The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. Several outstanding players have worn the team's patriotic colors over the years. In this piece, we'll take a look at what we believe to be the best shooting guards in Sixers history.
5. Andrew Toney
Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, Andrew Toney was one of the best guards of his era. The Sixers drafted “The Boston Strangler,” as he came to be known, with the eighth overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft.
Playing alongside the great Mo Cheeks in the backcourt, Toney went on to earn two All-Star nods and averaged 15.9 points per game for his career, which he spent entirely with Philly. He was a fan favorite and an important member of the 76ers' “Fo' Fo' Fo'” championship team in 1982-83.
Unfortunately, though, his career was cut short due to foot injuries.
4. Doug Collins
Younger NBA fans may only know Doug Collins as a coach — a role he excelled in over the years. However, the Illinois native was also one of the greatest guards of his time.
Philadelphia drafted Collins with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft. He averaged 17.9 points on 50.1 percent shooting from the field over the course of his career, which was spent entirely with the Sixers. For his outstanding play, he was recognized with four All-Star selections.
Injuries to his foot and knee put a stop to his career in 1981.
3. Hersey Hawkins
The Los Angeles Clippers selected Hawkins with the No. 6 overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft. However, his rights were immediately traded to the Sixers in exchange for Charles Smith.
“Hawk,” as he was affectionately known, was a member of one of the greatest eras in Sixers history. Playing alongside Charles Barkley, Hersey earned All-Rookie First-Team honors in 1989. It wasn't long until he was the second scoring option on the team.
Hawkins was a solid player on both ends of the floor, but he was especially dangerous on defense. In fact, he once recorded nine steals in a game against the Boston Celtics. He was also a great offensive player, as his career-high 43-point game against the Orlando Magic can attest.
To this day, Hawkins is high on several Sixers lists. He's fifth in 3-point field goals made (476), fifth in steals per game (1.8) and eighth in overall steals (722).
2. Hal Greer
A soft-spoken guard from the rolling hills of West Virginia, Hal Greer became the first African American to receive a scholarship from Marshall University, where he averaged 19.4 points per outing in three seasons. He played in 71 games with the Thundering Herd, racking up 1,377 points.
The Syracuse Nationals, who would later become the Philadelphia 76ers, selected Greer in the second round of the 1958 NBA Draft. He would go on to become of the greatest players in the team's history.
With a smooth shot from the top of the key and a defensive motor that just wouldn't quit, Greer was a solid option for the Sixers on a game-to-game basis. Notably, he spent his entire career with the team, earning 10 consecutive All-Star nods and seven All-NBA Second-Team selections.
Over the course of his 15-year career in the NBA, Greer turned in averages of 19.2 points on 45.2 percent shooting from the field (no 3-point line in those days), 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. It must be noted that he still holds a slough of Sixers all-time records, including those for games played, minutes played (39,788), field goals (8,504) and overall points scored (21,586).
Greer was a key member of a team that many experts view as one of the greatest ever: the 1966-67 Sixers. Alongside legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Chet Walker, Billy Cunningham, Wally Jones and Lucious Jackson, Philadelphia went on to defeat the San Francisco Warriors in the Finals.
“It was a beautiful, beautiful season,” Greer told the Philadelphia Daily News, via NBA.com. “We had everything. We knew we were going to win most of our games — it was just a matter of by how much.”
Beautiful, indeed.
When it comes to the greatest shooting guard in Sixers history, there can be but one answer. “The Answer,” as Iverson came to be known, is still revered as one of the greatest guards in NBA history.
The Sixers drafted Iverson from Georgetown University with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. The team was in bad shape when he first arrived, as they had just posted an 18-64 record in the previous season.
Iverson's impact was immediate. In fact, he scored 30 points and six assists in his debut, though the Sixers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, 111-103. As the years went on, he led the team to several postseason appearances. Unfortunately, though, he and his teammates were never able to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy despite making it to the 2001 NBA Finals.
Iverson was excellent on both ends of the floor. His crossover is truly legendary, and his defensive prowess was impressive as well. The Virginia native earned 11 All-Star nods, a whopping four scoring titles and three All-NBA First-Team selections in his NBA career. He won MVP in 2001.
Furthermore, Iverson led the league in steals for three consecutive seasons (2001-03). He finished with the highest scoring average in team history (27.6, tied with Wilt Chamberlain) and is second on the team's all-time scoring list (19,931).
“I always gave you all everything I had and the thing I love about you all is that you all appreciate that [expletive],” Iverson said during a speech to Philly fans in 2019. “When I walk in that building, I always hear your voices. I always wanted to give you all everything I had.”
Needless to say, Allen Iverson will always hold a special place in the hearts of 76ers fans.
Follow Us
Subscribe