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1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers season

{{short description|NBA season team the Philadelphia 76ers (won championship)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NBA season

| team = Philadelphia 76ers

| end_year = 1983

| DivisionWin = yes

| ConferenceWin = yes

| ChampionshipWin = yes

| wins = 65

| losses = 17

| division = Atlantic

| division_place = 1

| conf_place = 1

| coach = Billy Cunningham

| gm = Pat Williams

| arena = The Spectrum

| television = WPHL-TV
PRISM

| radio = WIP

| playoffs = NBA Champions
(Defeated Lakers 4–0)

| bbr_team = PHI

}}

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,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/16/sports/malone-goes-to-76ers-for-caldwell-jones.html |title=Malone Goes to 76ers for Caldwell Jones |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 16, 1982 }} 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 {{As of|2024|5|alt=still}} 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

class="wikitable sortable sortable"

! style="background:#E32636;" width="10%"| Round

! style="background:#E32636;" width="10%"| Pick

! style="background:#E32636;" width="24%"| Player

! style="background:#E32636;" width="15%"| Position

! style="background:#E32636;" width="15%"| Nationality

! style="background:#E32636;" width="20%"| School/Club Team

style="text-align: center"

| 1

22Mark McNamaraC/F{{flagu|United States}}California
style="text-align: center"

| 2

36J.J. AndersonSF{{flagu|United States}}Bradley
style="text-align: center"

| 2

45Russ SchoenePF{{flagu|United States}}Tennessee-Chattanooga
style="text-align: center"

| 3

68Dale Solomon{{flagu|United States}}Virginia Tech
style="text-align: center"

| 4

91Bruce Atkins{{flagu|United States}}Duquesne
style="text-align: center"

| 5

114Donald Mason{{flagu|United States}}Fresno State
style="text-align: center"

| 6

137Kevin Boyle{{flagu|United States}}Iowa
style="text-align: center"

| 7

160Keith Hilliard{{flagu|United States}}Southwest Missouri State
style="text-align: center"

| 8

183Donald Seals{{flagu|United States}}Jackson State
style="text-align: center"

| 9

204George Melton{{flagu|United States}}Cheyney (PA)
style="text-align: center"

| 10

224Randy Burkert{{flagu|United States}}Drexel

Roster

{{NBA roster header|team = Philadelphia 76ers}}

{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Maurice | last = Cheeks | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 180 | college = West Texas A&M | DOB = 1956-09-08 }}

{{player2 | num = 25 | first = Earl | last = Cureton | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 210 | college = Detroit | DOB = 1957-09-03 }}

{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Franklin | last = Edwards | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 170 | college = Cleveland State | DOB = 1959-02-02 }}

{{player2 | num = 6 | first = Julius | last = Erving | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 210 | college = UMass | DOB = 1950-02-22 }}

{{player2 | num = 8 | first = Marc | last = Iavaroni | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 210 | college = Virginia | DOB = 1956-09-15}}

{{player2 | num = 45 | first = Clemon | last = Johnson | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 240 | college = Florida A&M | DOB = 1956–09–12 }}

{{player2 | num = 33 | first = Reggie | last = Johnson | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 205 | college = Tennessee | DOB = 1957–06–25 | dab = basketball, born 1957 }}

{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Bobby | last = Jones | dab = basketball, born 1951 | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 210 | college = North Carolina | DOB = 1951-12-18 }}

{{player2 | num = 2 | first = Moses | last = Malone | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 240 | school = Petersburg High School | DOB = 1955-03-23 }}

{{player2 | num = 31 | first = Mark | last = McNamara | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 235 | college = California| DOB = 1959-06-08 }}

{{player2 | num = 4 | first = Clint | last = Richardson | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 195 | college = Seattle | DOB = 1956-08-07 }}

{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Andrew | last = Toney | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 178 | college = Louisiana-Lafayette | DOB = 1957-11-23 }}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =

| asst_coach =

Regular season

=Season standings=

{{1982–83 NBA Atlantic standings|team=PHI}}

{{1982–83 NBA East standings|team=PHI}}

=Record vs. opponents=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
colspan=24|1982-83 NBA Records
width=100|Team

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|ATL

!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35"|CHI

!style="background:#FFD700;color:#8B0000;width=35"|CLE

!style="background:#008000;color:#00008B;width=35"|DAL

!style="background:#0000CD;color:#FFD700;width=35"|DEN

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF0000;width=35"|DET

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFD700;width=35"|GSW

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFD700;width=35"|HOU

!style="background:#000080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|IND

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|KCK

!style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|LAL

!style="background:#006400;color:#B22222;width=35"|MIL

!style="background:#B0170C;color:#00056D;width=35"|NJN

!style="background:#800000;color:#191970;width=35"|NYK

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#0000FF;width=35"|PHI

!style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"|PHO

!style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35"|POR

!style="background:#000000;color:#C0C0C0;width=35"|SAS

!style="background:#F9160D;color:#1A2E8B;width=35"|SDC

!style="background:#005831;color:#FFC322;width=35"|SEA

!style="background:#36004A;color:#FFFF00;width=35"|UTA

!style="background:#DC143C;color:#0000CD;width=35"|WAS

style="text-align:left;" | Atlanta—1–55–16–01–11–13–30–22–06–00–20–21–42–43–22–41–11–10–21–11–12–04–2
style="text-align:left;" | Boston5–1—3–25–12–02–03–31–12–04–11–12–03–35–13–33–32–01–12–01–11–12–03–3
style="text-align:left;" | Chicago1–52–3—5–11–11–12–42–01–14–20–20–21–52–41–41–50–21–10–21–10–21–11–5
style="text-align:left;" | Cleveland0–61–51–5—2–00–21–52–02–05–11–10–21–50–61–50–50–21–10–21–11–10–23–2
style="text-align:left;" | Dallas1–10–21–10–2—3–32–03–25–12–03–32–30–20–20–20–22–33–22–45–02–32–40–2
style="text-align:left;" | Denver1–10–21–12–03–3—2–04–15–11–13–31–42–01–10–20–24–12–32–43–23–24–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Detroit3–33–34–25–10–20–2—2–02–04–20–20–23–33–21–50–61–11–11–11–10–20–23–2
style="text-align:left;" | Golden State2–01–10–20–22–31–40–2—3–21–11–41–51–10–21–10–22–42–41–43–33–33–22–0
style="text-align:left;" | Houston0–20–21–10–21–51–50–22–3—2–01–50–50–21–10–20–20–50–51–52–31–40–61–1
style="text-align:left;" | Indiana0–61–42–41–50–21–12–41–10–2—1–10–21–50–63–31–41–10–20–21–11–12–01–5
style="text-align:left;" | Kansas City2–01–12–01–13–33–32–04–15–11–1—1–41–11–11–10–21–42–33–34–11–44–22–0
style="text-align:left;" | Los Angeles2–00–22–02–03–24–12–05–15–02–04–1—2–01–12–00–23–33–31–45–15–14–11–1
style="text-align:left;" | Milwaukee4–13–35–15–12–00–23–31–12–05–11–10–2—3–24–21–51–12–02–02–00–22–03–2
style="text-align:left;" | New Jersey4–21–54–26–02–01–12–32–01–16–01–11–12–3—4–23–31–11–10–21–12–01–13–2
style="text-align:left;" | New York2–33–34–15–12–02–05–11–12–03–31–10–22–42–4—1–50–21–12–00–21–11–14–2
style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia4–23–35–15–02–02–06–02–02–04–12–02–05–13–35–1—2–00–21–12–02–02–04–2
style="text-align:left;" | Phoenix1–10–22–02–03–21–41–14–25–01–14–13–31–11–12–00–2—5–13–24–25–15–00–2
style="text-align:left;" | Portland1–11–11–11–12–33–21–14–25–02–03–23–30–21–11–12–01–5—2–35–13–33–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | San Antonio2–00–22–02–04–24–21–14–15–12–03–34–10–22–00–21–12–33–2—4–11–45–12–0
style="text-align:left;" | San Diego1–11–11–11–10–52–31–13–33–21–11–41–50–21–12–00–22–41–51–4—0–62–30–2
style="text-align:left;" | Seattle1–11–12–01–13–22–32–03–34–11–14–11–52–00–21–10–21–53–34–16–0—5–01–1
style="text-align:left;" | Utah0–20–21–12–04–22–42–02–36–00–22–41–40–21–11–10–20–52–31–53–20–5—0–2
style="text-align:left;" | Washington2–43–35–12–32–01–12–30–21–15–10–21–13–33–32–42–42–01–10–22–01–12–0—

=Game log=

{{Game log start|style=background:#0067B1; color:white|title=1982–83 Game Log
Total: 65–17 (Home: 35–6; Road: 30–11)}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#ED174C; color:white|title=October: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road 1–0)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 1 || {{dow tooltip|October 29, 1982}} || @ New York Knicks || 104–89 || Madison Square Garden || 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 2 || {{dow tooltip|October 30, 1982}} || New Jersey Nets || 110–99 || The Spectrum || 2–0

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#ED174C; color:white|title=November: 11–3 (Home: 7–2; Road 4–1)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 3 || {{dow tooltip|November 3, 1982}} || San Diego Clippers || 130–111 || The Spectrum || 3–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 4 || {{dow tooltip|November 5, 1982}} || @ Detroit Pistons || 120–109 || Pontiac Silverdome || 4–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 5 || {{dow tooltip|November 6, 1982}} || Boston Celtics || 119–115 || The Spectrum || 5–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 6 || {{dow tooltip|November 10, 1982}} || Chicago Bulls || 145–108 || The Spectrum || 6–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 7 || {{dow tooltip|November 12, 1982}} || Indiana Pacers || 108–117 || The Spectrum || 6–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 8 || {{dow tooltip|November 13, 1982}} || @ New Jersey Nets || 110–100 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 7–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 9 || {{dow tooltip|November 14, 1982}} || Washington Bullets || 102–93 || The Spectrum || 8–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 10 || {{dow tooltip|November 17, 1982}} || Detroit Pistons || 120–103 || The Spectrum || 9–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 11 || {{dow tooltip|November 19, 1982}} || Milwaukee Bucks || 121–109 || The Spectrum || 10–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 12 || {{dow tooltip|November 23, 1982}} || Portland Trail Blazers || 103–106 || The Spectrum || 10–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 13 || {{dow tooltip|November 24, 1982}} || @ Indiana Pacers || 121–106 || Market Square Arena || 11–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 14 || {{dow tooltip|November 26, 1982}} || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 120–102 || Richfield Coliseum || 12–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 15 || {{dow tooltip|November 27, 1982}} || Utah Jazz || 126–113 || The Spectrum || 13–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 16 || {{dow tooltip|November 30, 1982}} || @ Atlanta Hawks || 97–111 || The Omni || 13–3

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#ED174C; color:white|title=December: 11–2 (Home: 5–0; Road 6–2)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 17 || {{dow tooltip|December 2, 1982}} || @ Phoenix Suns || 116–108 || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 14–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 18 || {{dow tooltip|December 3, 1982}} || @ San Diego Clippers || 127–110 || San Diego Sports Arena || 15–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 19 || {{dow tooltip|December 5, 1982}} || @ Los Angeles Lakers || 114–104 || The Forum || 16–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 20 || {{dow tooltip|December 8, 1982}} || Atlanta Hawks || 132–85 || The Spectrum || 17–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 21 || {{dow tooltip|December 10, 1982}} || @ Boston Celtics || 97–123 || Boston Garden || 17–4

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 22 || {{dow tooltip|December 11, 1982}} || Detroit Pistons || 128–111 || The Spectrum || 18–4

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 23 || {{dow tooltip|December 15, 1982}} || Cleveland Cavaliers || 99–93 || The Spectrum || 19–4

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 24 || {{dow tooltip|December 17, 1982}} || New York Knicks || 109–95 || The Spectrum || 20–4

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 25 || {{dow tooltip|December 18, 1982}} || @ Washington Bullets || 97–100 || Capital Centre || 20–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 26 || {{dow tooltip|December 21, 1982}} || Boston Celtics || 122–105 || The Spectrum || 21–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 27 || {{dow tooltip|December 26, 1982}} || @ San Antonio Spurs || 124–122 || HemisFair Arena || 22–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 28 || {{dow tooltip|December 28, 1982}} || @ Houston Rockets || 104–93 || The Summit || 23–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 29 || {{dow tooltip|December 29, 1982}} || @ Dallas Mavericks || 126–116 || Reunion Arena || 24–5

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#ED174C; color:white|title=January: 14–1 (Home: 7–0; Road 7–1)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 30 || {{dow tooltip|January 5, 1983}} || Los Angeles Lakers || 122–120 || The Spectrum || 25–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 31 || {{dow tooltip|January 7, 1983}} || @ Washington Bullets || 106–89 || Capital Centre || 26–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 32 || {{dow tooltip|January 8, 1983}} || Kansas City Kings || 125–113 || The Spectrum || 27–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 33 || {{dow tooltip|January 11, 1983}} || @ Atlanta Hawks || 109–99 || The Omni || 28–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 34 || {{dow tooltip|January 12, 1983}} || Milwaukee Bucks || 122–121 || The Spectrum || 29–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 35 || {{dow tooltip|January 14, 1983}} || @ Detroit Pistons || 115–105 || Pontiac Silverdome || 30–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 36 || {{dow tooltip|January 15, 1983}} || Indiana Pacers || 114–105 || The Spectrum || 31–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 37 || {{dow tooltip|January 18, 1983}} || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 98–90 || Richfield Coliseum || 32–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 38 || {{dow tooltip|January 19, 1983}} || Chicago Bulls || 126–106 || The Spectrum || 33–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 39 || {{dow tooltip|January 21, 1983}} || Seattle SuperSonics || 130–117 || The Spectrum || 34–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 40 || {{dow tooltip|January 23, 1983}} || @ Milwaukee Bucks || 96–107 || MECCA Arena || 34–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 41 || {{dow tooltip|January 25, 1983}} || @ Chicago Bulls || 116–99 || Chicago Stadium || 35–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 42 || {{dow tooltip|January 26, 1983}} || Phoenix Suns || 113–102 || The Spectrum || 36–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 43 || {{dow tooltip|January 28, 1983}} || @ Kansas City Kings || 114–99 || Kemper Arena || 37–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 44 || {{dow tooltip|January 29, 1983}} || @ Utah Jazz || 126–109 || Salt Palace || 38–6

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#ED174C; color:white|title=February: 11–1 (Home: 7–0; Road 4–1)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 45 || {{dow tooltip|February 1, 1983}} || @ Denver Nuggets || 133–124 || McNichols Sports Arena || 39–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 46 || {{dow tooltip|February 3, 1983}} || @ Golden State Warriors || 117–111 || Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena || 40–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 47 || {{dow tooltip|February 4, 1983}} || @ Portland Trail Blazers || 109–115 || Memorial Coliseum || 40–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 48 || {{dow tooltip|February 6, 1983}} || @ Seattle SuperSonics || 97–96 || Kingdome || 41–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 49 || {{dow tooltip|February 9, 1983}} || Atlanta Hawks || 106–93 || The Spectrum || 42–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 50 || {{dow tooltip|February 10, 1983}} || @ Chicago Bulls || 116–110 || Chicago Stadium || 43–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 51 || {{dow tooltip|February 16, 1983}} || Denver Nuggets || 116–95 || The Spectrum || 44–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 52 || {{dow tooltip|February 18, 1983}} || Houston Rockets || 127–98 || The Spectrum || 45–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 53 || {{dow tooltip|February 20, 1983}} || New York Knicks || 104–89 || The Spectrum || 46–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 54 || {{dow tooltip|February 23, 1983}} || Dallas Mavericks || 133–101 || The Spectrum || 47–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 55 || {{dow tooltip|February 25, 1983}} || Chicago Bulls || 116–111 || The Spectrum || 48–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 56 || {{dow tooltip|February 27, 1983}} || Golden State Warriors || 115–104 || The Spectrum || 49–7

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#ED174C; color:white|title=March: 11–5 (Home: 6–1; Road 5–4)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 57 || {{dow tooltip|March 1, 1983}} || @ New York Knicks || 106–94 || Madison Square Garden || 50–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 58 || {{dow tooltip|March 4, 1983}} || @ Boston Celtics || 110–115 || Boston Garden || 50–8

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 59 || {{dow tooltip|March 6, 1983}} || @ New Jersey Nets || 106–112 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 50–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 60 || {{dow tooltip|March 7, 1983}} || Detroit Pistons || 123–114 || The Spectrum || 51–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 61 || {{dow tooltip|March 12, 1983}} || @ Washington Bullets || 95–86 || Capital Centre || 52–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 62 || {{dow tooltip|March 13, 1983}} || Washington Bullets || 97–93 || The Spectrum || 53–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 63 || {{dow tooltip|March 15, 1983}} || @ Indiana Pacers || 132–128 || Market Square Arena || 54–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 64 || {{dow tooltip|March 16, 1983}} || Boston Celtics || 105–100 || The Spectrum || 55–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 65 || {{dow tooltip|March 19, 1983}} || @ Milwaukee Bucks || 105–97 || MECCA Arena || 56–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 66 || {{dow tooltip|March 20, 1983}} || @ Detroit Pistons || 121–119 || Pontiac Silverdome || 57–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 67 || {{dow tooltip|March 22, 1983}} || @ New York Knicks || 76–89 || Madison Square Garden || 57–10

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 68 || {{dow tooltip|March 23, 1983}} || Milwaukee Bucks || 104–101 || The Spectrum || 58–10

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 69 || {{dow tooltip|March 25, 1983}} || New Jersey Nets || 92–101 || The Spectrum || 58–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 70 || {{dow tooltip|March 27, 1983}} || Cleveland Cavaliers || 94–80 || The Spectrum || 59–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 71 || {{dow tooltip|March 29, 1983}} || @ Chicago Bulls || 95–97 || Chicago Stadium || 59–12

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 72 || {{dow tooltip|March 30, 1983}} || Atlanta Hawks || 120–113 || The Spectrum || 60–12

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#ED174C; color:white|title=April: 5–5 (Home: 2–3; Road 3–2)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 73 || {{dow tooltip|April 1, 1983}} || New Jersey Nets || 104–111 || The Spectrum || 60–13

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 74 || {{dow tooltip|April 3, 1983}} || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 96–84 || Richfield Coliseum || 61–13

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 75 || {{dow tooltip|April 5, 1983}} || @ Milwaukee Bucks || 116–108 || MECCA Arena || 62–13

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 76 || {{dow tooltip|April 6, 1983}} || San Antonio Spurs || 109–112 || The Spectrum || 62–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 77 || {{dow tooltip|April 8, 1983}} || Indiana Pacers || 126–118 || The Spectrum || 63–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 78 || {{dow tooltip|April 10, 1983}} || New York Knicks || 113–97 || The Spectrum || 64–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 79 || {{dow tooltip|April 12, 1983}} || @ Atlanta Hawks || 97–102 || The Omni || 64–15

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 80 || {{dow tooltip|April 13, 1983}} || Washington Bullets || 76–95 || The Spectrum || 64–16

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"

| 81 || {{dow tooltip|April 15, 1983}} || @ New Jersey Nets || 100–98 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 65–16

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 82 || {{dow tooltip|April 17, 1983}} || @ Boston Celtics || 101–114 || Boston Garden || 65–17

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1983_games.html 1982–83 Schedule]

{{Game log end}}

Playoffs

{{NBA game log start|Philadelphia 76ers|end_year=1983|bgcolor=#0067B1|color=white|playoffs=yes}}

{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|Conference Semifinals|first=yes|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white|playoffs=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 2

| road_losses = 0

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| {{dow tooltip|April 24, 1983}}

| New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198304240PHI.html W 112–102]

| Moses Malone (38)

| Moses Malone (17)

| Maurice Cheeks (10)

| The Spectrum
14,375

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| {{dow tooltip|April 27, 1983}}

| New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198304270PHI.html W 98–91]

| Moses Malone (30)

| Moses Malone (17)

| Maurice Cheeks (6)

| The Spectrum
15,829

| 2–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| {{dow tooltip|April 30, 1983}}

| @ New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198304300NYK.html W 107–105]

| Moses Malone (28)

| Moses Malone (14)

| Maurice Cheeks (7)

| Madison Square Garden
17,735

| 3–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 4

| {{dow tooltip|May 1, 1983}}

| @ New York

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305010NYK.html W 105–102]

| Moses Malone (29)

| Moses Malone (14)

| Maurice Cheeks (7)

| Madison Square Garden
15,457

| 4–0

|-

{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|Conference Finals|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white|playoffs=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 3

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 1

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| {{dow tooltip|May 8, 1983}}

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305080PHI.html W 111–109 (OT)]

| Maurice Cheeks (26)

| Moses Malone (12)

| Maurice Cheeks (7)

| The Spectrum
18,482

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| {{dow tooltip|May 11, 1983}}

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305110PHI.html W 87–81]

| Moses Malone (26)

| Moses Malone (17)

| Cheeks, Toney (4)

| The Spectrum
18,482

| 2–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| {{dow tooltip|May 14, 1983}}

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305140MIL.html W 104–96]

| Julius Erving (26)

| Moses Malone (14)

| Maurice Cheeks (9)

| MECCA Arena
11,052

| 3–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 4

| {{dow tooltip|May 15, 1983}}

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305150MIL.html L 94–100]

| Andrew Toney (24)

| Moses Malone (12)

| Maurice Cheeks (8)

| MECCA Arena
11,052

| 3–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 5

| {{dow tooltip|May 18, 1983}}

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305180PHI.html W 115–103]

| Andrew Toney (30)

| Moses Malone (17)

| Maurice Cheeks (8)

| The Spectrum
18,482

| 4–1

|-

|-

{{NBA game log section|Philadelphia 76ers|NBA Finals|bgcolor=#ED174C|color=white|playoffs=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 2

| road_losses = 0

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| {{dow tooltip|May 22, 1983}}

| Los Angeles

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305220PHI.html W 113–107]

| Moses Malone (27)

| Moses Malone (18)

| Julius Erving (9)

| The Spectrum
18,482

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| {{dow tooltip|May 26, 1983}}

| Los Angeles

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305260PHI.html W 103–93]

| Moses Malone (24)

| Moses Malone (12)

| Maurice Cheeks (8)

| The Spectrum
18,482

| 2–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| {{dow tooltip|May 29, 1983}}

| @ Los Angeles

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305290LAL.html W 111–94]

| Moses Malone (28)

| Moses Malone (19)

| Moses Malone (6)

| The Forum
17,505

| 3–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 4

| {{dow tooltip|May 31, 1983}}

| @ Los Angeles

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198305310LAL.html W 115–108]

| Moses Malone (24)

| Moses Malone (23)

| Andrew Toney (9)

| The Forum
17,505

| 4–0

|-

{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=PHI|end_year=1983|playoffs=yes}}

NBA Finals

The 1983 NBA Finals was the championship round of the {{nbay|1982}} 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.{{Cite web |title=1983 NBA Finals - Lakers vs. 76ers |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1983-nba-finals-lakers-vs-76ers.html |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}

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.{{cite news|title=WORLD CHAMPS!; 28 years later, Phillies again are baseball's best|date=October 30, 2008|first=Phil|last=Sheridan|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|page=A1|quote=After 25 years of drought...Philadelphia has its championship...the Phillies really are World Series champions.}} 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).{{cite news|title=Phillified|last=Levin|first=Bob|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=October 21, 2008|page=S1}} 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.{{cite news|title=Two cities that could use a CUP|date=June 2, 2010|first=Ken|last=Warren|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|page=B3}} The city's teams had lost championships during such years, beginning with the 76ers themselves in {{nbafy|1977}}. The exceptions were the Phillies in {{wsy|1983}} and the Flyers in {{scfy|1987}}.

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

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

{{reflist}}

  • [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1983.html Philadelphia 76ers on Basketball Reference]

{{1982–83 NBA season by team}}

{{NBA Champions}}

{{Philadelphia 76ers seasons}}

{{NBA10T}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers Season}}

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