.3 ppg and 11.9 rbg. Of course he did not ever lead the Sixers to a championship or even a finals appearance.
Moses Malone- The missing piece that lead to the Sixers 1982-1983 championship. He was named the finals MVP and also was the league MVP. His best year was the Championship year when he averaged 24.5 ppg and 15.3 rpg. He lasted only four years in Philly before coming back for one more year in the 1990s but he was the piece that turned the Sixers from contenders in 1981-1982 into champions the next year.
Julius Erving- Dr. J was an electric dunker laying the foundation for many players including Michael Jordan who would follow him. During his time in Philly, he struck an intense rivalry with Larry Bird. He played eleven season with the Sixers leading them to the 1982-1983 championship and also lead them to the 1980 finals. He was the NBA MVP in 1981. His best year with the Sixers was 1979-1980 when he averaged 26.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg. He also changed the way the game is played.
Allen Iverson- The Answer played 10+ season with the Sixers. He had his ups and downs. He was league MVP, Finals MVP, and All-Star MVP in 2001. He lead a group of cast-offs along with Larry Brown to the 2000-2001 finals appearance. He was also the 1996-1997 Rookie of the Year. He is a four-time scoring champion with his best year last year. He averaged 33 ppg and 7.4 apg. AI is also probably the best small player ever and pound-for-pound one of the best ever.
While all those contenders are very good and even great players for the Sixers none of them compare to the impact the greatest player in Sixers history had on the team. Although he was here only thee years, he lead the Sixers to the best record in all three years. And the winner is:
Wilt Chamberlain- Chamberlain lead the Sixers to the 1966-1967 Championship while averaging 28.7 ppg. He also won his third MVP that year. His best year was 1965-1966, averaging 33.5 ppg and an amazing 24.6 rpg. In 1967-1968, Wilt won his fourth MVP and lead the league in total assists with 702. He was the only center to ever lead the league in that category. During his three years with the Sixers, the team won one championship and had two playoff exits at the hand of the Boston Celtics.
So there you have it. The best player ever as a Sixer is Wilt Chamberlain. AI is the only one I remember and probably will always be my favorite. He ranks in the top five as all-time Sixers but Wilt Chamberlain takes the title as Greatest Ever.
