1976–77 Philadelphia 76ers season
NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1976–77 NBA season was the 28th season for the Philadelphia 76ers franchise in the NBA. Just months earlier, the American Basketball Association had ended its ninth and final campaign and the two leagues combined . In a special $6 million deal, the Nets sold Julius Erving , the ABA's leading scorer, to the Philadelphia 76ers for $3 million.[ 1] The other $3 million went to Erving, by way of a new contract.[ 1] In Philadelphia, Erving joined another scoring machine, George McGinnis , who had come over earlier from the Indiana Pacers . This accumulation of talent brought talk of an immediate championship to Philadelphia.
The talented 76ers had posted the best record in the Eastern Conference with a record of 50–32.[ 1] Gene Shue was the coach & his key players were Erving (the esteemed Dr. J), McGinnis & 6-foot-6 shooting guard Doug Collins . Other key contributors included point guard Henry Bibby and World B. Free . Caldwell Jones started at center with 20-year-old Darryl Dawkins , also known as "Chocolate Thunder," in a backup role. The reserve forwards were Steve Mix , Harvey Catchings and Joe Bryant . The Sixers beat the Boston Celtics & the Houston Rockets in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, but lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 4–2, after winning the first 2 games.[ 1]
Offseason
NBA draft
Roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
PG
14
Bibby, Henry
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1949-11-24
UCLA
PF
23
Bryant, Joe
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1954-10-19
La Salle
C
42
Catchings, Harvey
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
218 lb (99 kg)
1951-09-02
Hardin–Simmons
SG
20
Collins, Doug
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1951-07-28
Illinois State
C
53
Dawkins, Darryl
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
251 lb (114 kg)
1957-01-11
Maynard Evans HS (FL)
PG
10
Dunleavy, Mike
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1954-03-21
South Carolina
SF
6
Erving, Julius
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1950-02-22
UMass
SG
21
Free, Lloyd
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1953-12-09
Guilford
SG
25
Furlow, Terry
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1954-10-18
Michigan State
C
11
Jones, Caldwell
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
217 lb (98 kg)
1950-08-04
Albany State
PF
30
McGinnis, George
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1950-08-12
Indiana
SF
50
Mix, Steve
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1947-12-30
Toledo
Head coach
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
1976–77 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
BUF
CHI
CLE
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
KCK
LAL
MIL
NOJ
NYK
NYN
PHI
PHO
POR
SAS
SEA
WAS
Atlanta
—
0–4
4–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
0–4
0–4
1–3
0–4
1–2
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
4–0
1–2
1–3
Boston
4–0
—
3–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–2
3–1
2–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
4–0
2–2
0–4
Buffalo
0–4
1–3
—
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–3
1–3
1–3
0–3
1–3
3–1
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
0–4
Chicago
2–2
2–2
3–1
—
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
4–0
2–2
2–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
3–1
2–2
1–2
Cleveland
2–2
3–1
2–2
1–3
—
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
3–1
2–2
4–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
Denver
2–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–2
—
3–1
2–2
3–0
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–2
4–0
2–2
Detroit
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
—
3–1
2–2
2–2
4–0
1–3
3–1
3–1
1–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–2
1–3
1–3
Golden State
4–0
3–1
3–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–3
—
2–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
Houston
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
3–1
0–3
2–2
1–2
—
4–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
Indiana
4–0
2–1
3–1
2–2
1–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
0–4
—
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–2
4–0
2–2
2–2
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
Kansas City
2–1
1–3
3–0
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–2
—
1–3
2–2
2–2
4–0
4–0
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
Los Angeles
2–2
1–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
—
3–1
3–0
1–3
4–0
2–2
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
4–0
Milwaukee
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–4
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–3
—
1–2
1–3
3–1
1–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
New Orleans
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
1–3
1–3
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
0–3
2–1
—
3–1
2–2
0–4
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
N.Y. Knicks
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
3–1
3–1
1–3
—
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–2
2–2
N.Y. Nets
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
0–4
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–2
2–2
—
1–3
2–2
0–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
Philadelphia
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–1
4–0
3–1
3–1
—
1–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
Phoenix
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–1
—
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
Portland
1–3
3–1
3–1
4–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–0
2–2
3–1
—
2–2
3–1
1–2
San Antonio
0–4
0–4
4–0
1–3
2–2
2–1
2–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
2–2
—
3–1
2–2
Seattle
2–1
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
0–4
3–1
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
—
3–1
Washington
3–1
4–0
4–0
2–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
4–0
2–2
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
2–1
2–2
1–3
—
Season schedule
October
Date
Opponent
Score
Result
Record
Streak
Fri, Oct 22, 1976
San Antonio Spurs
118–121
Loss
0–1
Lost 1
Sat, Oct 23, 1976
@ Buffalo Braves
105–108
Loss
0–2
Lost 2
Tue, Oct 26, 1976
@ New Orleans Jazz
111–101
Win
1–2
Lost 1
[ 2]
Playoffs
1977 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
April 17
Boston
L 111–113
Julius Erving (36)
Caldwell Jones (11)
Collins , Erving (5)
Spectrum 13,821
0–1
2
April 20
Boston
W 113–101
Julius Erving (30)
George McGinnis (13)
Doug Collins (7)
Spectrum 18,276
1–1
3
April 22
@ Boston
W 109–100
Julius Erving (27)
McGinnis , Jones (15)
George McGinnis (5)
Boston Garden 15,040
2–1
4
April 24
@ Boston
L 119–124
Doug Collins (36)
George McGinnis (9)
Doug Collins (5)
Boston Garden 15,040
2–2
5
April 27
Boston
W 110–91
Doug Collins (23)
McGinnis , Jones (11)
Doug Collins (6)
Spectrum 18,276
3–2
6
April 29
@ Boston
L 108–113
Doug Collins (32)
George McGinnis (14)
George McGinnis (5)
Boston Garden 15,040
3–3
7
May 1
Boston
W 83–77
World B. Free (27)
George McGinnis (12)
McGinnis , Mix (4)
Spectrum 18,276
4–3
Conference finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
1977 schedule
Awards and honors
Milestones
References
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