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Ranking every NBA Champion from No. 72 to No. 1 — The Definitive List

By Staff

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors defend their positions during Game One of the NBA Finals on May 30, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors defend their positions during Game One of the NBA Finals on May 30, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Original Caption) Philadelphia 76ers’ Moses Malone (2) and Julius Erving (6) hug their coach Bill Cunninham in the dressing room after the 76ers made a clear 4 game sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA Championship at the Forum 5/31, 115-108.
(Original Caption) Philadelphia 76ers’ Moses Malone (2) and Julius Erving (6) hug their coach Bill Cunninham in the dressing room after the 76ers made a clear 4 game sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA Championship at the Forum 5/31, 115-108. /

14. 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers

From the 1976-77 season through 1981-82, the Philadelphia 76ers were a collection of players who didn’t know how to share enough to win together. Featuring the likes of Julius “Dr. J” Erving, George McInnis, World B. Free, Darryl Dawkins, Andrew Toney, Doug Collins and Steve Mix, the 76ers were a fabulous collection of talent that couldn’t win a title.

Coach Billy Cunningham desperately tried to get the unit to play together. Just as he had experienced as a player when winning a championship with Wilt Chamberlain, Cunningham believed if the top star deferred more to others it would help create camaraderie and winning. In this case, Cunningham mistakenly asked Dr. J to defer his games to others. Instead of a hierarchy, so many other players to try to take center stage and the 76ers never had a consistent plan.

That changed in 1982 after the 76ers lost to the Lakers in the 1981-82 NBA Finals. The 76ers dumped most of the oddball parts, kept Dr. J and paired him with center Moses Malone. Malone, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, was a definitive Alpha male who took control of the 76ers and willed them to a dominating season.

Philadelphia went 65-17 in the regular season with Malone averaging. 24.5 points and 15.3 rebounds a game. As the playoffs got started, Malone won his second MVP award and declared the postseason was essentially a fait au complait. Malone made his famous “Fo, fo, fo” quote, predicting the 76ers would win the title with three straight playoff sweeps.

He came one loss short of being correct. That included a staggering sweep of the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Malone dominated that series and his personal matchup with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, using his imposing physical style to overwhelm Kareem’s finesse-oriented style of play.

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