The Greatest 76ers of All Time
Mt. Rushmore of Philadelphia NBA Basketball
Through online voting, ESPN has asked viewers to select their home state’s Mt. Rushmore of Sports. In this fourth story of a six part series, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Mt. Rushmore is unveiled. Each professional team in Philadelphia along with the Big Five will have their own Mt. Rushmore before the final Mt. Rushmore of Philadelphia Sports in unveiled. All current and former players, executives, owners and broadcasters are eligible.
Allen Iverson (3)
Despite his inability to bring an NBA title back to Philadelphia and his off the court issues, Iverson was certainly one of the best and most influential Sixers of all time. Iverson currently ranks 21st on the all-time NBA scoring list while he continues his career in Detroit. Iverson, the first overall selection in the 1996 NBA Draft, made an immediate impact on the 76ers who were one of the worst teams in the NBA in the years before A.I. came to town. Iverson, known as “The Answer”, won the 1997 Rookie of the Year award and led the Sixers to the NBA finals four years later. The 10-time all-star won the 2001 NBA MVP. Despite an unforeseen retirement of injury, Iverson will easily finish his career as one of the top-10 scorers in NBA history and could realistically rise as high as fifth on the list. Iverson’s bad-boy attitude, brief profanity-laden rap career and opinions on practice can’t keep the sculptors from chiseling his cornrows into the 76ers’ Mt. Rushmore.
Julius Erving (6)
Dr. J spent five seasons in the ABA before having his contract sold to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 11-time all star and five-time All-NBA first team player was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1993. For his basketball career, Erving averaged 24.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Dr. J also helped shape the NBA game into the high-flying slam-dunk loving game it is today. The 1981 NBA MVP led the 76ers to their most recent championship in 1983.
Wilt Chamberlain (13)
This West Philadelphia basketball star was able to lead his team to greatness and put up elite personal statistics in his Hall of Fame career. Elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1978, Chamberlain, a two-time NBA champion, one with the 76ers, ranks fourth on the NBA all-time scoring list with 31,419 career points. During the 1961-1962 season, Chamberlain averaged 50.2 points and 25.7 rebounds per game. The four-time league MVP grabbed 23,924 rebounds throughout his career, which remains an NBA record. For his career, Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per contest.
Billy Cunningham (32)
The Kangaroo Kid helped lead the 76ers to the NBA Championship in 1967 with his stellar play in the paint. Rated as one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players, Cunningham averaged 21.2 points and 10.4 rebounds throughout his basketball career. He was named to the All-NBA first team three times and selected to the All-Star game four times in his career. Cunningham was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1986.
To read the other Mt. Rushmore of Philadelphia sports articles, follow the following choices.
Philadelphia Phillies: http://major-league-baseball.suite101.com/article.cfm/mt_rushmore_of_philadelphia_sports
Philadelphia Eagles: http://national-football-league-nfl.suite101.com/article.cfm/mt_rushmore_of_philadelphia_sports
Philadelphia Flyers: http://national-hockey-league-nhl.suite101.com/article.cfm/mt_rushmore_of_philadelphia_sports
Big Five Basketball: http://college-basketball.suite101.com/article.cfm/mt_rushmore_of_philadelphia_sports
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