Philadelphia 76ers

The franchise began as the Syracuse Nationals in 1946, winning the 1955 NBA championship behind Dolph Schayes's scoring. The team relocated to Philadelphia in 1963 and rebranded as the 76ers. The name change coincided with one of the most consequential trades in NBA history: in 1965, the Sixers acquired Wilt Chamberlain from the San Francisco Warriors.

The 1966-67 Sixers are widely considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history. They went 68-13 in the regular season - a record that stood for nearly 30 years - and won the championship, ending the Boston Celtics' eight-year dynasty. Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, and Billy Cunningham formed a dominant roster that finally proved the Celtics were beatable.

Chamberlain was traded to the Lakers in 1968, and the franchise declined through the early 1970s, reaching a shocking nadir in 1972-73 when they posted a 9-73 record - the worst in NBA history at the time.

Julius Erving - Dr. J - arrived in Philadelphia in 1976 after the ABA-NBA merger and immediately elevated the franchise into championship contention. Erving was the most electrifying player in basketball history to that point: his soaring dunks, acrobatic finishes, and artistic game made him the NBA's first true showman. Combined with the gritty play of Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones, the Sixers were a constant presence in the NBA Finals.

After Finals losses in 1977, 1980, and 1982, the Sixers finally broke through in 1983 when they acquired Moses Malone. Malone famously predicted the playoff outcome as "Fo', Fo', Fo'" - a near-perfect prophecy, as the Sixers went 12-1 through the playoffs (losing just one game) to win the championship. The 1983 Sixers are one of the most dominant playoff teams in NBA history.

Erving retired in 1987, and the franchise entered a transitional period. But the next era would produce a player who, pound for pound, might have been the most fearless competitor in NBA history.

Allen Iverson, drafted first overall in 1996, was a cultural revolution in a 6-foot frame. The lightning-quick guard from Georgetown played with a fearlessness and intensity that defied his size, attacking defenders twice his weight and scoring at a rate that made him one of the most prolific offensive players in NBA history. His crossover dribble - particularly the famous crossover on Michael Jordan - became one of basketball's signature moves.

Iverson won four scoring titles and the 2001 MVP award, leading the Sixers to the NBA Finals against the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers. The Sixers won Game 1 in overtime - with Iverson famously stepping over Tyronn Lue after hitting a shot - but lost the series in five games. That Game 1 performance, in which Iverson scored 48 points, remains one of the most legendary individual playoff performances ever.

Iverson's impact extended far beyond the court. His cornrows, tattoos, and hip-hop aesthetic challenged the NBA's corporate image and made him one of the most influential cultural figures in sports. He was traded in 2006, and the franchise entered another rebuilding phase.