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]
See main article: 1976 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | SG/SF | ||||
| 3 | 47 | G | ||||
| 4 | 64 | G | MSU Billings | |||
| 5 | 81 | Missouri Western | ||||
| 6 | 99 | G | ||||
| 7 | 117 | SG | Millersville | |||
| 8 | 135 | Hardin-Simmons | ||||
| 9 | 152 | SG | Austin Peay | |||
| 10 | 168 |
| 1976–77 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NOJ | NYK | NYN | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | WAS |
| — | 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | |
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | — | |
| 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 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 17| Boston| L 111–113| Julius Erving (36)| Caldwell Jones (11)| Collins, Erving (5)| Spectrum
13,821| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 20| Boston| W 113–101| Julius Erving (30)| George McGinnis (13)| Doug Collins (7)| Spectrum
18,276| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 22| @ Boston| W 109–100| Julius Erving (27)| McGinnis, Jones (15)| George McGinnis (5)| Boston Garden
15,040| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 24| @ Boston| L 119–124| Doug Collins (36)| George McGinnis (9)| Doug Collins (5)| Boston Garden
15,040| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 27| Boston| W 110–91| Doug Collins (23)| McGinnis, Jones (11)| Doug Collins (6)| Spectrum
18,276| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| April 29| @ Boston| L 108–113| Doug Collins (32)| George McGinnis (14)| George McGinnis (5)| Boston Garden
15,040| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| May 1| Boston| W 83–77| World B. Free (27)| George McGinnis (12)| McGinnis, Mix (4)| Spectrum
18,276| 4–3|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| May 5| Houston| W 128–117| Julius Erving (24)| George McGinnis (13)| Doug Collins (8)| Spectrum
17,507| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| May 8| Houston| W 106–97| George McGinnis (21)| George McGinnis (8)| Julius Erving (10)| Spectrum
14,855| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 11| @ Houston| L 94–118| Julius Erving (28)| George McGinnis (9)| Doug Collins (7)| The Summit
15,676| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 13| @ Houston| W 107–95| Doug Collins (36)| Caldwell Jones (11)| George McGinnis (9)| The Summit
15,676| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| May 15| Houston| L 115–118| Julius Erving (37)| George McGinnis (14)| Henry Bibby (8)| Spectrum
18,276| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| May 17| @ Houston| W 112–109| Julius Erving (34)| Julius Erving (9)| Julius Erving (6)| The Summit
15,676| 4–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| May 22| Portland| W 107–101| Julius Erving (33)| Caldwell Jones (11)| Doug Collins (6)| Spectrum
18,276| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| May 26| Portland| W 107–89| Doug Collins (27)| Caldwell Jones (14)| Henry Bibby (11)| Spectrum
18,276| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 29| @ Portland| L 107–129| Julius Erving (28)| George McGinnis (12)| Julius Erving (5)| Memorial Coliseum
12,923| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 31| @ Portland| L 98–130| Julius Erving (24)| Darryl Dawkins (11)| Steve Mix (4)| Memorial Coliseum
12,913| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| June 3| Portland| L 104–110| Julius Erving (37)| Caldwell Jones (13)| Julius Erving (7)| Spectrum
18,276| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| June 5| @ Portland| L 107–109| Julius Erving (40)| George McGinnis (16)| Julius Erving (8)| Memorial Coliseum
12,951| 2–4|-