Philadelphia 76ers Top 20 NBA Draft Picks of All-Time

The Philadelphia 76ers have a rich history of impactful NBA Draft picks, many of whom have left an indelible mark on the franchise and the league.

Our team at RNB Philly will be breaking down the Philadelphia 76ers Top 20 NBA Draft Picks of All-Time. This is list is based on productivity, longevity, and impact. Not only with the Sixers, but in the NBA as a whole.

Honorable Mention: Isaiah Joe (2020; 49th overall)

Joe made his NBA debut on December 27, 2020, playing seven minutes in a 118–94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. On October 13, 2022, he was waived. Although it didn’t work out in Philly, Joe was not to be denied. On October 16, 2022, Joe signed a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, becoming a key reserve over the years which eventually helped the Thunder win an NBA title in 2025.

Honorable Mention: Chet Walker (1962: Round 2 Pick 12)

Although he was not drafted a ‘Sixer’, Walkers impact on the franchise cannot be overlooked. During his 1966–67 season with the 76ers, they won 68 games and lost just 13—the best record in NBA history at the time. That team, which also featured center Wilt Chamberlain, guards Hal Greer and Wali Jones, and sixth man Billy Cunningham, ended the eight-year championship run of the Boston Celtics

• NBA champion (1967)
• 7× NBA All-Star (1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (1963)
• 2× Consensus first-team All-American (1961, 1962)
• Second-team All-American – AP, NABC, UPI (1960)
• 3× First-team All-MVC (1960–1962)
• No. 31 retired by Bradley Braves
• Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor

Honorable Mention: Hal Greer (1958: 13th overal )

Another Pre-Sixers stud, Greer was a force to be reckoned with in the early days on the league.

• NBA champion (1967)
• 10× NBA All-Star (1961–1970)
• NBA All-Star Game MVP (1968)
• 7× All-NBA Second Team (1963–1969)
• No. 15 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
• NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
• First-team All-MAC (1958)
• No. 16 retired by Marshall Thundering Herd

Honorable Mention: Dick Barnett (1959: 4th overall)

• 2× NBA champion (1970, 1973)
• NBA All-Star (1968)
• ABL champion (1962)
• All-ABL First Team (1962)
• No. 12 retired by New York Knicks
• 3× NAIA champion (1957–1959)
• 3× AP Little College All-American (1957–1959)
• 2× UPI Little College All-American (1958, 1959)
• 2× NAIA tournament MVP (1958, 1959)

Check out the Philadelphia 76ers Top 20 NBA Draft Picks of All-Time

20. Thaddeus Young (2007: 1st round, 12th overall pick)

• NBA Hustle Award (2021)
• NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2008)
• Second-team Parade All-American (2006)
• McDonald’s All-American (2006)

19. Marreese Speights (2008: 1st round, 16th overall pick)

• NBA champion (2015)
• NCAA champion (2007)

18. Larry Hughes (1998: 1st round, 8th overall pick)

• NBA All-Defensive First Team (2005)
• NBA steals leader (2005)
• USBWA National Freshman of the Year (1998)
• First-team All-Conference USA (1998)
• McDonald’s All-American (1997)
• Second-team Parade All-American (1997)
• Mr. Show-Me Basketball (1997)

17. World B. Free (1975: 2nd round, 23rd overall pick)

• NBA All-Star (1980)
• All-NBA Second Team (1979)
• USBL champion (1987)
• USBL playoffs MVP (1987)
• NAIA tournament MVP (1973)

16. Nikola Vučević (2011: 1st round, 16th overall pick)

• 2× NBA All-Star (2019, 2021)
• AP honorable mention All-American (2011)
• First-team All-Pac-10 (2011)
• Second-team All-Pac-10 (2010)

15. Tyrese Maxey

• NBA All-Star (2024)
• NBA Most Improved Player (2024)
• Second-team All-SEC (2020)
• SEC All-Freshman Team (2020)
• McDonald’s All-American (2019)
• Texas Mr. Basketball (2019)

14. Jerry Stackhouse

• 2× NBA All-Star (2000, 2001)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (1996)
• Consensus first-team All-American (1995)
• First-team All-ACC (1995)
• ACC All-Freshman Team (1994)
• ACC tournament MVP (1994)
• No. 42 honored by North Carolina Tar Heels
• McDonald’s All-American Co-MVP (1993)
• 2× First-team Parade All-American (1992, 1993)

13. Darryl Dawkins

• NBA champion (1989)
• No. 11 retired by Auxilium Torino
• 2× Italian All-Star Game (1991, 1992)
• First-team Parade All-American (1975)
• Fourth-team Parade All-American (1974)

12. Ben Simmons

• 3× NBA All-Star (2019–2021)
• All-NBA Third Team (2020)
• 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2020, 2021)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (2018)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018)
• NBA steals leader (2020)
• Consensus first-team All-American (2016)
• USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2016)
• First-team All-SEC (2016)
• SEC Freshman of the Year (2016)
• National high school player of the year (2015)
• McDonald’s All-American (2015)
• First-team Parade All-American (2015)

11. Doug Collins

• 4× NBA All-Star (1976–1979)
• Consensus first-team All-American (1973)
• AP honorable mention All-American (1972)
• 2× First-team All-Midwestern (1971, 1972)
• No. 20 retired by Illinois State Redbirds

10. Lucious ‘Luke Jackson

• NBA champion (1967)
• NBA All-Star (1965)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (1965)
• 2× NAIA tournament MVP (1963, 1964)
• No. 54 retired by UTRGV Vaqueros

9. Lou Williams

• 3× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2015, 2018, 2019)
• Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2005)
• McDonald’s All-American (2005)
• First-team Parade All-American (2005)
• Third-team Parade All-American (2004)
• Jordan Brand Classic (2005)
• Nike Hoop Summit (2005)
• Mr. Georgia Basketball (2005)

8. Andrew Toney

• NBA champion (1983)
• 2× NBA All-Star (1983, 1984)
• 2× Southland Player of the Year (1978, 1980)
• Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame

7. Joel Embiid

• NBA Most Valuable Player (2023)
• 7× NBA All-Star (2018–2024)
• All-NBA First Team (2023)
• 4× All-NBA Second Team (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022)
• 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2018, 2019, 2021)
• 2× NBA scoring champion (2022, 2023)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (2017)
• Second-team All-Big 12 (2014)
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2014)
• Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2014)
• Big 12 All-Newcomer Team (2014)

6. Andre Iguodala

• 4× NBA champion (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022)
• NBA Finals MVP (2015)
• NBA All-Star (2012)
• NBA All-Defensive First Team (2014)
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2011)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (2005)
• No. 9 retired by Golden State Warriors
• First-team All-Pac-10 (2004)
• Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (2003)
• Second-team Parade All-American (2002)

5. Jrue Holiday

• 2× NBA champion (2021, 2024)
• 2× NBA All-Star (2013, 2023)
• 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2018, 2021, 2023)
• 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2019, 2022, 2024)
• Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (2009)
• Gatorade National Player of the Year (2008)
• First-team Parade All-American (2008)
• Third-team Parade All-American (2007)
• McDonald’s All-American (2008)
• California Mr. Basketball (2008)

4. Maurice Cheeks

• NBA champion (1983)
• 4× NBA All-Star (1983, 1986–1988)
• 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983–1986)
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1987)
• No. 10 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
• 2× First-team All-MVC (1976, 1978)
• Second-team All-MVC (1977)

3. Billy Cunningham

• Elected to Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame (1986)
• Elected to New York City Basketball Hall of Fame (1990)^[6]
• All-NBA First Team (1969, 1970, 1971)
• ABA All Star, First Team (1973)
• All-NBA Second Team (1972)
• Four-time NBA All-Star
• Elected to the ABA’s All-Time Team
• One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)
• Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)

2. Charles Barkley

• NBA Most Valuable Player (1993)
• 11× NBA All-Star (1987–1997)
• NBA All-Star Game MVP (1991)
• 5× All-NBA First Team (1988–1991, 1993)
• 5× All-NBA Second Team (1986, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995)
• All-NBA Third Team (1996)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (1985)
• NBA rebounding leader (1987)
• NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
• No. 34 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
• No. 34 retired by Phoenix Suns^[2]
• Third-team All-American – NABC (1984)
• SEC Player of the Year (1984)
• First-team All-SEC (1984)
• 2× Second-team All-SEC (1982, 1983)
• SEC tournament MVP (1984)
• No. 34 retired by Auburn Tigers
• Most offensive rebounds in a half: 13, Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks, March 4, 1987
• Most offensive rebounds in a quarter: 11, Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks, March 4, 1987
• Shortest player to lead the league in rebounds: at 6’6″

1. Allen Iverson

Among the most iconic selections is Allen Iverson, the first overall pick in 1996. Known for his electrifying scoring ability, Iverson won four scoring titles, was named MVP in 2000-01, and led the 76ers to the NBA Finals that same season.

• NBA Most Valuable Player (2001)
• 11× NBA All-Star (2000–2010)
• 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2001, 2005)
• 3× All-NBA First Team (1999, 2001, 2005)
• 3× All-NBA Second Team (2000, 2002, 2003)
• All-NBA Third Team (2006)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (1997)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (1997)
• 4× NBA scoring champion (1999, 2001, 2002, 2005)
• 3× NBA steals leader (2001–2003)
• NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• No. 3 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
• Consensus first-team All-American (1996)
• First-team All-Big East (1996)
• Second-team All-Big East (1995)
• 2× Big East Defensive Player of the Year (1995, 1996)
• Big East Rookie of the Year (1995)
• First-team Parade All-American (1993)
• Virginia Mr. Basketball (1993)

Philadelphia 76ers Top 20 NBA Draft Picks of All-Time  was originally published on rnbphilly.com