Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers

Lore & Background

The 76ers have won three NBA championships – in 1955 as the Nationals; in 1967, led by Wilt Chamberlain; and in 1983, led by Julius Erving and Moses Malone. The 76ers returned to the NBA Finals in 2001, led by Allen Iverson and losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. Many Hall of Fame players have played for the organization, including Chamberlain, Erving, Malone, Iverson, Dolph Schayes, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, Billy Cunningham, George McGinnis, Maurice Cheeks, Bobby Jones, and Charles Barkley. Five 76ers players have been the NBA's Most Valuable Player a total of seven times – Chamberlain, Erving, Malone, Iverson, and Joel Embiid.

Reader's Guide

The franchise began in 1946 as the Syracuse Nationals of the National Basketball League (NBL) in Syracuse, New York, founded by Italian immigrant Danny Biasone for $5,000. The Nationals joined the NBA in 1949 after the NBL and BAA merged. They won their first NBA championship in 1955, led by Dolph Schayes, after Biasone introduced the 24-second shot clock. The team moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers at an unspecified date in the source. The 76ers won additional championships in 1967 (led by Wilt Chamberlain) and 1983 (led by Julius Erving and Moses Malone).

Did You Know?

• The 76ers' 1955 championship was won as the Syracuse Nationals, with George King sinking a free throw to give the Nationals a 92–91 lead in Game 7, then stealing the inbound pass to clinch the title.
• The 1953 playoff game between the Nationals and the Boston Celtics remains the longest playoff game in NBA history, ending in quadruple overtime 111–105.
• Danny Biasone, owner of the Syracuse Nationals, suggested the 24-second shot clock, which debuted in the 1954–55 season and increased scoring by 14 points per game league-wide.