1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers season

Third NBA championship season, second in Philadelphia August 2023 March 2026 Philadelphia 76ers 1983 yes yes yes 65 17 Atlantic 1 1 Billy Cunningham Pat Williams The Spectrum WPHL-TVPRISM WIP NBA champions(Defeated Lakers 4–0) 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 runners-up 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 the Sixers acquired free-agent center Moses Malone from the Houston Rockets in a sign-and-trade for Caldwell Jones,https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/16/sports/malone-goes-to-76ers-for-caldwell-jones.html Malone Goes to 76ers for Caldwell Jones The New York Times 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, "fo’, fo’, fo’", predicting that the Sixers would need to play only 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 2024 5 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.Carlin Ky ESPN's Jay Bilas ranks 1983 champion Sixers as 4th greatest team ever https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/sixers/2020/05/17/espns-jay-bilas-ranks-1983-champion-sixers-as-4th-greatest-team-ever/76192344007/ 2025-06-30 Sixers Wire en-USWilson Josh 2015-09-03 A Look Back At The Incredible 1983 Sixers https://thesixersense.com/2015/09/03/a-look-back-at-the-incredible-1983-sixers/ 2025-06-30 The Sixer Sense en-usCroatto Pete 2023-04-23 A Behind-the-Scenes Oral History of the 76ers’ Epic 1983 Championship https://www.phillymag.com/news/2023/04/22/76ers-1983-championship/ 2025-06-30 Philadelphia Magazine en-US 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 2026, 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 Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 22 Mark McNamara C/F United States California 2 36 J.J. Anderson SF United States Bradley 2 45 Russ Schoene PF United States Tennessee-Chattanooga 3 68 Dale Solomon United States Virginia Tech 4 91 Bruce Atkins United States Duquesne 5 114 Donald Mason United States Fresno State 6 137 Kevin Boyle United States Iowa 7 160 Keith Hilliard United States Southwest Missouri State 8 183 Donald Seals United States Jackson State 9 204 George Melton United States Cheyney (PA) 10 224 Randy Burkert United States Drexel Roster Philadelphia 76ers 10 Maurice Cheeks PG 6 1 180 West Texas A&M 1956-09-08 25 Earl Cureton PF/C 6 9 210 Detroit 1957-09-03 14 Franklin Edwards PG 6 1 170 Cleveland State 1959-02-02 6 Julius Erving SF 6 6 210 UMass 1950-02-22 8 Marc Iavaroni PF 6 8 210 Virginia 1956-09-15 45 Clemon Johnson C 6 10 240 Florida A&M 1956–09–12 33 Reggie Johnson SF 6 9 205 Tennessee 1957–06–25 basketball, born 1957 24 Bobby Jones basketball, born 1951 PF 6 9 210 North Carolina 1951-12-18 2 Moses Malone C 6 11 240 Petersburg High School 1955-03-23 31 Mark McNamara C 6 11 235 California 1959-06-08 4 Clint Richardson SG 6 3 195 Seattle 1956-08-07 22 Andrew Toney SG 6 3 178 Louisiana-Lafayette 1957-11-23 Billy Cunningham Matt Guokas Jack McMahon Regular season Season standings PHI PHI Game log Regular season background:#0067B1; color:white 1982–83 Game LogTotal: 65–17 (Home: 35–6; Road: 30–11) y background:#ED174C; color:white October: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road 1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || October 29, 1982 || @ New York || W 104–89 || Madison Square Garden || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || October 30, 1982 || New Jersey Nets || 110–99 || The Spectrum || 2–0 |- y background:#ED174C; color:white November: 11–3 (Home: 7–2; Road 4–1) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || November 3, 1982 || San Diego Clippers || 130–111 || The Spectrum || 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || November 5, 1982 || @ Detroit Pistons || 120–109 || Pontiac Silverdome || 4–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || November 6, 1982 || Boston || W 119–115 || The Spectrum || 5–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || November 10, 1982 || Chicago Bulls || 145–108 || The Spectrum || 6–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 7 || November 12, 1982 || Indiana Pacers || 108–117 || The Spectrum || 6–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || November 13, 1982 || @ New Jersey Nets || 110–100 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 7–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || November 14, 1982 || Washington Bullets || 102–93 || The Spectrum || 8–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || November 17, 1982 || Detroit Pistons || 120–103 || The Spectrum || 9–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || November 19, 1982 || Milwaukee || W 121–109 || The Spectrum || 10–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 12 || November 23, 1982 || Portland || L 103–106 || The Spectrum || 10–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || November 24, 1982 || @ Indiana Pacers || 121–106 || Market Square Arena || 11–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || November 26, 1982 || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 120–102 || Richfield Coliseum || 12–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 15 || November 27, 1982 || Utah Jazz || 126–113 || The Spectrum || 13–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 16 || November 30, 1982 || @ Atlanta Hawks || 97–111 || The Omni || 13–3 |- y background:#ED174C; color:white December: 11–2 (Home: 5–0; Road 6–2) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || December 2, 1982 || @ Phoenix Suns || 116–108 || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 14–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || December 3, 1982 || @ San Diego Clippers || 127–110 || San Diego Sports Arena || 15–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 19 || December 5, 1982 || @ Los Angeles || W 114–104 || The Forum || 16–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 20 || December 8, 1982 || Atlanta Hawks || 132–85 || The Spectrum || 17–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 21 || December 10, 1982 || @ Boston || L 97–123 || Boston Garden || 17–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || December 11, 1982 || Detroit Pistons || 128–111 || The Spectrum || 18–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || December 15, 1982 || Cleveland Cavaliers || 99–93 || The Spectrum || 19–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || December 17, 1982 || New York || 109–95 || The Spectrum || 20–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 25 || December 18, 1982 || @ Washington Bullets || 97–100 || Capital Centre || 20–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || December 21, 1982 || Boston || W 122–105 || The Spectrum || 21–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || December 26, 1982 || @ San Antonio || W 124–122 || HemisFair Arena || 22–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || December 28, 1982 || @ Houston Rockets || 104–93 || The Summit || 23–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 29 || December 29, 1982 || @ Dallas Mavericks || 126–116 || Reunion Arena || 24–5 |- y background:#ED174C; color:white January: 14–1 (Home: 7–0; Road 7–1) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 30 || January 5, 1983 || Los Angeles || W 122–120 || The Spectrum || 25–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 31 || January 7, 1983 || @ Washington Bullets || 106–89 || Capital Centre || 26–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 32 || January 8, 1983 || Kansas City Kings || 125–113 || The Spectrum || 27–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || January 11, 1983 || @ Atlanta Hawks || 109–99 || The Omni || 28–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || January 12, 1983 || Milwaukee || W 122–121 || The Spectrum || 29–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || January 14, 1983 || @ Detroit Pistons || 115–105 || Pontiac Silverdome || 30–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 36 || January 15, 1983 || Indiana Pacers || 114–105 || The Spectrum || 31–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 37 || January 18, 1983 || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 98–90 || Richfield Coliseum || 32–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 38 || January 19, 1983 || Chicago Bulls || 126–106 || The Spectrum || 33–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || January 21, 1983 || Seattle SuperSonics || 130–117 || The Spectrum || 34–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 40 || January 23, 1983 || @ Milwaukee || L 96–107 || MECCA Arena || 34–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 41 || January 25, 1983 || @ Chicago Bulls || 116–99 || Chicago Stadium || 35–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 42 || January 26, 1983 || Phoenix Suns || 113–102 || The Spectrum || 36–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 43 || January 28, 1983 || @ Kansas City Kings || 114–99 || Kemper Arena || 37–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || January 29, 1983 || @ Utah Jazz || 126–109 || Salt Palace || 38–6 |- y background:#ED174C; color:white February: 11–1 (Home: 7–0; Road 4–1) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || February 1, 1983 || @ Denver || W 133–124 || McNichols Sports Arena || 39–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 46 || February 3, 1983 || @ Golden State Warriors || 117–111 || Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena || 40–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 47 || February 4, 1983 || @ Portland || L 109–115 || Memorial Coliseum || 40–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || February 6, 1983 || @ Seattle SuperSonics || 97–96 || Kingdome || 41–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 49 || February 9, 1983 || Atlanta Hawks || 106–93 || The Spectrum || 42–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 50 || February 10, 1983 || @ Chicago Bulls || 116–110 || Chicago Stadium || 43–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 51 || February 16, 1983 || Denver || W 116–95 || The Spectrum || 44–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 52 || February 18, 1983 || Houston Rockets || 127–98 || The Spectrum || 45–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 53 || February 20, 1983 || New York || W 104–89 || The Spectrum || 46–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 54 || February 23, 1983 || Dallas Mavericks || 133–101 || The Spectrum || 47–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 55 || February 25, 1983 || Chicago Bulls || 116–111 || The Spectrum || 48–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 56 || February 27, 1983 || Golden State Warriors || 115–104 || The Spectrum || 49–7 |- y background:#ED174C; color:white March: 11–5 (Home: 6–1; Road 5–4) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 57 || March 1, 1983 || @ New York || W 106–94 || Madison Square Garden || 50–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 58 || March 4, 1983 || @ Boston || L 110–115 || Boston Garden || 50–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 59 || March 6, 1983 || @ New Jersey Nets || 106–112 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 50–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 60 || March 7, 1983 || Detroit Pistons || 123–114 || The Spectrum || 51–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || March 12, 1983 || @ Washington Bullets || 95–86 || Capital Centre || 52–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 62 || March 13, 1983 || Washington Bullets || 97–93 || The Spectrum || 53–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 63 || March 15, 1983 || @ Indiana Pacers || 132–128 || Market Square Arena || 54–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 64 || March 16, 1983 || Boston || W 105–100 || The Spectrum || 55–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 65 || March 19, 1983 || @ Milwaukee || W 105–97 || MECCA Arena || 56–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 66 || March 20, 1983 || @ Detroit Pistons || 121–119 || Pontiac Silverdome || 57–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 67 || March 22, 1983 || @ New York || L 76–89 || Madison Square Garden || 57–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 68 || March 23, 1983 || Milwaukee || W 104–101 || The Spectrum || 58–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 69 || March 25, 1983 || New Jersey Nets || 92–101 || The Spectrum || 58–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 70 || March 27, 1983 || Cleveland Cavaliers || 94–80 || The Spectrum || 59–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 71 || March 29, 1983 || @ Chicago Bulls || 95–97 || Chicago Stadium || 59–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 72 || March 30, 1983 || Atlanta Hawks || 120–113 || The Spectrum || 60–12 |- y background:#ED174C; color:white April: 5–5 (Home: 2–3; Road 3–2) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 73 || April 1, 1983 || New Jersey Nets || 104–111 || The Spectrum || 60–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 74 || April 3, 1983 || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 96–84 || Richfield Coliseum || 61–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 75 || April 5, 1983 || @ Milwaukee || W 116–108 || MECCA Arena || 62–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 76 || April 6, 1983 || San Antonio || L 109–112 || The Spectrum || 62–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 77 || April 8, 1983 || Indiana Pacers || 126–118 || The Spectrum || 63–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 78 || April 10, 1983 || New York || W 113–97 || The Spectrum || 64–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 79 || April 12, 1983 || @ Atlanta Hawks || 97–102 || The Omni || 64–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 80 || April 13, 1983 || Washington Bullets || 76–95 || The Spectrum || 64–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 81 || April 15, 1983 || @ New Jersey Nets || 100–98 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 65–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 82 || April 17, 1983 || @ Boston || L 101–114 || Boston Garden || 65–17 |- |- | 1982–83 Schedule Detailed records Eastern Conference Opponent Home Away Total Pct. Points scored Points allowed Atlantic Division Boston Celtics 3–0 0–3 3–3 3 3 654 672 New Jersey Nets 1–2 2–1 3–3 3 3 622 621 New York Knicks 3–0 2–1 5–1 5 1 612 553 Philadelphia 76ers — — — — — — 7–2 4–5 11–7 11 7 1888 1846 Central Division Atlanta Hawks 3–0 1–2 4–2 4 2 661 603 Milwaukee Bucks 3–0 2–1 5–1 5 1 664 643 6–0 3–3 9–3 9 3 1325 1246 Western Conference Opponent Home Away Total Pct. Points scored Points allowed Midwest Division Denver Nuggets 1–0 1–0 2–0 2 0 249 219 San Antonio Spurs 0–1 1–0 1–1 1 1 233 234 1–1 2–0 3–1 3 1 482 453 Pacific Division Los Angeles Lakers 1–0 1–0 2–0 2 0 236 224 Phoenix Suns 1–0 1–0 2–0 2 0 229 210 Portland Trail Blazers 0–1 0–1 0–2 0 2 212 221 Seattle SuperSonics 1–0 1–0 2–0 2 0 227 213 3–1 3–1 6–2 6 2 904 868 Playoffs Philadelphia 76ers 1983 #0067B1 white yes Philadelphia 76ers Eastern Conference Semifinals yes #ED174C white yes no 2 0 2 0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 24, 1983 | New York | W 112–102 | Moses Malone (38) | Moses Malone (17) | Maurice Cheeks (10) | The Spectrum14,375 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 27, 1983 | New York | W 98–91 | Moses Malone (30) | Moses Malone (17) | Maurice Cheeks (6) | The Spectrum15,829 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | April 30, 1983 | @ New York | W 107–105 | Moses Malone (28) | Moses Malone (14) | Maurice Cheeks (7) | Madison Square Garden17,735 | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 1, 1983 | @ New York | W 105–102 | Moses Malone (29) | Moses Malone (14) | Maurice Cheeks (7) | Madison Square Garden15,457 | 4–0 |- Philadelphia 76ers Eastern Conference Finals #ED174C white yes no 3 0 1 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | May 8, 1983 | Milwaukee | W 111–109 (OT) | Maurice Cheeks (26) | Moses Malone (12) | Maurice Cheeks (7) | The Spectrum18,482 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | May 11, 1983 | Milwaukee | W 87–81 | Moses Malone (26) | Moses Malone (17) | Cheeks, Toney (4) | The Spectrum18,482 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 14, 1983 | @ Milwaukee | W 104–96 | Julius Erving (26) | Moses Malone (14) | Maurice Cheeks (9) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 15, 1983 | @ Milwaukee | L 94–100 | Andrew Toney (24) | Moses Malone (12) | Maurice Cheeks (8) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | May 18, 1983 | Milwaukee | W 115–103 | Andrew Toney (30) | Moses Malone (17) | Maurice Cheeks (8) | The Spectrum18,482 | 4–1 |- |- Philadelphia 76ers NBA Finals #ED174C white yes no 2 0 2 0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | May 22, 1983 | Los Angeles | W 113–107 | Moses Malone (27) | Moses Malone (18) | Julius Erving (9) | The Spectrum18,482 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | May 26, 1983 | Los Angeles | W 103–93 | Moses Malone (24) | Moses Malone (12) | Maurice Cheeks (8) | The Spectrum18,482 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 29, 1983 | @ Los Angeles | W 111–94 | Moses Malone (28) | Moses Malone (19) | Moses Malone (6) | The Forum17,505 | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 31, 1983 | @ Los Angeles | W 115–108 | Moses Malone (24) | Moses Malone (23) | Andrew Toney (9) | The Forum17,505 | 4–0 |- PHI 1983 yes NBA Finals The 1983 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 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 1988.1983 NBA Finals - Lakers vs. 76ers https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1983-nba-finals-lakers-vs-76ers.html 2025-03-19 Basketball-Reference.com 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.WORLD CHAMPS!; 28 years later, Phillies again are baseball's best October 30, 2008 Phil Sheridan Philadelphia Inquirer A1 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).Phillified Levin Bob The Globe and Mail October 21, 2008 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.Two cities that could use a CUP June 2, 2010 Ken Warren Ottawa Citizen B3 The city's teams had lost championships during such years, beginning with the 76ers themselves in 1977. The exceptions were the Phillies in 1983 and the Flyers in 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 Moses Malone, NBA Most Valuable Player Award Moses Malone, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award Bobby Jones, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award Moses Malone, All-NBA First Team Julius Erving, All-NBA First Team Bobby Jones, NBA All-Defensive First Team Maurice Cheeks, NBA All-Defensive First Team Moses Malone, NBA All-Defensive First Team 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. References Philadelphia 76ers on Basketball Reference Philadelphia Category:Philadelphia 76ers seasons Category:Eastern Conference (NBA) championship seasons Category:NBA championship seasons Philadelphia Philadelphia Category:1982–83 NBA season Category:Sports in Philadelphia Category:Basketball teams in Philadelphia Category:1983 in basketball Category:1982 in basketball Category:1983 in Philadelphia Category:1982 in Philadelphia Category:1983 in American sports Category:1982 in American sports Category:1982–83 in American basketball