Quick Intro: History of Philadelphia 76ers

Looking for a Quick Intro: History of Philadelphia 76ers? The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. From Moses Malone to Allen Iverson, their history is rich with all-star players, Hall of Famers, and World Championships. The Philadelphia 76ers began as the Syracuse Nationals in 1937.  Dolph Schayes was the Nationals' superstar and he led the team in scoring for 13 years. The Syracuse Nationals won their first NBA Championship in 1955.

In 1963, Irv Kosloff and Ike Richman bought the Nationals and moved the team to Philadephia. They changed their name to the 76ers in honor of 1776, the year the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. The team acquired Wilt Chamberlain in 1964 but lost to the Boston Celtics in the 1965 NBA Finals in 7 games. The 1966 Sixers had a dream season, finishing 68-13 in the regular season. They won the NBA championship, defeating the San Francisco Warriors in 6 games, to claim their 2nd NBA title.

The team was very inconsistent for the next 10 years, even missing the playoffs in 1972. In 1976, they would acquire Julius Erving, better known as "Dr. J". The Sixers began to play spirited basketball, but failed to win another title until the arrival of Moses Malone in 1982. They defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1983 NBA Finals in a 4 game sweep to win their 3rd NBA Championship.  

Charles Barkley, The "Round Mound of Rebound" , arrived in Philadelphia for the 1984-85 NBA season. Barkley was a controversial character and an extremely good basketball player, but the Sixers never won a championship with Barkley. Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 1992. 

In 1996, the Sixers drafted Allen Iverson with the 1st pick in the draft. They made the NBA Finals in 2001, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in 5 games. Iverson wore out his welcome in Philly and was traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2006. Even though he re-signed with the team in 2009, he is currently not with the team due to personal issues.

Some of the greatest basketball players in history have played for the Sixers: Dolph Schayes, Maurice Cheeks, Wilt Chamberlain, Dr.J, Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, and Allen Iverson.  Despite having 50 losses in the 2009-2010 season, the team is rebuilding and looking towards the future.

Source: NBA - 76rs