Who is the Greatest Philadelphia 76er of All Time?

The Philadelphia 76ers are a storied franchise that has been around since 1949, when they were the Syracuse Nationals. The team has had many legends since then including Charles Barkley, Julius Erving and Wilt Chamberlain. But who is the best of the best? Here are the three greatest 76ers of all time, with explanations why.

3. Wilt Chamberlain(1965-1968)

Source: NY Daily News

Wilt Chamberlain is an interesting player. Despite being one of the greatest of all time, there are arguments against him being the best ever Laker, Warrior or 76er. It’s mainly just longevity. Chamberlain only played three full seasons for the Sixers, averaging 27.3 points, 24.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists in that time. Those are insane stats, but the fact that he spent that little time in a Sixers jersey definitely counts against him. Still, he is no. 3 on this list.

2. Allen Iverson(1996-2006)

Photo credited to AP.

Allen Iverson is a controversial player. On the one hand, he was an incredibly inefficient player, shooting a career 42.5 percent from the field. On the other hand, he won the 2001 MVP for the 76ers, becoming the first to do so for Philly since Moses Malone in 1983. He also dragged a poor 76ers team to the NBA Finals to go up against the Lakers. He ranks sixth all time in win shares for the 76ers, just ahead of Wilt Chamberlain. In his decade in Sixers’ colors, Iverson averaged 28 points, 6.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals. He also made the All-Star Game seven times, along with seven All-NBA appearances. Overall, Iverson is fully deserving of this No.2 all time spot for the Sixers.

1. Julius Erving

Julius Erving is on the right (Image Courtesy of Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated)

Julius Erving is the greatest 76er of all time. Although Dolph Schayes is No.1 in win shares, Erving had more of an impact. For a decade, the high flying Erving dominated for Philly, averaging 22 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He also won a championship, the 1981 MVP award, two All-Star MVPs and made 11 All-Star Games. Overall, he was the greatest player ever for the Sixers, in longevity, success and overall performance.