1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers season

NBA season team the Philadelphia 76ers (won championship)

NBA professional basketball team season

1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers season

NBA champions

Conference champions

Division champions

Head coach| Billy Cunningham
General manager| Pat Williams
Arena| The Spectrum
Results
Record| 65-17 (.793)
Place| Division: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish| NBA Champions
(Defeated Lakers 4–0)

* * *

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television| WPHL-TV
PRISM
Radio| WIP
| < 1981–82  | 1983–84 >

|

The 1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 37th season of the franchise (going back to their days as the Syracuse Nationals) and their 20th season in Philadelphia. The 76ers entered the season as runner-ups in the 1982 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

Harold Katz bought the franchise in 1982. On his watch, the final piece of the championship puzzle was completed before the 1982–83 season when they acquired free-agent center Moses Malone from the Houston Rockets in a sign-and-trade for Caldwell Jones,[1] joining an already stacked roster led by Hall of Famers Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks and Bobby Jones, as well as All-Star Andrew Toney. They went on to dominate the regular season, ending the year with a 65–17 record in what is still their second highest winning season in franchise history.

Erving was the team captain and was named the NBA All Star Game MVP, while Malone was named the league's MVP. When reporters asked how the playoffs would run, he answered, "four, four, four", predicting that the Sixers would need to only play four games in each of the three playoff series to win the title.

The Sixers backed up Malone's boast, breezing through the Eastern Conference playoffs, sweeping the New York Knicks in the Semifinals, then beating the Milwaukee Bucks in five games in the Conference Finals. They went on to win their third NBA championship with a four-game sweep of the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, who had defeated them the season before. Malone was named the Finals MVP, and his prediction turned out to be only one game off, as some used the adapted phrase "fo', fi', fo'" reflecting their one playoff loss to the Bucks.

Regarded as one of the greatest teams in history, their 12–1 playoff record still[update] ranks as the third-best in league history after the 2016–17 Warriors, who went 16–1, and the 2000–01 Lakers, who went 15–1 en route to the NBA title coincidentally beating the 76ers in the finals. The Philadelphia-based group Pieces of a Dream had a minor hit in 1983 with the R&B song "Fo-Fi-Fo", which title was prompted by Malone's quip.

As of 2024, this remains the third and last NBA championship in 76ers franchise history, though they made their above-mentioned NBA Finals appearance in 2001, losing to the Lakers.

## Draft picks

[edit]

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | Nationality  | School/Club Team

|
|
|
|
|

1 | 22 | Mark McNamara | C/F |  United States | California
2 | 36 | J.J. Anderson | SF |  United States | Bradley
2 | 45 | Russ Schoene | PF |  United States | Tennessee-Chattanooga
3 | 68 | Dale Solomon |  |  United States | Virginia Tech
4 | 91 | Bruce Atkins |  |  United States | Duquesne
5 | 114 | Donald Mason |  |  United States | Fresno State
6 | 137 | Kevin Boyle |  |  United States | Iowa
7 | 160 | Keith Hilliard |  |  United States | Southwest Missouri State
8 | 183 | Donald Seals |  |  United States | Jackson State
9 | 204 | George Melton |  |  United States | Cheyney (PA)
10 | 224 | Randy Burkert |  |  United States | Drexel

## Roster

[edit]

Philadelphia 76ers roster

* v
* t
* e

Players  | Coaches

|

| Pos. | No. | Name  | Height  | Weight  | DOB  | From

|
|
|
|
|
|

G | 10 | Cheeks, Maurice | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)  | 180 lb (82 kg)  | 1956-09-08  | West Texas A&M
F | 25 | Cureton, Earl | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  | 1957-09-03  | Detroit Mercy
G | 14 | Edwards, Franklin | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)  | 170 lb (77 kg)  | 1959-02-02  | Cleveland State
F | 6 | Erving, Julius | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  | 1950-02-22  | UMass
PF | 8 | Iavaroni, Marc | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  | 1956-09-15  | Virginia
C | 45 | Johnson, Clemon | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)  | 240 lb (109 kg)  | 1956–09–12  | Florida A&M
SF | 33 | Johnson, Reggie | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 205 lb (93 kg)  | 1957–06–25  | Tennessee
F | 24 | Jones, Bobby | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  | 1951-12-18  | North Carolina
C | 2 | Malone, Moses | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)  | 240 lb (109 kg)  | 1955-03-23  | Petersburg High School
C | 31 | McNamara, Mark | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)  | 235 lb (107 kg)  | 1959-06-08  | California
G | 4 | Richardson, Clint | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)  | 195 lb (88 kg)  | 1956-08-07  | Seattle
G | 22 | Toney, Andrew | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)  | 178 lb (81 kg)  | 1957-11-23  | Louisiana

Head coach

* Billy Cunningham

Assistant coach(es)

* Matt Guokas
* Jack McMahon

* * *

Legend

* (DP) Unsigned draft pick
* (FA) Free agent
* (S) Suspended
* Injured

## Regular season

[edit]

### Season standings

[edit]

Atlantic Division

* v
* t
* e

|  W  |  L  |  PCT  |  GB  |  Home  |  Road  |  Div

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

y-Philadelphia 76ers | 65 | 17 | .793 | – | 35–6 | 30–11 | 15–9
x-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 9 | 33–8 | 23–18 | 14–10
x-New Jersey Nets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 16 | 30–11 | 19–22 | 11–13
x-New York Knicks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 21 | 26–15 | 18–23 | 10–14
Washington Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 23 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 10–14
#  |

Eastern Conference

* v
* t
* e

|

Team  |  W  |  L  |  PCT  |  GB
1  | z-Philadelphia 76ers | 65 | 17 | .793 | –
2  | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 51 | 31 | .622 | 14
3  | x-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 9
4  | x-New Jersey Nets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 16
5  | x-New York Knicks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 21
6  | x-Atlanta Hawks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 22
7  | Washington Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 23
8  | Detroit Pistons | 37 | 45 | .451 | 28
9  | Chicago Bulls | 28 | 54 | .341 | 37
10  | Cleveland Cavaliers | 23 | 59 | .280 | 42
11  | Indiana Pacers | 20 | 62 | .244 | 45

### Record vs. opponents

[edit]

1982-83 NBA Records

Team  | ATL  | BOS  | CHI  | CLE  | DAL  | DEN  | DET  | GSW  | HOU  | IND  | KCK  | LAL  | MIL  | NJN  | NYK  | PHI  | PHO  | POR  | SAS  | SDC  | SEA  | UTA  | WAS
Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2
Boston | 5–1 | — | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3
Chicago | 1–5 | 2–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5
Cleveland | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2
Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2
Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1
Detroit | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2
Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–0
Houston | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–3 | — | 2–0 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–6 | 1–1
Indiana | 0–6 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5
Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0
Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1
Milwaukee | 4–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2
New Jersey | 4–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2
New York | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2
Philadelphia  | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2
Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 0–2
Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | — | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1
San Antonio | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–0
San Diego | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | — | 0–6 | 2–3 | 0–2
Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 6–0 | — | 5–0 | 1–1
Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 0–5 | — | 0–2
Washington | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | —

### Game log

[edit]

1982–83 Game Log
Total: 65–17 (Home: 35–6; Road: 30–11)

October: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road 1–0)

| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Location | Record

|
|
|
|
|

1 | October 29 | @ New York Knicks | 104–89 | Madison Square Garden | 1–0
2 | October 30 | New Jersey Nets | 110–99 | The Spectrum | 2–0

November: 11–3 (Home: 7–2; Road 4–1)

| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Location | Record

|
|
|
|
|

3 | November 3 | San Diego Clippers | 130–111 | The Spectrum | 3–0
4 | November 5 | @ Detroit Pistons | 120–109 | Pontiac Silverdome | 4–0
5 | November 6 | Boston Celtics | 119–115 | The Spectrum | 5–0
6 | November 10 | Chicago Bulls | 145–108 | The Spectrum | 6–0
7 | November 12 | Indiana Pacers | 108–117 | The Spectrum | 6–1
8 | November 13 | @ New Jersey Nets | 110–100 | Brendan Byrne Arena | 7–1
9 | November 14 | Washington Bullets | 102–93 | The Spectrum | 8–1
10 | November 17 | Detroit Pistons | 120–103 | The Spectrum | 9–1
11 | November 19 | Milwaukee Bucks | 121–109 | The Spectrum | 10–1
12 | November 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | 103–106 | The Spectrum | 10–2
13 | November 24 | @ Indiana Pacers | 121–106 | Market Square Arena | 11–2
14 | November 26 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | 120–102 | Richfield Coliseum | 12–2
15 | November 27 | Utah Jazz | 126–113 | The Spectrum | 13–2
16 | November 30 | @ Atlanta Hawks | 97–111 | The Omni | 13–3

December: 11–2 (Home: 5–0; Road 6–2)

| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Location | Record

|
|
|
|
|

17 | December 2 | @ Phoenix Suns | 116–108 | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 14–3
18 | December 3 | @ San Diego Clippers | 127–110 | San Diego Sports Arena | 15–3
19 | December 5 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | 114–104 | The Forum | 16–3
20 | December 8 | Atlanta Hawks | 132–85 | The Spectrum | 17–3
21 | December 10 | @ Boston Celtics | 97–123 | Boston Garden | 17–4
22 | December 11 | Detroit Pistons | 128–111 | The Spectrum | 18–4
23 | December 15 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 99–93 | The Spectrum | 19–4
24 | December 17 | New York Knicks | 109–95 | The Spectrum | 20–4
25 | December 18 | @ Washington Bullets | 97–100 | Capital Centre | 20–5
26 | December 21 | Boston Celtics | 122–105 | The Spectrum | 21–5
27 | December 26 | @ San Antonio Spurs | 124–122 | HemisFair Arena | 22–5
28 | December 28 | @ Houston Rockets | 104–93 | The Summit | 23–5
29 | December 29 | @ Dallas Mavericks | 126–116 | Reunion Arena | 24–5

January: 14–1 (Home: 7–0; Road 7–1)

| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Location | Record

|
|
|
|
|

30 | January 5 | Los Angeles Lakers | 122–120 | The Spectrum | 25–5
31 | January 7 | @ Washington Bullets | 106–89 | Capital Centre | 26–5
32 | January 8 | Kansas City Kings | 125–113 | The Spectrum | 27–5
33 | January 11 | @ Atlanta Hawks | 109–99 | The Omni | 28–5
34 | January 12 | Milwaukee Bucks | 122–121 | The Spectrum | 29–5
35 | January 14 | @ Detroit Pistons | 115–105 | Pontiac Silverdome | 30–5
36 | January 15 | Indiana Pacers | 114–105 | The Spectrum | 31–5
37 | January 18 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | 98–90 | Richfield Coliseum | 32–5
38 | January 19 | Chicago Bulls | 126–106 | The Spectrum | 33–5
39 | January 21 | Seattle SuperSonics | 130–117 | The Spectrum | 34–5
40 | January 23 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | 96–107 | MECCA Arena | 34–6
41 | January 25 | @ Chicago Bulls | 116–99 | Chicago Stadium | 35–6
42 | January 26 | Phoenix Suns | 113–102 | The Spectrum | 36–6
43 | January 28 | @ Kansas City Kings | 114–99 | Kemper Arena | 37–6
44 | January 29 | @ Utah Jazz | 126–109 | Salt Palace | 38–6

February: 11–1 (Home: 7–0; Road 4–1)

| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Location | Record

|
|
|
|
|

45 | February 1 | @ Denver Nuggets | 133–124 | McNichols Sports Arena | 39–6
46 | February 3 | @ Golden State Warriors | 117–111 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 40–6
47 | February 4 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | 109–115 | Memorial Coliseum | 40–7
48 | February 6 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | 97–96 | Kingdome | 41–7
49 | February 9 | Atlanta Hawks | 106–93 | The Spectrum | 42–7
50 | February 10 | @ Chicago Bulls | 116–110 | Chicago Stadium | 43–7
51 | February 16 | Denver Nuggets | 116–95 | The Spectrum | 44–7
52 | February 18 | Houston Rockets | 127–98 | The Spectrum | 45–7
53 | February 20 | New York Knicks | 104–89 | The Spectrum | 46–7
54 | February 23 | Dallas Mavericks | 133–101 | The Spectrum | 47–7
55 | February 25 | Chicago Bulls | 116–111 | The Spectrum | 48–7
56 | February 27 | Golden State Warriors | 115–104 | The Spectrum | 49–7

March: 11–5 (Home: 6–1; Road 5–4)

| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Location | Record

|
|
|
|
|

57 | March 1 | @ New York Knicks | 106–94 | Madison Square Garden | 50–7
58 | March 4 | @ Boston Celtics | 110–115 | Boston Garden | 50–8
59 | March 6 | @ New Jersey Nets | 106–112 | Brendan Byrne Arena | 50–9
60 | March 7 | Detroit Pistons | 123–114 | The Spectrum | 51–9
61 | March 12 | @ Washington Bullets | 95–86 | Capital Centre | 52–9
62 | March 13 | Washington Bullets | 97–93 | The Spectrum | 53–9
63 | March 15 | @ Indiana Pacers | 132–128 | Market Square Arena | 54–9
64 | March 16 | Boston Celtics | 105–100 | The Spectrum | 55–9
65 | March 19 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | 105–97 | MECCA Arena | 56–9
66 | March 20 | @ Detroit Pistons | 121–119 | Pontiac Silverdome | 57–9
67 | March 22 | @ New York Knicks | 76–89 | Madison Square Garden | 57–10
68 | March 23 | Milwaukee Bucks | 104–101 | The Spectrum | 58–10
69 | March 25 | New Jersey Nets | 92–101 | The Spectrum | 58–11
70 | March 27 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 94–80 | The Spectrum | 59–11
71 | March 29 | @ Chicago Bulls | 95–97 | Chicago Stadium | 59–12
72 | March 30 | Atlanta Hawks | 120–113 | The Spectrum | 60–12

April: 5–5 (Home: 2–3; Road 3–2)

| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Location | Record

|
|
|
|
|

73 | April 1 | New Jersey Nets | 104–111 | The Spectrum | 60–13
74 | April 3 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | 96–84 | Richfield Coliseum | 61–13
75 | April 5 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | 116–108 | MECCA Arena | 62–13
76 | April 6 | San Antonio Spurs | 109–112 | The Spectrum | 62–14
77 | April 8 | Indiana Pacers | 126–118 | The Spectrum | 63–14
78 | April 10 | New York Knicks | 113–97 | The Spectrum | 64–14
79 | April 12 | @ Atlanta Hawks | 97–102 | The Omni | 64–15
80 | April 13 | Washington Bullets | 76–95 | The Spectrum | 64–16
81 | April 15 | @ New Jersey Nets | 100–98 | Brendan Byrne Arena | 65–16
82 | April 17 | @ Boston Celtics | 101–114 | Boston Garden | 65–17

1982–83 Schedule

## Playoffs

[edit]

1983 playoff game log

Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Series

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | April 24 | New York | W 112–102 | Moses Malone (38)  | Moses Malone (17)  | Maurice Cheeks (10)  | The Spectrum
14,375  | 1–0
2  | April 27 | New York | W 98–91 | Moses Malone (30)  | Moses Malone (17)  | Maurice Cheeks (6)  | The Spectrum
15,829  | 2–0
3  | April 30 | @ New York | W 107–105 | Moses Malone (28)  | Moses Malone (14)  | Maurice Cheeks (7)  | Madison Square Garden
17,735  | 3–0
4  | May 1 | @ New York | W 105–102 | Moses Malone (29)  | Moses Malone (14)  | Maurice Cheeks (7)  | Madison Square Garden
15,457  | 4–0

Conference Finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Series

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | May 8 | Milwaukee | W 111–109 (OT) | Maurice Cheeks (26)  | Moses Malone (12)  | Maurice Cheeks (7)  | The Spectrum
18,482  | 1–0
2  | May 11 | Milwaukee | W 87–81 | Moses Malone (26)  | Moses Malone (17)  | Cheeks, Toney (4)  | The Spectrum
18,482  | 2–0
3  | May 14 | @ Milwaukee | W 104–96 | Julius Erving (26)  | Moses Malone (14)  | Maurice Cheeks (9)  | MECCA Arena
11,052  | 3–0
4  | May 15 | @ Milwaukee | L 94–100 | Andrew Toney (24)  | Moses Malone (12)  | Maurice Cheeks (8)  | MECCA Arena
11,052  | 3–1
5  | May 18 | Milwaukee | W 115–103 | Andrew Toney (30)  | Moses Malone (17)  | Maurice Cheeks (8)  | The Spectrum
18,482  | 4–1

NBA Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Series

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | May 22 | Los Angeles | W 113–107 | Moses Malone (27)  | Moses Malone (18)  | Julius Erving (9)  | The Spectrum
18,482  | 1–0
2  | May 26 | Los Angeles | W 103–93 | Moses Malone (24)  | Moses Malone (12)  | Maurice Cheeks (8)  | The Spectrum
18,482  | 2–0
3  | May 29 | @ Los Angeles | W 111–94 | Moses Malone (28)  | Moses Malone (19)  | Moses Malone (6)  | The Forum
17,505  | 3–0
4  | May 31 | @ Los Angeles | W 115–108 | Moses Malone (24)  | Moses Malone (23)  | Andrew Toney (9)  | The Forum
17,505  | 4–0

1983 schedule

## NBA Finals

[edit]

The 1983 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1982–83 season.

The 76ers went on to capture their second NBA championship in Philadelphia, and the third as the 76ers/Nationals franchise as they swept the New York Knicks, and proceeded to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. They finally finished it off with a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, who had defeated them the season before, making this the only NBA championship not to be won by either the Lakers or the Boston Celtics from 1980 to 1988.

Said head coach Billy Cunningham, "The difference from last year was Moses." Malone was named MVP of the 1983 Finals, as well as league MVP for the third time in his career. The 76ers completed one of the most dominating playoff runs in league history with a 12–1 mark after league and NBA Finals MVP Moses promised "Fo', fo', fo" (as in "four, four, four" – four wins to win each playoff series). The 76ers were also led by Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones.

The 1983 NBA Finals was the last to end before June 1. This championship is especially noted because it would be the last major sports championship for the city of Philadelphia until the Phillies won the 2008 World Series.[2] At the time, no other city with all four professional sports teams had a championship drought last as long as that from 1983 to 2008 (25 years).[3] When the Flyers played for the 2010 Stanley Cup, The Ottawa Citizen reported that the main reason for that lengthy championship drought was because the only years the city's teams played for championships during that time were years presidents were inaugurated.[4] The city's teams had lost championships during such years, beginning with the 76ers themselves in 1977.[4] The exceptions were the Phillies in 1983 and the Flyers in 1987.[4]

Following the 1983 NBA Finals, a video documentary called "That Championship Feeling" recaps the NBA Playoff action that year. Dick Stockton narrated the video, and Irene Cara's 1983 hit single "What A Feeling" is the official theme song for the video documentary. For the first time, NBA Entertainment used videotape instead of film for all the on-court and off-court footage.

## Awards, records, and legacy

[edit]

* Moses Malone, NBA Most Valuable Player Award
* Moses Malone, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
* Bobby Jones, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
* Moses Malone, All-NBA First Team
* Julius Erving, All-NBA First Team
* Bobby Jones, NBA All-Defensive First Team
* Maurice Cheeks, NBA All-Defensive First Team
* Moses Malone, NBA All-Defensive First Team

At the time, their 65–17 regular season record ranked as the fifth greatest regular season win total in NBA history. Previously, only the 1972 Lakers (69–13), 1967 Sixers (68–13), 1971 Bucks (66–16), and 1973 Celtics (68–14; who lost the Conference Finals) exceeded this win total.

In addition, their regular season winning percentage of .793 was only bettered by three teams before 1968 (the 1947 Washington Capitals of .817; 1950 Syracuse Nations of .797 and aforementioned 1967 Sixers of .840), when NBA teams played less than an 82-game regular season. Both the Capitols and the Nationals failed to win an NBA championship.

Their .8105 winning percentage, combined regular season and postseason (77–18) in 1983, has been topped since by just five teams, the 1986 Celtics (.820, also with 18 losses), 1996 and 97 Bulls (.870 and .832), 2016 Warriors (.830, with 18 losses as well as an NBA Finals loss), and 2017 Warriors (.838).

Through the first 66 regular season games, their record stood at 57–9. The 2016 Golden State Warriors started only 3 games better at 60–6 before breaking the regular season record with 73 wins.

Possessing an exceptionally talented roster and a brilliant coaching staff with Billy Cunningham, Matt Goukas, and Jack McMahon, the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers were one of the very best teams in NBA history.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Malone Goes to 76ers for Caldwell Jones". The New York Times. September 16, 1982.
2. ^ Sheridan, Phil (October 30, 2008). "WORLD CHAMPS!; 28 years later, Phillies again are baseball's best". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A1. "After 25 years of drought...Philadelphia has its championship...the Phillies really are World Series champions."
3. ^ Levin, Bob (October 21, 2008). "Phillified". The Globe and Mail. p. S1.
4. ^ a b c Warren, Ken (June 2, 2010). "Two cities that could use a CUP". Ottawa Citizen. p. B3.

* Philadelphia 76ers on Basketball Reference

* v
* t
* e

1982–83 NBA season

* 1982 NBA draft
* All-Star Game
* Playoffs
* Finals
* Transactions

Eastern|

| Atlantic|

* Boston
* New Jersey
* New York
* Philadelphia
* Washington

|

Central|

* Atlanta
* Chicago
* Cleveland
* Detroit
* Indiana
* Milwaukee

Western|

| Midwest|

* Dallas
* Denver
* Houston
* Kansas City
* San Antonio
* Utah

|

Pacific|

* Golden State
* Los Angeles
* Phoenix
* Portland
* San Diego
* Seattle

* v
* t
* e

NBA champions

1940s|

* 1947: Philadelphia Warriors
* 1948: Baltimore Bullets
* 1949: Minneapolis Lakers

1950s|

* 1950: Minneapolis Lakers
* 1951: Rochester Royals
* 1952: Minneapolis Lakers
* 1953: Minneapolis Lakers
* 1954: Minneapolis Lakers
* 1955: Syracuse Nationals
* 1956: Philadelphia Warriors
* 1957: Boston Celtics
* 1958: St. Louis Hawks
* 1959: Boston Celtics

1960s|

* 1960: Boston Celtics
* 1961: Boston Celtics
* 1962: Boston Celtics
* 1963: Boston Celtics
* 1964: Boston Celtics
* 1965: Boston Celtics
* 1966: Boston Celtics
* 1967: Philadelphia 76ers
* 1968: Boston Celtics
* 1969: Boston Celtics

1970s|

* 1970: New York Knicks
* 1971: Milwaukee Bucks
* 1972: Los Angeles Lakers
* 1973: New York Knicks
* 1974: Boston Celtics
* 1975: Golden State Warriors
* 1976: Boston Celtics
* 1977: Portland Trail Blazers
* 1978: Washington Bullets
* 1979: Seattle SuperSonics

1980s|

* 1980: Los Angeles Lakers
* 1981: Boston Celtics
* 1982: Los Angeles Lakers
* 1983: Philadelphia 76ers
* 1984: Boston Celtics
* 1985: Los Angeles Lakers
* 1986: Boston Celtics
* 1987: Los Angeles Lakers
* 1988: Los Angeles Lakers
* 1989: Detroit Pistons

1990s|

* 1990: Detroit Pistons
* 1991: Chicago Bulls
* 1992: Chicago Bulls
* 1993: Chicago Bulls
* 1994: Houston Rockets
* 1995: Houston Rockets
* 1996: Chicago Bulls
* 1997: Chicago Bulls
* 1998: Chicago Bulls
* 1999: San Antonio Spurs

2000s|

* 2000: Los Angeles Lakers
* 2001: Los Angeles Lakers
* 2002: Los Angeles Lakers
* 2003: San Antonio Spurs
* 2004: Detroit Pistons
* 2005: San Antonio Spurs
* 2006: Miami Heat
* 2007: San Antonio Spurs
* 2008: Boston Celtics
* 2009: Los Angeles Lakers

2010s|

* 2010: Los Angeles Lakers
* 2011: Dallas Mavericks
* 2012: Miami Heat
* 2013: Miami Heat
* 2014: San Antonio Spurs
* 2015: Golden State Warriors
* 2016: Cleveland Cavaliers
* 2017: Golden State Warriors
* 2018: Golden State Warriors
* 2019: Toronto Raptors

2020s|

* 2020: Los Angeles Lakers
* 2021: Milwaukee Bucks
* 2022: Golden State Warriors
* 2023: Denver Nuggets
* 2024: Boston Celtics

* v
* t
* e

Philadelphia 76ers seasons

* Franchise
* Seasons

1940s|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  1946–47 |  1947–48 |  1948–49

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1950s|

|  1949–50 |  1950–51 |  1951–52 |  1952–53 |  1953–54 |  1954–55 |  1955–56 |  1956–57 |  1957–58 |  1958–59

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1960s|

|  1959–60 |  1960–61 |  1961–62 |  1962–63 |  1963–64 |  1964–65 |  1965–66 |  1966–67 |  1967–68 |  1968–69

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1970s|

|  1969–70 |  1970–71 |  1971–72 |  1972–73 |  1973–74 |  1974–75 |  1975–76 |  1976–77 |  1977–78 |  1978–79

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1980s|

|  1979–80 |  1980–81 |  1981–82 |  1982–83 |  1983–84 |  1984–85 |  1985–86 |  1986–87 |  1987–88 |  1988–89

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1990s|

|  1989–90 |  1990–91 |  1991–92 |  1992–93 |  1993–94 |  1994–95 |  1995–96 |  1996–97 |  1997–98 |  1998–99

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2000s|

|  1999–00 |  2000–01 |  2001–02 |  2002–03 |  2003–04 |  2004–05 |  2005–06 |  2006–07 |  2007–08 |  2008–09

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2010s|

|  2009–10 |  2010–11 |  2011–12 |  2012–13 |  2013–14 |  2014–15 |  2015–16 |  2016–17 |  2017–18 |  2018–19

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2020s|

|  2019–20 |  2020–21 |  2021–22 |  2022–23 |  2023–24 |  2024–25 |  |  |  |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Bold indicates NBA Finals victory

* v
* t
* e

National Basketball Association's Top Ten Teams in NBA History

* 1964–65 Boston Celtics
* 1966–67 Philadelphia 76ers
* 1969–70 New York Knicks
* 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers
* 1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers
* 1985–86 Boston Celtics
* 1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers
* 1988–89 Detroit Pistons
* 1991–92 Chicago Bulls
* 1995–96 Chicago Bulls

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pos.]: Position
*[No.]: Number
*[ W ]: Games won
*[ L ]: Games lost
*[ PCT ]: Winning percentage
*[ GB ]: Games behind
*[ Home ]: Home record
*[ Road ]: Road record
*[ Div ]: Division record