NBA Team Guide
Philadelphia 76ers: History, Championships & Facts
The franchise began as the Syracuse Nationals in 1946 and moved to Philadelphia as the 76ers in 1963. It has won three NBA championships, in 1955, 1967 and 1983.
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Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1946 as the Syracuse Nationals (NBL); joined the NBA in 1949 |
|---|---|
| Moved to Philadelphia | 1963, renamed the 76ers |
| NBA titles | 3 (1955, 1967, 1983) |
| NBA Finals appearances | 9 through the 2025–26 season (1950, 1954, 1955, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 2001) |
| Arena | South Philadelphia arena opened in 1996 as CoreStates Center; named Xfinity Mobile Arena in 2025 |
| Name | Refers to 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia |
Championship history
The franchise won once in Syracuse and twice in Philadelphia. Its six other Finals trips ended in defeat.
- 1955 NBA Finals (Syracuse Nationals): beat the Fort Wayne Pistons 4–3
- 1967 NBA Finals: beat the San Francisco Warriors 4–2
- 1983 NBA Finals: swept the Los Angeles Lakers 4–0
- Also reached the Finals in 1950, 1954, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 2001
Franchise history
- 1946: Founded as the Syracuse Nationals in the National Basketball League.
- 1955: Won the NBA title in Syracuse, the first season of the 24-second shot clock.
- 1963: Moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers.
- 1967: Went 68–13, then the best record in NBA history, and won the title.
- 1973: Finished 9–73.
- 1983: Won the NBA title, sweeping the Lakers in the Finals.
- 2001: Allen Iverson was named NBA MVP, and the team reached the Finals.
Franchise record holders
| Points | Hal Greer, 21,586 |
|---|---|
| Rebounds | Dolph Schayes, 11,256 |
| Assists | Maurice Cheeks, 6,212 |
Retired numbers
- 2Moses Malone
- 3Allen Iverson
- 4Dolph Schayes
- 6Julius Erving
- 6Bill Russell (retired across the NBA)
- 10Maurice Cheeks
- 13Wilt Chamberlain
- 15Hal Greer
- 24Bobby Jones
- 32Billy Cunningham
- 34Charles Barkley
- MicDave Zinkoff (public address announcer, honored)
Hall of Famers
Dolph Schayes, Hal Greer, Larry Costello, Earl Lloyd, Chet Walker, Wilt Chamberlain, Billy Cunningham, Julius Erving, Doug Collins, Bobby Jones, Maurice Cheeks, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson.
Biggest rivalries
- Boston Celtics: 23 playoff series through 2026, the most between any two NBA teams.
- New York Knicks: Atlantic Division rivals; New York won playoff meetings in 2024 and 2026.
- Los Angeles Lakers: six NBA Finals meetings (1950, 1954, 1980, 1982, 1983, 2001), with Philadelphia winning in 1983.
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How many championships have the 76ers won?
Three: 1955 as the Syracuse Nationals, and 1967 and 1983 in Philadelphia.
Why are they called the 76ers?
The name refers to 1776, the year the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. It was chosen in a fan contest after the team moved from Syracuse in 1963.
Who is the 76ers' all-time leading scorer?
Hal Greer, with 21,586 points from 1958 to 1973.
What was the 1966–67 76ers' record?
68–13, the best in NBA history at the time. The team won the 1967 title.
Who holds the 76ers' career assists record?
Maurice Cheeks, with 6,212 assists. His No. 10 is retired.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.