Welcome to 94WIP's G.O.A.T. of Broad Street, where we will finally determine who the greatest athlete in Philadelphia sports history is. Remember, in order to qualify, the athlete must have played in Philadelphia in the last 50 years (1970). Please cast your vote here to help us decide!
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While each of our hosts are giving your their own G.O.A.T. of Broad Street power rankings, we're also ranking the best players on each of the four Philly sports teams (see Eagles and Phillies). Today, I give you the top 10 Philadelphia 76ers of the last 50 years (since 1970, sorry Wilt).
10. Dikembe Mutombo
Deke slides onto this list for the excellent 106 regular season games with the Sixers, plus that marvelous 2001 NBA Finals run where he averaged 13.9 points, 13.7 rebounds, and a ridiculous 3.1 blocks per game. The Hall Of Famer deserves to be on this list.
9. Darryl Dawkins
Dawkins wasn't a better player than Zeke, but he spent his first seven seasons with the Sixers, averaging close to a double-double.
8. Joel Embiid
On his way to being the Sixers' best center of all-time, behind Wilt. Three all-star appearances in all three of his full seasons. Embiid is averaging 24.1 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.8 blocks for his career shooting an impressive 47.9 FG% / 32.2 3P% / 79.4 FT% for a big man.
7. Ben Simmons
There was absolutely no way I was leaving Simmons off of this list. I guess it's controversial to have him over Embiid, but when I am projecting out their careers I can't help but have more confidence in Simmons playing more games and lasting longer.
It's only been two and a half seasons, but Simmons is well on his way to being top 5 on this list eventually, and quite possibly No. 1 or No. 2 depending on how long he lasts here and if he can win a title or not.
But already, the former No. 1 overall pick has two All-Star appearances and a rookie of the year at age 23. He should have been named an All-NBA defender, but he hasn't yet, even though he's arguably the best and most versatile defensive player in the league, currently leading the NBA in steals. He has a case to be the NBA's 2019-20 defensive player of the year. Simmons is also one of the best passers in the league and probably the fastest player from baseline to baseline.
As a rookie, Simmons became just the eighth player in NBA history to average at least 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in a season and he is the only player ever to do it averaging less than 34 minutes a game. For his career, he is averaging 16, 8, and 8 with 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks.
6. Billy Cunningham
While Cunningham's prime started before 1970, he made three straight all-star games in 1969-70 to 1971-72 averaging over 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists per game.
5. Maurice Cheeks
The four-time Sixers all-star point guard averaged over 10 points and six assists and two steals, helping the Sixers win the NBA title in 1983, where he averaged 16, 7, and 2 during that postseason run.
4. Moses Malone
Four seasons with the Sixers in the 80's and four all-star appearances. Moses averaged an insane 23+ points and 13+ rebounds per game with the Sixers, to go along with 1.5+ blocks. Malone averaged 15.8 rebounds per game during the 1982-83 postseason run, to go along with 26.0 points per game, leading Philly to the title.
3. Charles Barkley
Barkley played for the Sixers from age 21 to age 28, racking up six all-star appearances and establishing himself as one of the best players in the league from the late 80's into the 90's. Barkley was a do-it-all guy, averaging 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for his career.
2. Allen Iverson
AI was one of the greatest scorers of all-time. For his career AI averaged 27, 6, and 2 steals, but with the Sixers he averaged over 30 points per game in four different seasons.
1. Julius Erving
The Doc played 11 seasons with the Sixers from 1976-1987. In 1982-83 he averaged 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, almost 2 steals and 2 blocks per game. He gets the slight nod over AI because of his championship.
