The 10 best 76ers players of all time: Find out who tops the list

The 10 best 76ers players of all time: Find out who tops the list

Grace Waruguru
updated at May 21, 2023 at 5:28 PM

Who are the best 76ers players of all time? The Philadelphia-based NBA franchise is among the oldest teams in the league. The franchise has produced some of the finest basketball players in today's time and seasons past. Discover the top players of all time and some of their noteworthy achievements right here.

Best 76ers players of all time
Charles Barkley shares a light moment with teammate Moses Malone during an NBA game in 1985 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo: Ron Koch
Source: Getty Images

The Philadelphia 76ers franchise was formed in 1946 and previously went by the name of the Syracuse Nationals. They are famously known as the Sixers. Some of the best 76ers players of all time have been listed as Hall of Famers whilst garnering significant worldwide fan bases.

Who are the best 76ers player of all time?

The Sixers have several players in the Hall of Fame. The team won three NBA championships in 1955, 1967, and 1983. The Sixers' head coach is Doc Rivers, who has been instrumental in raising some of the best players. As of May 2023 and per votes on Ranker.com, this is a list of the best 76ers players of all time with their profile summaries.

10. Maurice Cheeks

Who is the best player on the 76ers
Maurice Cheeks before the game between Oklahoma City Thunders and the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 7, 2020, in New York City. Photo: Matteo Marchi
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Maurice Edward Cheeks
  • Date of birth: September 8, 1956
  • Position: Point guard, assistant coach

Maurice, also known as 'Mo', is among the top best 76ers' players of all time. Cheeks attained a record 2,310 steals, ranking fifth, a position he still maintains in 2023. Out of the 15 seasons in the league, 11 were with the Sixers. The defensive guard ranked 11th all-time in total assists, with a percentage of 6.7 per game.

In 2018, Maurice was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as a player. As of 2022, he serves as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls.

9. Chet Walker

Famous 76 players
Chet Walker speaks to the audience during the 2012 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 7, 2012, at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Chester Walker
  • Date of birth: February 22, 1940
  • Position: Small forward

Chet Walker, popularly known as ''The Jet,'' is a seven-time All-Star inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. He averaged 18,000 points in the regular season and playoffs, which he qualified for throughout all 13 years of his career. Chet joined the franchise in the 1962 draft and is one of the best 76ers in history. Walker played for the Sixers until 1969, then joined the Chicago Bulls in 1975.

8. Billy Cunningham

 top 10 best 76ers players of all time
Billy Cunningham speaks before unveiling a sculpture to honour Charles Barkley at their practice facility on September 13, 2019, in Camden, New Jersey. Photo: Mitchell Leff
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: William John Cunningham
  • Date of birth: June 3, 1943
  • Positions: Small forward, power forward

The Kangaroo Kid, as Billy Cunningham was popularly known, is one of the greatest 76ers players of all time. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies for nine seasons. He attained an average of 21,200 points and 10,400 rebounds throughout his career.

The athlete also appeared in four All-Star games for the Sixers and won a title in 1967. Billy retired in 1976 and became the fastest coach to win 300 wins in league history, making him the franchise's most successful coach.

7. Moses Malone

 76ers best players of all time
Moses Malone during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, in Los Angeles, California, on May 31, 1983. Photo: Peter Read Miller
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Moses Eugene Malone Sr.
  • Date of birth: March 23, 1955
  • Died: September 13, 2015
  • Positions: Centre, power forward

The late Moses Malone was one of the famous 76 players who played in eight NBA teams throughout his career. He was part of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1982, when he left the Houston Rockets, until 1986. Moses was the first NBA player to win the MVP Award for two consecutive years in different teams (in 1982 and 1983).

The former centre and power forward passed away on September 13, 2015. He is remembered as one of the greatest NBA players in history.

6. Dolph Schayes

76 best NBA players of all time
Dolph Schayes speaks during the Johnny "Red" Kerr tribute at halftime of the NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls on February 10, 2009, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Gary Dineen
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Adolph Schayes
  • Date of birth: May 19, 1928
  • Died: December 10, 2015
  • Position: Power forward

One of the 76ers' most famous players is Dolph Schayes, a 12-time All-Star and top-ranking scorer for the team. He was part of the team when they won the 1955 title. Throughout his career, Schayes played in 996 games, averaging 18,500 points, 12,100 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.

Adolph Schayes's jersey (No. 4) was retired by the 76ers on March 12th, 2016. The legendary player passed away in 2015 after battling cancer.

5. Charles Barkley

best 76ers players ever
Charles Barkley speaks during the Class of 2022 Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala on September 9, 2022, at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Charles Wade Barkley
  • Date of birth: February 20, 1963
  • Position: Power forward

''Sir Charles'' is among the best rebounders that ever played for the Sixers and one of the 76ers' best NBA players of all time. During his eight seasons with the franchise, Barkley played six All-Star games and won the All-Star Game MVP in 1991. He is among only six players in NBA history to attain an average of 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists. As of May 2023, the iconic player works as a TNT and CBS Sports sports analyst.

4. Haal Greer

greatest 76ers players of all time
Former NBA great Hal Greer poses for a portrait during the NBA at 50 shoot circa 1996 in San Antonio, Texas. Photo: Greg Foster
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Harold Everett Greer
  • Date of birth: June 26, 1936
  • Died: April 14, 2018
  • Positions: Shooting guard, point guard

Haal is among the best 76ers players ever, remembered for his consistency. He spent his 15-season career with the Philadelphia 76ers, attaining 10 straight All-Star games from 1961 to 1970. Greer was the top team member in the number of games and minutes played, field goals, and points. The former point guard was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.

3. Wilt Chamberlain

76ers most famous players  ‌
Wilt Chamberlain attends a game circa 1985 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Wilton Norman Chamberlain
  • Date of birth: August 21, 1936
  • Died: October 12, 1999
  • Position: Centre

Wilt Chamberlain is one of the most famous 76' players who was part of the team from 1965 to 1968. He won MVP Awards in all three seasons with the Sixers. His stats include an average of 27,3 points, 24,200 rebounds, and 7,200 assists.

The centre led his team to 68 wins and had 13 All-Star titles. Chamberlain is remembered as the only player to score 100 points in an NBA game. He won two NBA Championships and is the franchise's leader in points and rebounds per game, field goal percentage, and minutes played. He passed on in 1999 after a heart attack.

2. Allen Iverson

 76ers best players in history
Allen Iverson looks on during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 20, 2022, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo: Jim Poorten
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Allen Ezail Iverson
  • Date of birth: June 7, 1975
  • Position: Point guard, shooting guard

Allen Iverson, also known as ''The Answer,'' is among the 76ers' best players, having joined the team in 1996. He has played for 12 seasons and is the leading team member in steals per game and 3-point goals. He left the Sixers in 2006 to join the Denver Nuggets. Iverson rejoined the 76ers for one year in 2009 before retiring from the NBA in 2013. Today, he lives with his family in North Carolina.

1. Julius Erving

 greatest 76ers players of all time
Julius Erving speaks to the media at a press conference during a shoot around to honour the 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers Championship team on March 20, 2023, at Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Julius Winfield Erving II
  • Date of birth: February 22, 1950
  • Positions: Small forward

The 73-year-old Julius Erving, otherwise known as Dr J, is ranked as the best 76er ever. He played with the team for 11 years, attaining 11 All-Star titles. He won the MVP in 1981 with 24,600 points, 8,000 rebounds and 4,400 assists per game. Erving was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993. Today, the retired player is still involved with the Sixers, representing them officially.

These famous 76ers immensely impacted the franchise and continue to be recognized in the history of the NBA. As the current players take up the challenge to break the records, fans of the team are eagerly watching to see who performs exceptionally well in future games.

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Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.