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Philadelphia 76ers: 25 Best Players To Play For The 76ers

By Phil Watson

Dec 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; General view of the Wells Fargo Center during a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons won107-95. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; General view of the Wells Fargo Center during a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons won107-95. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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PHILADELPHIA -1970: Billy Cunningham #32 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics during an NBA game at the Spectrum circa 1970 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1970 NBAE (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA -1970: Billy Cunningham #32 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics during an NBA game at the Spectrum circa 1970 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1970 NBAE (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /

Billy Cunningham. 8. player. 93. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 5th overall pick from North Carolina, 1965 NBA Draft; Purchased contract from Carolina Cougars (ABA), June 1, 1974.. SF-PF.

Billy Cunningham had leapt his way to All-American honors, averaging more than 25 points and 14 rebounds per game as a senior at North Carolina, and the Philadelphia 76ers used the fifth overall pick in the 1965 NBA Draft to take the athletic combo forward.

He was an All-Rookie selection in 1965-66 and went on to become a four-time All-Star and a four-time All-NBA selection, finishing third in the MVP voting in 1968-69 and fifth in 1969-70.

PHI_08_CUNNINGHAM
PHI_08_CUNNINGHAM /

Cunningham finished third in the league in scoring in 1968-69 and fourth in 1969-70.

In the 1967 NBA Finals, he averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and three assists in just 25.3 minutes per game, shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 53.7 percent from the foul line as the 76ers won the NBA title in six games over the San Francisco Warriors.

In September 1969, Cunningham signed a future contract, a two-year, $400,000 deal with the ABA’s Carolina Cougars that wouldn’t take effect until the 1972-73 season. In January 1971, the deal was upgraded to five years.

But he only played two in the rival league. The cash-strapped Cougars sold Cunningham’s contract back to the 76ers in June 1974—one of the few instances of a player switching leagues without some sort of legal fight.

While with Carolina, Cunningham had earned the ABA MVP award in 1972-73.

His return to the NBA ended early in the 1975-76 when Cunningham sustained a career-ending knee injury. He officially retired in October 1976.

In nine seasons in Philadelphia, Cunningham averaged 20.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, four assists and 1.2 steals in 34.3 minutes per game, shooting 44.6 percent from the floor and 72 percent at the line.

In November 1977, Cunningham was hired to coach the 76ers and was 454-196 in parts of eight seasons prior to resigning in May 1985. The team was 66-39 in the playoffs under Cunningham, reaching the NBA Finals three times and winning the 1983 NBA title.

Cunningham is 41st in NBA history with an average of 20.8 points per game and 39th with an average of 10.1 rebounds per game.

Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986, Cunningham was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996.

Next: A Two-City Star