In the storied history of the Philadelphia 76ers, only ten former players have had the honor of seeing their jersey numbers hang from the rafters. From the team’s beginning in Syracuse as the Nationals, led by Dolph Schayes, through the franchise’s renaissance in the early 2000s with Allen Iverson, the Sixers have had some of the NBA’s most prominent stars suit up in the red, white, and blue.
Seasons with 76ers: 5 (1982-86; 1993-94) | Number Retired: February 8, 2019
Malone, a three-time NBA MVP, 13-time All-Star (12 times in NBA, once in ABA), Hall of Fame inductee and member of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, passed away on Sept. 13, 2015 at the age of 60. He was originally acquired by the 76ers in a trade with Houston on Sept. 15, 1982. In his first season with Philadelphia, he posted averages of 24.5 points, a league-best 15.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 37.5 minutes per game as he led the team to a 65-17 regular-season record; the second-most wins in franchise history. Malone famously declared that the 76ers would sweep the postseason by winning four straight games in three consecutive series en route to a championship. “Fo’, fo’, fo’,” Malone said. Philadelphia went 12-1 in 13 playoff games, including a four-game sweep of the L.A. Lakers, as it captured its third NBA title and first since 1967. Malone paced the team with playoff averages of 26.0 points and 15.8 rebounds per contest as he earned Finals MVP honors.
Seasons with 76ers: 11 (1996-2006; 2009-10) | Number Retired: March 1, 2014
Allen Iverson was the first overall pick by Philadelphia in the 1996 NBA Draft and played his first 10-plus seasons with the franchise. Considered by many to be the pound-for-pound toughest player in league history, Iverson was also one of the most iconic athletes of his generation. The crowning achievement in Iverson’s career came in 2000-01 when he was named MVP of the league while leading the Sixers to the NBA Finals. Iverson has the seventh-highest scoring average in league history (26.7 ppg) and scored the second-most points in franchise history. He also owns the second-highest scoring average in playoff history (29.7 ppg), trailing only Michael Jordan. Iverson led the NBA in steals in three consecutive seasons from 2000-01 through 2002-03 and ranks eighth in the league history in steals per game (2.17).
Seasons with 76ers: 15 (1949-1963) | Number Retired: March 12, 2016
Dolph Schayes played 14 seasons with the Syracuse Nationals (1949-63), before accompanying the team to Philadelphia and suiting up for the Sixers in his final NBA campaign, 1963-64. Schayes served as player-coach during the 1963-64 season and would coach the Sixers for the next two seasons. As a coach, he registered a .538 winning percentage (129-111). In 996 career games with the Nationals/Sixers, Schayes averaged 18.5 points and 12.1 rebounds in 34.4 minutes per game. In 1954-55, Schayes led the Nationals to the franchise’s first NBA title in a seven-game series against the Fort Wayne Pistons. A 12-time all-star, Hall of Fame inductee, and member of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, Schayes was the NBA’s all-time leading scorer (18,348 points) at the time of his retirement.
Seasons with 76ers: 11 (1976-1987) | Number Retired: April 18, 1988
One of the most popular athletes in Philadelphia sports history, Julius Erving played 11 seasons as a member of the 76ers after being acquired from the New York Nets in 1976. “Dr. J” was selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game in each of his 11 seasons in the league and became the first Sixers player to be chosen MVP of the All-Star Game on two occasions (1977, 1983). Erving was a member of the 76ers 1983 championship team and is the franchise’s all-time leader in blocked shots. Prior to his entry into the NBA, Erving played five seasons in the ABA where he was named the league’s MVP twice (1974, 1976) and the co-MVP in 1975. He guided the New York Nets to a pair of ABA titles and appeared in the ABA All-Star Game in each of his five seasons.
Seasons with 76ers: 11 (1978-1989) | Number Retired: Feb. 6, 1995
Maurice Cheeks, the consummate point guard, played 15 seasons in the NBA, 11 in Philadelphia, after being selected in the second round (36th overall) of the 1978 NBA Draft. He is the Sixers all-time leader in both steals and assists. In each of his 11 seasons in Philadelphia, Cheeks led the Sixers in assists and each of his first 10 seasons he also led the team in steals. Four times as a member of the 76ers he played in the NBA All-Star Game and was instrumental in the Sixers 1983 NBA championship. Additionally, Cheeks shares single-game records for most steals in an NBA Finals game and an NBA playoff game. During his stellar NBA career, Cheeks tallied 12,195 points, 7,392 assists and 2,310 steals. He served as an assistant coach with the Sixers for seven seasons (1994-01) and returned to Philadelphia for his first season as a head coach with the 76ers in 2005-06.
Seasons with 76ers: 4 (1965-1968) | Number Retired: March 18, 1991
A Philadelphia native, Wilt Chamberlain was one of the most dominant players the NBA has ever seen. He finished his 14-year career with a 30.1 scoring average and a 22.9 rebound average. The four-time league MVP is the only player to score 100 points in a single game and holds the NBA record for most games with 50 or more points, a feat he accomplished an astounding 118 times. On a league- record nine occasions “The Big Dipper” led the league in field goal percentage and seven seasons he was the league’s top scorer. He ranks as the Sixers all-time leader in both scoring average and field goal percentage. Chamberlain totaled 31,419 points and 23,924 rebounds during his NBA career and was selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game 13 times. Chamberlain helped the Sixers claim the NBA championship in 1967 and guided the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA crown in 1972.
Seasons with 76ers: 15 (1958-1973) | Number Retired: Nov. 19, 1976
Hal Greer was the first player to have his number retired by the 76ers organization. Greer, who represented the 76ers in the NBA All-Star Game for 10-straight years (1961-70), is the only Sixers player to wear number 15. He was selected by the Syracuse Nationals in the second round (14th overall) of the 1958 NBA Draft. He played five seasons for Syracuse before the franchise moved to Philadelphia in 1963. Greer totaled 21,586 points during his 15-year career and helped lead the Sixers to the 1967 NBA championship. He currently ranks as the 76ers all-time leader in points scored, minutes played, field goals made, field goals attempted, games played and personal fouls.
Seasons with 76ers: 8 (1978-1986) | Number Retired: Nov. 7, 1986
One of the greatest defenders in NBA history, Bobby Jones played eight of his 10 NBA seasons for the 76ers. He was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive first team eight consecutive seasons from 1977-84 and was a second team selection in 1985. In 1983, he captured the NBA Sixth Man Award and helped lead the Sixers to the NBA championship. A first round draft choice (15th overall) of the Houston Rockets in the 1974 NBA Draft, Jones began his professional career as a member of the ABA’s Denver Nuggets. He was a member of the ABA All-Rookie team in 1985, an ABA All-Star in 1976 and a member of the ABA’s All-Defensive Team in both 1975 and 1976. With the 76ers, he totaled 6,585 points and 2,942 rebounds.
Seasons with 76ers: 9 (1965-1972; 1974-76) | Number Retired: Dec. 17, 1976
Billy Cunningham, the 76ers first round draft choice in the 1965 NBA Draft (7th overall), played nine seasons for the Sixers and served as their head coach for eight years. The 1966 NBA Rookie of the Year scored 13,626 points during his career with the 76ers and made four consecutive All-Star Game appearances. Cunningham also played two seasons for the Carolina Cougars of the ABA and was the league’s MVP and a first-team ABA All-Star in 1973. He compiled a 454-196 record as the Sixers head coach and guided the team to three division titles. Cunningham is the only member of the organization to capture an NBA championship as both a player (1967) and as a head coach (1983).
(AS COACH:)
Seasons with 76ers: 8 (1984-1992) | Number Retired: March 30, 2001
Despite measuring a shade under 6-foot-5, “Sir Charles” established himself as a force under the basket in two gold medal-winning Olympics and 16 NBA seasons. Barkley averaged 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game in 16 NBA seasons and appeared in nine All-Star Games, capturing MVP honors in 1991 after scoring 17 points and 22 rebounds. Selected by Philadelphia with the fifth overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, Barkley averaged 23.3 points and 11.6 rebounds in eight seasons with the 76ers. He also played four seasons with Phoenix (1992-96) and spent the final three seasons of his career in Houston (1996-99).
