This past decade began with the highest of highs for the Sixers, but ended with a dwindling fanbase that mostly ignored the antics of a terrible team. The return of Allen Iverson hasn’t even been enough to get people interested in a unit with few bright spots. While the end of the ‘00s have left us fans with little to cheer about, the decade as a whole has seen some great play on the court and the superhuman efforts of the franchise’s one true marquee player of the past 10 years.
All-Decade Team
PG: Eric Snow (2000-2004)
SG: Allen Iverson (2000-2006, 2009)
SF: Andre Iguodala (2004-2009)
PF: Kenny Thomas (2002-2005)
C: Dikembe Mutombo (2001-2002)
6th Man: Aaron McKie (2000-2005)
Honorable Mentions: Andre Miller, Chris Webber, Samuel Dalembert, George Lynch, Thad Young
Head Coach: Larry Brown
Top 3 Players of the Decade
1. Allen Iverson - As the last decade began, Iverson was at the apex of his career. The Sixers were one of the best teams in the NBA, and while it wasn’t always easy, they muscled their way to the Finals that year against heavy favorites the Lakers. He led the team with his play and his heart, and Philadelphia loved him until the day he quit in ’06. He was the league’s MVP in 2001 and made the All-Star team each year with the Sixers. His monster year came in ’05-’06 when he scored 33 points per game, had 7.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.9 steals on shooting that sat just below 45%. We all know how good he was and those of us who thought he would be a distraction when he returned to the team this season are probably surprised that he’s just one of the guys. It seems that our AI has grown up.
2. Aaron McKie – Philadelphia born and raised, this is my sentimental pick, but with good reason. A good team needs dependable guys on the bench, and while he was with the Sixers, McKie was a guy that you could depend on. He picked up the 6th Man award in ’00-’01 with some absolutely stellar play. He played in all but 6 games, and averaged 11.6 PPG, 4.1 assists, and 5 rebounds, with a 77% success rate from the free throw line. Now a coach with the team, he’s a guy that always played hard and made a difference every night.
3. Andre Iguodala - I didn’t know what to make of him when he was drafted, and although he will never be a player of the other AI’s caliber, Iggy has show growth over the past 5 years. He’s been the face of the franchise for the past few years, and a player that had steadily improved to become a star. Over his career here, he’s started in all but 6 games. Discounting his first 2 seasons, his PPG has held court around 19 on a 43% average. His other numbers are just as strong: 1.8 steals, 4.5 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. Although he’ll never be a true #1, he has shown the ability to lead the team.
Top Moments of the Decade
The run to the 2001 NBA Finals – This run was full of highlights, and it was the last Sixers team to really bring the entire city together. We all know how huge Iverson was, but the reason the team got as far as they did was due to the contributions of everyone on the team. Mutombo was a beast at center whose finger-wagging after a block was just as memorable as the act of sending the ball the other way. Eric Snow and Aaron McKie were role-players who elevated their games to new levels. And finally, you can’t forget the excellent job Larry Brown did as coach.
Iverson steps over Tyronn Lue (June 6, 2001) – Iverson has never been better than he was in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. After he crossed-over Tyronn Lue and hit the jumper, Lue fell down only to have AI step over him. It was a brilliant moment. If it happened now, it would likely result in a technical.
Iggy hits game-winning 3-pointer (March 17, 2009) - As the season was winding down, the Sixers found themselves in playoff contention due to a once again weak Eastern Conference. In Los Angeles, they were in a tight contest against a lethargic Lakers, down by just 2 in the game’s waning moments. For the last shot of the game, Iggy was able to get open, grab the inbound pass, and drain the 3-poiners for a win. It was a gutsy move, but it worked and the Sixers solidified their grip on the 6th seed.
“We talkin’ about pracice” (May 8, 2002) - Despite his great play, Iverson was never a model teammate. He had run-ins with the law, arguments with coaches and teammates, and he frequently blew off practices and team events. This infamous press conference occurred after he skipped too many practices, and was called out by both coach Larry Brown and the media.
The Sixers in very early 2010 are a team in disarray – there’s no way around it. Eddie Jordan is doing an awful job coaching, Samuel Dalembert is an albatross contractually and on the court, and Iguodala is a very good #2 player, but not the star the team needs to guide it. Looking deeper, you can see a new nucleus forming that could be the team’s championship core of the future. Players like Marreese Speights and Jrue Holiday are young and hungry, and if they’re supplemented with the right coach a true #1, who knows where they could go?
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