The Philadelphia 76ers are scheduled to have the third overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. Let’s take a look at the 76ers best draft picks in franchise history. This includes their time as the Syracuse Nationals. It’s not necessarily the 10 best players ranked in order as where they were selected was taken into consideration. The toughest omissions were Red Kerr and Ben Simmons.
10 Best NBA Draft Picks In Philadelphia 76ers History
10. Andrew Toney (8th overall, 1980)
Andrew Toney was forced to retire at the young age of 30 due to foot issues. During his eight seasons, he was named to two All-Star teams and averaged 18.6 points and 4.5 assists over a four-year stretch from 1981-82 until 1984-85. He won a championship with the 76ers in 1983.
9. Tyrese Maxey (21st overall, 2020)
Still just 24 years old, Tyrese Maxey was named an All-Star and the league’s Most Improved Player in 2023-24. His scoring average has risen after each of his first five seasons, up to 25.9 in 2023-24 and 26.3 in 2024-25. Maxey is just one year through the five-year, nearly $204 million deal when he re-signed with Philadelphia.
8. Andre Iguodala (9th overall, 2004)
Andre Iguodala played eight seasons for Philly, and in five of the first six, he played all 82 games. In 2011-12, he was an All-Star, and the previous year he made the All-Defensive Second Team. Iguodala recorded eight triple-doubles while with the team.
7. Chet Walker (14th overall, 1962)
Chet Walker was a rookie with Syracuse, and then his next six seasons were with the 76ers. He made three All-Star teams with the franchise and averaged a double-double in 1963-64. In 1967, he averaged 21.7 points in the playoffs during the 76ers championship run.
6. Billy Cunningham (7th overall, 1965)
Playing nine seasons with the 76ers, Billy Cunningham was named an All-Star four times. Each of these years, he posted averages of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986, Cunningham was on their 1967 championship team.
5. Maurice Cheeks (36th overall, 1978)
A superb backcourt defender, Maurice Cheeks made four All-Defensive First Teams with the 76ers. Playing 11 seasons for the squad, he remarkably averaged more than two steals in each of his first 10 years. A four-time All-Star, Cheeks won a championship with Philadelphia in 1983.
4. Joel Embiid (3rd overall, 2014)
It’s unfortunate that Joel Embiid has dealt with so many injuries in his career because very few have ever been as dominant as him when he’s played. He was the league’s MVP in 2022-23 and was the runner-up in the previous two years. Embiid averaged more than 30 points per contest each season from 2021-22 until 2023-24.
3. Hal Greer (14th overall, 1958)
The franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Hal Greer spent his first five seasons with the Nationals and last 10 with the 76ers. He was the leading scorer in the postseason during the 76ers 1967 championship run. Greer was named to 11 straight All-Star teams and seven straight All-NBA Second Teams.
2. Charles Barkley (5th overall, 1984)
Known as the ‘Round Mound of Rebound’, Charles Barkley spent his first eight seasons with the 76ers. He made seven All-NBA teams while with them (four first team, three second team) and finished top-six in MVP voting six times. He averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in each of his last seven years with Philadelphia.
1. Allen Iverson (1st overall, 1996)
Arguably the best pound-for-pound scorer, Allen Iverson won four scoring titles with Philadelphia. He was named MVP in 2000-01, a season he also helped guide the 76ers to the NBA Finals. Iverson also led the league in steals three straight seasons and is second in team history with 19,931 points.
Photo credit: © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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