1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers season

Draft picks

Roster

• Billy Cunningham
• Matt Guokas
• Jack McMahon}}

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || || @ New York || W 104–89 || Madison Square Garden || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || || New Jersey Nets || 110–99 || The Spectrum || 2–0 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || || San Diego Clippers || 130–111 || The Spectrum || 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || || @ Detroit Pistons || 120–109 || Pontiac Silverdome || 4–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || || Boston || W 119–115 || The Spectrum || 5–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || || Chicago Bulls || 145–108 || The Spectrum || 6–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 7 || || Indiana Pacers || 108–117 || The Spectrum || 6–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || || @ New Jersey Nets || 110–100 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 7–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || || Washington Bullets || 102–93 || The Spectrum || 8–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || || Detroit Pistons || 120–103 || The Spectrum || 9–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || || Milwaukee || W 121–109 || The Spectrum || 10–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 12 || || Portland || L 103–106 || The Spectrum || 10–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || || @ Indiana Pacers || 121–106 || Market Square Arena || 11–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 120–102 || Richfield Coliseum || 12–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 15 || || Utah Jazz || 126–113 || The Spectrum || 13–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 16 || || @ Atlanta Hawks || 97–111 || The Omni || 13–3 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || || @ Phoenix Suns || 116–108 || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 14–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || || @ San Diego Clippers || 127–110 || San Diego Sports Arena || 15–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 19 || || @ Los Angeles || W 114–104 || The Forum || 16–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 20 || || Atlanta Hawks || 132–85 || The Spectrum || 17–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 21 || || @ Boston || L 97–123 || Boston Garden || 17–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || || Detroit Pistons || 128–111 || The Spectrum || 18–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || || Cleveland Cavaliers || 99–93 || The Spectrum || 19–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || || New York || 109–95 || The Spectrum || 20–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 25 || || @ Washington Bullets || 97–100 || Capital Centre || 20–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || || Boston || W 122–105 || The Spectrum || 21–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || || @ San Antonio || W 124–122 || HemisFair Arena || 22–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || || @ Houston Rockets || 104–93 || The Summit || 23–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 29 || || @ Dallas Mavericks || 126–116 || Reunion Arena || 24–5 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 30 || || Los Angeles || W 122–120 || The Spectrum || 25–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 31 || || @ Washington Bullets || 106–89 || Capital Centre || 26–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 32 || || Kansas City Kings || 125–113 || The Spectrum || 27–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || || @ Atlanta Hawks || 109–99 || The Omni || 28–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || || Milwaukee || W 122–121 || The Spectrum || 29–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || || @ Detroit Pistons || 115–105 || Pontiac Silverdome || 30–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 36 || || Indiana Pacers || 114–105 || The Spectrum || 31–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 37 || || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 98–90 || Richfield Coliseum || 32–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 38 || || Chicago Bulls || 126–106 || The Spectrum || 33–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || || Seattle SuperSonics || 130–117 || The Spectrum || 34–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 40 || || @ Milwaukee || L 96–107 || MECCA Arena || 34–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 41 || || @ Chicago Bulls || 116–99 || Chicago Stadium || 35–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 42 || || Phoenix Suns || 113–102 || The Spectrum || 36–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 43 || || @ Kansas City Kings || 114–99 || Kemper Arena || 37–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || || @ Utah Jazz || 126–109 || Salt Palace || 38–6 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || || @ Denver || W 133–124 || McNichols Sports Arena || 39–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 46 || || @ Golden State Warriors || 117–111 || Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena || 40–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 47 || || @ Portland || L 109–115 || Memorial Coliseum || 40–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || || @ Seattle SuperSonics || 97–96 || Kingdome || 41–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 49 || || Atlanta Hawks || 106–93 || The Spectrum || 42–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 50 || || @ Chicago Bulls || 116–110 || Chicago Stadium || 43–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 51 || || Denver || W 116–95 || The Spectrum || 44–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 52 || || Houston Rockets || 127–98 || The Spectrum || 45–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 53 || || New York || W 104–89 || The Spectrum || 46–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 54 || || Dallas Mavericks || 133–101 || The Spectrum || 47–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 55 || || Chicago Bulls || 116–111 || The Spectrum || 48–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 56 || || Golden State Warriors || 115–104 || The Spectrum || 49–7 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 57 || || @ New York || W 106–94 || Madison Square Garden || 50–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 58 || || @ Boston || L 110–115 || Boston Garden || 50–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 59 || || @ New Jersey Nets || 106–112 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 50–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 60 || || Detroit Pistons || 123–114 || The Spectrum || 51–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || || @ Washington Bullets || 95–86 || Capital Centre || 52–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 62 || || Washington Bullets || 97–93 || The Spectrum || 53–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 63 || || @ Indiana Pacers || 132–128 || Market Square Arena || 54–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 64 || || Boston || W 105–100 || The Spectrum || 55–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 65 || || @ Milwaukee || W 105–97 || MECCA Arena || 56–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 66 || || @ Detroit Pistons || 121–119 || Pontiac Silverdome || 57–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 67 || || @ New York || L 76–89 || Madison Square Garden || 57–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 68 || || Milwaukee || W 104–101 || The Spectrum || 58–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 69 || || New Jersey Nets || 92–101 || The Spectrum || 58–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 70 || || Cleveland Cavaliers || 94–80 || The Spectrum || 59–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 71 || || @ Chicago Bulls || 95–97 || Chicago Stadium || 59–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 72 || || Atlanta Hawks || 120–113 || The Spectrum || 60–12 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 73 || || New Jersey Nets || 104–111 || The Spectrum || 60–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 74 || || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 96–84 || Richfield Coliseum || 61–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 75 || || @ Milwaukee || W 116–108 || MECCA Arena || 62–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 76 || || San Antonio || L 109–112 || The Spectrum || 62–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 77 || || Indiana Pacers || 126–118 || The Spectrum || 63–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 78 || || New York || W 113–97 || The Spectrum || 64–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 79 || || @ Atlanta Hawks || 97–102 || The Omni || 64–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 80 || || Washington Bullets || 76–95 || The Spectrum || 64–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 81 || || @ New Jersey Nets || 100–98 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 65–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf" | 82 || || @ Boston || L 101–114 || Boston Garden || 65–17

Detailed records

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | | New York | W 112–102 | Moses Malone (38) | Moses Malone (17) | Maurice Cheeks (10) | The Spectrum 14,375 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | | New York | W 98–91 | Moses Malone (30) | Moses Malone (17) | Maurice Cheeks (6) | The Spectrum 15,829 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | | @ New York | W 107–105 | Moses Malone (28) | Moses Malone (14) | Maurice Cheeks (7) | Madison Square Garden 17,735 | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | | @ New York | W 105–102 | Moses Malone (29) | Moses Malone (14) | Maurice Cheeks (7) | Madison Square Garden 15,457

| | Milwaukee | W 111–109 (OT) | Maurice Cheeks (26) | Moses Malone (12) | Maurice Cheeks (7) | The Spectrum 18,482 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | | Milwaukee | W 87–81 | Moses Malone (26) | Moses Malone (17) | Cheeks, Toney (4) | The Spectrum 18,482 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | | @ Milwaukee | W 104–96 | Julius Erving (26) | Moses Malone (14) | Maurice Cheeks (9) | MECCA Arena 11,052 | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | | @ Milwaukee | L 94–100 | Andrew Toney (24) | Moses Malone (12) | Maurice Cheeks (8) | MECCA Arena 11,052 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | | Milwaukee | W 115–103 | Andrew Toney (30) | Moses Malone (17) | Maurice Cheeks (8) | The Spectrum 18,482

| | Los Angeles | W 113–107 | Moses Malone (27) | Moses Malone (18) | Julius Erving (9) | The Spectrum 18,482 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | | Los Angeles | W 103–93 | Moses Malone (24) | Moses Malone (12) | Maurice Cheeks (8) | The Spectrum 18,482 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | | @ Los Angeles | W 111–94 | Moses Malone (28) | Moses Malone (19) | Moses Malone (6) | The Forum 17,505 | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | | @ Los Angeles | W 115–108 | Moses Malone (24) | Moses Malone (23) | Andrew Toney (9) | The Forum 17,505

NBA Finals

The 1983 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 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.

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. 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). 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. The city's teams had lost championships during such years, beginning with the 76ers themselves in . The exceptions were the Phillies in and the Flyers in .

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.

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

• Philadelphia 76ers on Basketball Reference

References

1. (September 16, 1982). "Malone Goes to 76ers for Caldwell Jones". [[The New York Times]].
2. Carlin, Ky. "ESPN's Jay Bilas ranks 1983 champion Sixers as 4th greatest team ever".
3. Wilson, Josh. (2015-09-03). "A Look Back At The Incredible 1983 Sixers".
4. Croatto, Pete. (2023-04-23). "A Behind-the-Scenes Oral History of the 76ers’ Epic 1983 Championship".
5. "1983 NBA Finals - Lakers vs. 76ers".
6. Sheridan, Phil. (October 30, 2008). "WORLD CHAMPS!; 28 years later, Phillies again are baseball's best". Philadelphia Inquirer.
7. Levin, Bob. (October 21, 2008). "Phillified". The Globe and Mail.
8. Warren, Ken. (June 2, 2010). "Two cities that could use a CUP". Ottawa Citizen.