Rivalry with the Philadelphia 76ers
A rivalry born from the hardwood history of the Syracuse Nationals and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Washington Wizards' rivalry with the Philadelphia 76ers traces back to the 76ers' origins as the Syracuse Nationals, a team that joined the NBA in 1949 after the merger of the NBL and BAA. The Nationals won NBA championships in 1955 and 1967 before relocating to Philadelphia and becoming the 76ers.
Quick Facts
- Conference
- Eastern Conference
- Wizards home arena
- Capital One Arena
- Sixers home arena
- Wells Fargo Center
- Rivalry type
- Regional Geographic
- Historic eras
- 1970s Bullets, 2000s Wizards
- Key figures
- Allen Iverson
- Gilbert Arenas
- Wes Unseld
Lore & Background
The Syracuse Nationals, founded in 1946 by Danny Biasone, were one of seven NBL teams brought into the NBA in 1949. They won their first NBA championship in 1955, led by Dolph Schayes, after Biasone introduced the 24-second shot clock. The franchise later moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers, winning additional titles in 1967 (led by Wilt Chamberlain) and 1983 (led by Julius Erving and Moses Malone).
Reader's Guide
The rivalry is rooted in the shared history of the NBA's early years, with the Nationals/76ers being a long-standing Eastern Conference team.
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