October 7, 2026
October 7, 2026
1982-1983 Philadelphia 76ers: Consistency
In a sign-and-trade deal, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired free agent center Moses Malone in exchange for center and power forward Caldwell Jones. It proved to be one of the most significant trades in franchise history. Guided by head coach Billy “The Kangaroo Kid” Cunningham, the 1982-1983 Philadelphia 76ers were a model of consistency throughout the 1982-1983 NBA regular season, going 65-17. The 76ers finished nine games ahead of their Atlantic Division rivals, the Boston Celtics.
Moses Malone fit in nicely with the rest of the team, scoring 1,908 total points and recording 1,194 rebounds, 749 of them defensive. Malone also had 157 blocks and averaged 24.5 points, 15.3 rebounds, 9.6 defensive rebounds and 2 blocks per game. Shooting guard Andrew Toney scored 1,598 total points and recorded 365 assists, averaging 19.7 points and 4.5 assists per game.
Small forward Julius Erving, also known as “Dr. J,” scored 1,542 total points and recorded 491 rebounds, 112 steals and 131 blocks, averaging 21.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. Point guard Maurice Cheeks scored 990 total points and recorded 543 assists and 184 steals, averaging 12.5 points, 6.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Power forward Bobby Jones had 91 blocks and averaged 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
The 76ers built their game around tough defense and taking charge on the boards, and this aggressive style of play helped them win many games. The 76ers went 35-6 at home and 30-11 on the road. They went 11-3 in November, 11-2 in December, 14-1 in January, 11-1 in February, 11-5 in March and 5-5 in April. The 76ers also enjoyed a 14-game winning streak that began on December 21, 1982, with a 122-105 win over the Boston Celtics and ran through January 21, 1983, with a 130-117 win over the Seattle SuperSonics.
The 1982-1983 Philadelphia 76ers took on the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and got off to a great start with a 112-102 win on April 24 on their home court, The Spectrum. Moses Malone had 38 points in Game 1 along with 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. Maurice Cheeks had 14 points and 10 assists, and Bobby Jones contributed 6 assists.
In Game 2 on April 27, the 76ers won again, 98-91. Malone had 30 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Cheeks had 26 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Julius Erving had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. Keeping the game close for the Knicks, power forward Leonard “Truck” Robinson had 22 points and 14 rebounds.
The series shifted to Madison Square Garden in New York for Game 3 on April 30, and the 76ers squeaked by with a 107-105 victory. Malone had 28 points and 14 rebounds, while Erving had 20 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks. Cheeks had 24 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists. Once again keeping the game close for New York, Truck Robinson grabbed 15 rebounds and small forward Bernard King had 21 points.
The 76ers completed the series sweep in Game 4 on May 1 with a 105-102 win as Malone had 29 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks. Erving had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, while Cheeks contributed 7 assists. Bernard King did all he could to keep the Knicks afloat with 35 points and 6 rebounds, and Truck Robinson had 17 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists, but it wasn’t enough.
The 76ers then faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, and Philadelphia squeaked by again in Game 1 on May 8, 111-109. Maurice Cheeks had 26 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Andrew Toney had 22 points and 5 assists, and Julius Erving had 19 points. The Bucks certainly gave the 76ers a scare, starting with small forward and shooting guard Marques Johnson, who had 30 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Small forward and shooting guard Junior Bridgeman also contributed for Milwaukee with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Shooting guard Brian Winters had 17 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists.
In Game 2 on May 11, the 76ers claimed an 87-81 victory. Malone had 26 points and 17 rebounds, 13 of them defensive. Andrew Toney had 20 points, 4 assists and 2 steals. Marques Johnson showed up again for Milwaukee with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while guard Sidney Moncrief had 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals. Center Bob Lanier had 10 rebounds and 4 assists. The 76ers then won Game 3 on May 14 in Milwaukee, 104-96, as Erving had 26 points and 8 rebounds and Malone had 25 points and 14 rebounds. Junior Bridgeman had another good game for the Bucks with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Game 4 was the only speed bump on Philadelphia’s road, as the 76ers lost to Milwaukee 100-94 on May 15. Toney had 24 points and 5 rebounds; Erving had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks; and Malone had 17 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Milwaukee’s steady attack included 19 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists from Johnson; 17 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists from Moncrief; 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 5 blocks from Lanier; and 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block from Bridgeman.
The 76ers regrouped for Game 5 on May 18 and eliminated the Bucks with a 115-103 win at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. Marques Johnson had 21 points and 8 rebounds for Milwaukee, while Junior Bridgeman had 20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Andrew Toney led Philadelphia’s charge with 30 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Moses Malone had 28 points, 17 rebounds, 2 steals and 4 blocks, and Dr. J had 24 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks.
The 1983 NBA Finals pitted the Philadelphia 76ers against the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, and the 76ers took Game 1 on May 22, 113-107. Malone had 27 points, 18 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks, while Toney had 25 points and 4 assists. Erving had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 blocks. Keeping the game close for the Lakers, point guard Norm Nixon had 26 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. Point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson had 19 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists.
In Game 2 on May 26, the 76ers won 103-93. Malone had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Toney had 19 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, and Cheeks had 19 points and 8 assists. Though the series shifted to The Forum in Inglewood, California, the results remained the same as the 76ers took Game 3 on May 29, 111-94. Malone had 28 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists, while Dr. J had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Toney had 21 points and 5 assists, while Bobby Jones had 17 points and 7 rebounds. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had another solid game for Los Angeles with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Forward Jamaal Wilkes had 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks, and Magic Johnson had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 13 assists.
The 1982-1983 Philadelphia 76ers completed the NBA Finals sweep with a 115-108 victory on May 31. The Lakers gave it all they had with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 28 points and 7 rebounds, Magic Johnson’s 27 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, and 21 points and 5 rebounds from Jamaal Wilkes, but the 76ers proved to be much more consistent. Moses Malone, who was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, had 24 points, 23 rebounds and 3 blocks in Game 4. Andrew Toney had 23 points and 9 assists, Julius Erving had 21 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, and Maurice Cheeks had 20 points and 7 assists.
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