The 1965-66 Sixers: Remembering a Breakthrough Season

The 1965-66 Philadelphia 76ers may be the best team in NBA history that didn't win a title. Most basketball fans say that the 1967 team might have been an even better squad. They an eight-year title run for the Boston Celtics, but the foundation was built a year earlier.

Before becoming the Sixers, the team was the Syracuse Nationals from 1946 to 1963. Within three seasons in Philly, the Sixers developed into a powerhouse. In their third season, they won the regular season Eastern Division title.

The 76ers were ready to be a championship contender.

The main guy to help put this team on the map was Wilt Chamberlain, also known as "Wilt the Stilt" or "The Big Dipper." He arrived in Philly mid-season in 1965, so his first full year with the 76ers was the 1965-66 team. In that first full season, Chamberlain had one of the most efficient seasons in his legendary career.

He won his second league MVP award and led the NBA in scoring with 33.5 points per game, 24.6 rebounds per game, and a .540 field goal percentage.

Besides those great numbers, Chamberlain enjoyed giving the ball to his teammates. He finished seventh in the league in assists with 5.2 per game. He was usually a one-man scoring machine, but on the Sixers, he helped create a balanced offense. Chamberlain became the main reason why the team was able to improve so much from the previous season.

With the fifth pick in the 1965 NBA Draft, the 76ers selected forward Billy Cunningham out of North Carolina. The rookie sensation helped bring the offensive numbers to a new level. His nickname was the "Kangaroo Kid," and he was the type of player who could get the team going on a solid scoring run.

His energy and versatility helped the Sixers maintain a relentless pace in games. In his rookie season, he averaged 14.3 points per game and landed a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Team. Cunningham was great at running the floor with his half-court dominance and top-notch passing.

This team went from a 40-40 record in 1964-65 to 55-25 in 1965-66. This improvement happened through hard work on both sides of the ball. The Sixers tightened up their play across all the major basketball categories.

The 76ers' scoring went from 112.5 PPG to 117.3 PPG. Chamberlain led the league in rebounding and provided the extra possessions the team needed to outpace opponents. The overall offense was more balanced. They had more fluid ball movement, and they achieved a higher assist total.

Even though the 76ers finished with the best record in the league in 1965-66 and earned a first-round bye, the season ended with a disappointing playoff exit.

Philly met the Celtics in the Eastern Division Finals. However, before the Eastern Division Finals, the Sixers had a two-week break due to their first-round bye of the playoffs. This break led to a stale effort on the court from Philadelphia, and they lost to Boston in five games. This defeat led to the firing of coach Dolph Schayes.

This loss ended up being the final lesson on how this team can make a run for a title. The next season, the Sixers, under new coach Alex Hannum, retooled their game plan a bit and went on to win a then-record 68 games and the NBA title.

The 1965-66 76ers created the blueprint for modern basketball in the city. This season proved that a team built around an elite center could also be a fast-breaking, high-scoring machine.

Philly was able to challenge the untouchable aura that Boston had in the league. The 76ers then were able to set the stage for one of the greatest championship runs in the history of the sport one year later.

The 76ers' historical style of play is all about dominance, grit, and superstar-driven offense. Over the years, fans have seen some solid rebounding and inside scoring. Philly has had other seasons where the team perfected a fast-paced, high-scoring type of game while maintaining tough defense. This isolation-heavy offense really defined the culture of Philadelphia basketball.

Nowadays, the Sixers have moved toward analytics-driven play, like most NBA teams. Philadelphia likes to focus on floor spacing, a high volume of three-point shooting, and strong post play for whoever their big player is.

Fans have loved the rich and historic legacies and always have a deep-seated hope for the future.