2805 South Front Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia PA. 19148

1-800-222-6256

Monday to Friday: 9am – 6pm

The Philadelphia 76ers: A Team on the Rise

Share This Post

Known simply as the Sixers by fans, the Philadelphia 76ers are an American professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the oldest franchises in the league, the 76ers participate in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. The Philadelphia 76ers famously play at the Wells Fargo Center located in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.

No introduction is needed for the long list of Hall of Fame players associated with the 76ers. The list includes Wilt Chamberlain, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, Dolph Schayes, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, Billy Cunningham, Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, and George McGinnis. The 76ers have won a total of three NBA Championships. The first came back when the 76ers still played as the Syracuse Nationals. The second win came while the team was under the leadership of Wilt Chamberlain in 1967. The third win was won during the Erving-Malone era of the 1983 season. Sadly, the 76ers have been unable to recreate the lightning in a bottle that led to those big wins. In fact, the team has only returned to the finals once since 1983. The run lasting from the latest appearance in 2001 through the current season has been a painful dry streak for fans.

There’s no doubt that the energy around the Philadelphia 76ers is ramping up in an exciting way. The upcoming season may prove to be one for the record books. That’s why now is the perfect time to start planning your dream Philadelphia 76ers sports vacation with Major League Vacations (MLV). Offering NBA sports vacation packages for all teams, MLV is your connection to all the big moments for fans in the upcoming season. Get in the mood to start planning an NBA vacation by taking a look at the history, highlights, and bright future of the enduring Philadelphia 76ers.

Team History

The Philadelphia 76ers actually began under a completely different banner when the team was founded in 1946. Known back then as the Syracuse Nationals, the 76ers grew to become one of the oldest franchises in the NBA. What’s more, the team has the distinction of being one of just eight teams to survive the league’s first tumultuous decade.

Like all NBA teams, the 76ers got off to what can be considered a slow, rocky start. Founded by an Italian immigrant by the name of Danny Biasone, the 76ers began to play in the National Basketball League (NBL) in the same year that the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was finally bringing attention to the sport. However, the 76ers lost their first season playing as the Nationals against the Rochester Royals. In their second season, the Nationals faced more struggles before ultimately being defeated in the playoffs. When the NBL and BAA merged to form the NBA in 1949, the Nationals were chosen as one of seven teams to be invited to join the newly formed league. The team found success in the NBA instantly. A win for the Eastern Division during the 1949-1950 season helped the team to earn a league-best record that set the pace for the decades to come.

The “Process”

The Process is one of the most important pieces of 76er history. In fact, fans know to this day that they must trust the Process. The period from 2013 through 2016 is known as the Process Era for the 76ers. True fans know that the Process is still very much in the mix. What does it all mean?

Sam Hinkie implemented the Process during his time as general manager. The Process refers to Hinkie’s plan to find the best possible means for acquiring top talent to play for the 76ers. In Hinkie’s mind, getting draft picks, fresh players, trade-friendly players, and team-friendly contracts was the secret to bring the team to a meteoric rise.

The Process began just as the 76ers were coming off a 34-48 season that saw the team finish ninth in the Eastern Conference. Hinkie placed his focus on trading away players with high potential for returns. The goal was to increase the team’s chances for getting the top draft pick because they would be seen as a disadvantaged team. Using the Process, Hinkie was able to acquire many players in the second round of the draft who could be signed for very little before being turned into key players who were ultimately easy to trade. Yes, part of the Process did actually boil down to focusing on short-term losses in order to increase the team’s chances of getting a top draft pick.

Ultimately, the Process gained notoriety for being a strategy based on tanking. It’s a method that remains controversial today. The most notable result of the process was the acquisition of Joel Embiid in 2014. With Embiid out while recovering from an injury, Hinkie took the long view by shuffling players until he had a roster of young, inexperienced players that ultimately led to a terrible year. The success of the Process is still widely debated nine years after it started. The important thing to remember about the Process is that it was always intended to be a long-term strategy for rebuilding the franchise instead of a path to short-term glory.

The Current 76ers

While Philadelphia fans know better than to get overly cozy with any roster, the team’s current lineup is a source of excitement. Led by Doc Rivers as coach, the current lineup of the 76ers includes Tyreese Maxey, James Harden, Montrezl Harrel, De’Anthony Melton, Jaden Springer, Tobias Harris, P.J. Tucker, Shake Milton, George Niang, Joel Embiid, Matisse Thybulle, Daniel House Jr., Furkan Korkmaz, Michael Foster Jr, Reed Paul, and Julian Champagnie.

Joel Embiid

A strong source of hope for 76ers fans, Joel Embiid was drafted by the 76ers during the 2014 NBA season. However, a series of foot and knee injuries delayed his debut until the 2016–2017 season. Embiid was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team during his debut season with the 76ers even though he only made appearances in 32 games. In addition, he is a five-time NBA All-Star, four-time member of the All-NBA Team and a three-time member of the All-Defensive Team. Embiid has come to embody the idea of the Process so deeply that he actually took it upon himself to take on the nickname of “the Process.” A Cameroonian-born player, Embiid became the first foreign player to ever lead the NBA in scoring.

FAQs

How many championships have the Philadelphia 76ers won?

The 76ers have won a total of three championships over the years. These big wins came in 1955, 1967, and 1983. Fans are more eager than ever to see if the dry streak of the 76ers is about to change with help from the Process.

Why are the Philadelphia 76ers called the 76ers?

The origin of the 76ers is quite patriotic! The name is actually a nod to the fact that the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776. Franklin the Dog serves as the loyal mascot of the 76ers.

Who is the best player in the history of the Philadelphia 76ers?

While fans have their various favorites, it’s generally agreed that Wilt Chamberlain is the best player in the history of the team. Spending just over three years as a 76er, Chamberlain led the team to a championship. During his time as a 76er, Chamberlain led the league in scoring, rebounding, shooting percentages, and minutes played.

Are the Philadelphia 76ers popular in Pittsburgh?

It depends on who you ask. While the 76ers are strongly associated with a fanbase in Philadelphia, the team has fans all over Pennsylvania. In fact, 76ers fandom stretches into New England, the Midwest, and beyond! Pittsburgh is often considered more of a “college basketball” town. The Pittsburgh Panthers at the University of Pittsburgh are considered the pride of the City of Bridges.

Trust the Process by Booking a Philadelphia 76ers Dream Vacation With Help from Major League Vacations

Fans have hundreds of reasons to see the 76ers play in person. Will this be the season that the Process finally plays out in full? With Embiid positioned to play better than ever, the odds are high that fans are in for an incredibly rewarding season that may just see the franchise make the comeback we’ve all been waiting for!

Don’t sit at home this season. Plan a Philadelphia 76ers sports vacation just for fans with help from Major League Vacations. Considered the premier travel agency for sports vacations, MLV can help you get a seat at available home and away games. We’ll also hook you up with travel, accommodations, and experiences that allow you to embrace your 76ers fandom like never before! You can browse our full collection of NBA travel packages today. In addition, MLV can help you plan a custom basketball vacation for the record books.

Table of Contents