1995–96 Philadelphia 76ers season

Season of National Basketball Association team the Philadelphia 76ers August 2023 March 2026 Philadelphia 76ers 1996 18 64 Atlantic 7 15 John Lucas CoreStates Spectrum WPSGSportsChannel PhiladelphiaPRISM WIP Did not qualify PHI The 1995–96 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 47th season for the Philadelphia 76ers in the National Basketball Association, and their 33rd season in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia 76ers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/ August 9, 2026 Season summary Off-season The 76ers received the third overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Jerry Stackhouse from the University of North Carolina. Wise Mike Pro Basketball: Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board The New York Times June 29, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/29/sports/pro-basketball-underclassmen-rule-atop-nba-draft-board.html July 25, 2021 Heisler Mark NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way Los Angeles Times June 29, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-29-sp-18377-story.html December 3, 2022 1995 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1995.html December 1, 2022 During the off-season, the team signed free agents Vernon Maxwell, Sports People: Pro Basketball: Lucas and 76ers Give Maxwell a Shot The New York Times September 27, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/27/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-lucas-and-76ers-give-maxwell-a-shot.html January 1, 2022 Associated Press "Mad Max" Is Gone, Now It's Good Old Maxwell Deseret News September 27, 1995 https://www.deseret.com/1995/9/27/19195168/mad-max-is-gone-now-it-s-good-old-maxwell September 24, 2022 Long Ernie Sixers Sign Another Project in Maxwell; Ex-Rocket Will Play Point Guard The Morning Call September 27, 1995 https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1995-09-27-3043235-story.html December 21, 2022 Richard Dumas, then later on in December, signed second-year guard Trevor Ruffin, Ruffin Is Surprise for 76ers The Washington Post December 21, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/12/21/ruffin-is-surprise-for-76ers/fa2024e0-db7c-4e24-8147-d9abc761b0a6/ June 30, 2022 Associated Press NBA Unknowns Take Center Stage The Durant Daily Democrat December 21, 1995 Page 3 https://books.google.com/books?id=fKRDAAAAIBAJ&dq=1995+Philadelphia+76ers+signed+trevor+ruffin&pg=PA2&article_id=1358,9471872 October 30, 2024 and veteran point guard Scott Skiles, who then retired in January after only just ten games with the team. Sports People: Pro Basketball: Sixers Sign Skiles The New York Times December 13, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/13/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-sixers-sign-skiles.html October 5, 2022 Regular season With the addition of Stackhouse and Maxwell, the 76ers got off to a 2–2 start to the regular season, but then posted an 11-game losing streak afterwards. Early into the season, the team traded Shawn Bradley, Greg Graham and Tim Perry to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Derrick Coleman, Rex Walters and Sean Higgins; Coleman only played in just eleven games with the 76ers due to an irregular heartbeat. Brown Clifton Pro Basketball: Nets Grant Coleman's Wish with Trade to Sixers The New York Times December 1, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/01/sports/pro-basketball-nets-grant-coleman-s-wish-with-trade-to-sixers.html July 21, 2017 Heisler Mark Coleman Dealt to Philadelphia: Pro Basketball: New Jersey Swaps Brilliant, But Unhappy Forward for Center Bradley in Six-Player Trade Los Angeles Times December 1, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-01-sp-9271-story.html December 3, 2022 Nets' Coleman to 76ers for Bradley The Washington Post December 1, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/12/01/nets-coleman-to-76ers-for-bradley/08a223c3-b908-4a27-ae1b-0cf8ded00e5f/ September 24, 2022 At mid-season, the team traded second-year forward Sharone Wright to the expansion Toronto Raptors in exchange for Tony Massenburg, and Ed Pinckney, Wright to Raptors United Press International February 22, 1996 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/02/22/Wright-to-Raptors/7153824965200/ December 13, 2022 Associated Press Hardaway Heads for the Heat in Trade Los Angeles Times February 23, 1996 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-23-sp-39177-story.html September 24, 2022 Associated Press Riley's Heat the Big Movers on D-Day Deseret News February 23, 1996 https://www.deseret.com/1996/2/23/19226664/riley-s-heat-the-big-movers-on-d-day June 22, 2023 while Jeff Malone was released to free agency, and later on signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat. Winderman Ira Mourning Travels West Sun Sentinel January 6, 1996 https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1996-01-06-9601050607-story.html June 30, 2022 The 76ers posted a nine-game losing streak in January, posted a seven-game losing streak in February, and held a 9–36 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=8&year=1996 January 2, 2023 The 76ers posted an eight-game losing streak in March, and had their worst season since the infamous 73-loss 1972–73 season, finishing in last place in the Atlantic Division with an 18–64 record. 1995–96 Philadelphia 76ers Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1996_games.html July 1, 2021 The team failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. Stackhouse averaged 19.2 points and 3.9 assists per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Clarence Weatherspoon averaged 16.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals and blocks per game each, and Maxwell provided the team with 16.2 points, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and also led them with 146 three-point field goals. In addition, Ruffin contributed 12.8 points and 4.4 assists per game, along with 104 three-point field goals, while Coleman provided with 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and Massenburg averaged 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 30 games after the trade. Meanwhile, Higgins contributed 8.0 points per game, second-year center Derrick Alston averaged 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, Dumas provided with 6.2 points per game, but only played just 39 games, Pinckney provided with 5.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 27 games, and Walters contributed 4.6 points per game in 33 games. 1995–96 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1996.html July 1, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Stackhouse was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference Rookie team, Pro Basketball The Gainesville Sun February 10, 1996 15 https://books.google.com/books?id=n0RWAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA31&dq=1996+nba+rookie+game+stoudamire+stackhouse+wallace+henderson&article_id=3767,2375962&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiSk6WGtuCPAxVxmYkEHfeFOUcQ6AF6BAgGEAM#v=onepage&q=1996%20nba%20rookie%20game%20stoudamire%20stackhouse%20wallace%20henderson&f=false September 18, 2025 1996 NBA Rising Stars: East 94, West 92 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1996_rookie.html September 18, 2025 and also participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/contest.html September 18, 2025 Stackhouse finished tied in fourth place in Rookie of the Year voting. Associated Press Stoudamire Named Top Rookie After Lukewarm NBA Reception Los Angeles Times May 16, 1996 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-05-16-sp-4846-story.html February 1, 2023 1995–96 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1996.html February 1, 2023 The 76ers finished 28th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 476,016 at the CoreStates Spectrum during the regular season, which was the second-lowest in the league. 1995–96 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1996.html January 22, 2026 Aftermath This was also the team's final season in which they played their home games at the CoreStates Spectrum. Following the season, Maxwell re-signed with his former team, the San Antonio Spurs, Spurs Add a Dose of Vernon Maxwell Tampa Bay Times August 30, 1996 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/08/30/spurs-add-a-dose-of-vernon-maxwell/ January 18, 2022 Spurs Add Some Grit with Maxwell SFGate August 30, 1996 https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Spurs-add-some-grit-with-Maxwell-3127271.php October 5, 2022 Wire Services Unseld Testifies in Name Change The Spokesman-Review August 30, 1996 https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/aug/30/unseld-testifies-in-name-change/ February 1, 2023 while Massenburg signed with the New Jersey Nets, Staff and Wire Reports Hungary Faked Qualifying Meet for Olympic Swimming Los Angeles Times September 11, 1996 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-09-11-sp-42642-story.html October 10, 2022 head coach John Lucas II was fired, NBA Playoffs: 76ers Dismiss Lucas as Coach The New York Times May 14, 1996 https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/14/sports/nba-playoffs-76ers-dismiss-lucas-as-coach.html November 10, 2022 Associated Press Lucas Fired as Coach of 76ers Los Angeles Times May 14, 1996 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-05-14-sp-3931-story.html February 1, 2023 and Ruffin, Pinckney, Dumas, Higgins and Alston were all released to free agency. In Dumas' case, he would be permanently banned from the NBA due to him violating a clause that forbade him from drinking alcohol, which was his third strike in terms of drug violations in the NBA. Offseason Draft picks 1995 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 3 Jerry Stackhouse SG North Carolina Roster Philadelphia 76ers 1995–96 #B50000 #FFFFFF #243E7C #FFFFFF 21 Derrick Alston C 6 11 225 –– Duquesne 44 Derrick Coleman F 6 10 230 –– Syracuse yes 7 Richard Dumas F 6 7 200 –– Oklahoma State 9 Sean Higgins basketball F 6 9 205 –– Michigan 30 Tony Massenburg F 6 9 220 –– Maryland 11 Vernon Maxwell G 6 4 180 –– Florida 54 Ed Pinckney F 6 9 195 –– Villanova 8 Trevor Ruffin G 6 1 185 –– Hawaii 5 Scott Skiles G 6 1 180 –– Michigan State 42 Jerry Stackhouse G 6 6 218 –– North Carolina 20 Greg Sutton basketball G 6 2 170 –– Oral Roberts 41 LaSalle Thompson C 6 10 245 –– Texas 23 Rex Walters G 6 4 190 –– Kansas 35 Clarence Weatherspoon F 6 6 240 –– Southern Mississippi 55 Scott Williams basketball C 6 10 230 –– North Carolina yes John Lucas II Ron Adams Maurice Cheeks Tom Thibodeau https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1996.html Roster notes Point guard Scott Skiles retired on January 6, 1996. Regular season Season standings PHI PHI z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Awards and records Jerry Stackhouse, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team Player statistics Regular season PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGDerrick Alston 73 41 22.1 .512 .333 .491 4.1 .8 .8 .7 6.2Elmer Bennett 8 0 8.3 .235 .750 .6 1.0 .1 .1 1.4Shawn Bradley† 12 11 27.8 .443 .760 8.8 .7 .7 3.2 8.8Mike Brown basketball, born 1963 9 1 18.0 .563 .471 4.1 .3 .3 .2 2.9Derrick Coleman 11 11 26.7 .407 .333 .625 6.5 2.8 .4 .9 11.2Richard Dumas 39 14 18.9 .468 .222 .700 2.5 1.1 1.1 .2 6.2Greg Graham† 8 3 16.0 .531 .500 .882 1.9 1.4 .6 .0 7.0Greg Grant basketball, born 1966† 11 2 25.5 .375 .222 .833 1.9 5.5 1.1 .2 4.1Sean Higgins basketball 44 4 20.8 .415 .372 .946 2.1 1.3 .5 .3 8.0Jeff Malone† 25 3 16.3 .394 .313 .923 1.3 .8 .5 .0 6.2Tony Massenburg† 30 8 26.8 .483 .000 .739 6.2 .4 .5 .4 9.9Vernon Maxwell 75 57 32.9 .390 .317 .756 3.1 4.4 1.3 .2 16.2Tim Perry† 8 0 10.9 .444 1.000 .667 1.6 .3 .3 .4 2.4Ed Pinckney† 27 23 25.1 .529 .764 6.5 .8 1.2 .4 5.6Trevor Ruffin 61 23 25.4 .406 .366 .813 2.2 4.4 .7 .0 12.8Scott Skiles 10 9 23.6 .351 .441 .800 1.6 3.8 .7 .0 6.3Jerry Stackhouse 72 71 37.5 .414 .318 .747 3.7 3.9 1.1 1.1 19.2Greg Sutton basketball† 30 2 15.5 .389 .417 .741 1.2 2.1 .6 .1 6.3LaSalle Thompson 44 11 17.6 .398 .792 4.5 .6 .4 .5 1.9Rex Walters† 33 8 15.8 .426 .352 .783 1.5 2.9 .7 .1 4.6Clarence Weatherspoon 78 75 39.7 .484 .000 .746 9.7 2.0 1.4 1.4 16.7Scott Williams basketball 13 1 14.8 .517 .000 .833 3.5 .4 .5 .5 3.1Trevor Wilson basketball 6 0 13.2 .500 .750 2.3 .7 .5 .0 3.8Sharone Wright† 46 32 24.7 .477 .629 6.5 .6 .5 .8 10.5 † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the 76ers only. Player statistics citation: References See also 1995-96 NBA season Category:Philadelphia 76ers seasons Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Category:1995 in Philadelphia Category:1996 in Philadelphia