# 1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers season

The 1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 37th season of the franchise (going back to their days as the Syracuse Nationals) and their 20th season in Philadelphia. The 76ers entered the season as runner-ups in the 1982 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.
Harold Katz bought the franchise in 1982. On his watch, the final piece of the championship puzzle was completed before the 1982–83 season when they acquired free-agent center Moses Malone from the Houston Rockets in a sign-and-trade for Caldwell Jones, joining an already stacked roster led by Hall of Famers Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks and Bobby Jones, as well as All-Star Andrew Toney. They went on to dominate the regular season, ending the year with a 65–17 record in what is still their second highest winning season in franchise history.
Erving was the team captain and was named the NBA All Star Game MVP, while Malone was named the league's MVP. When reporters asked how the playoffs would run, he answered, "four, four, four", predicting that the Sixers would need to only play four games in each of the three playoff series to win the title.
The Sixers backed up Malone's boast, breezing through the Eastern Conference playoffs, sweeping the New York Knicks in the Semifinals, then beating the Milwaukee Bucks in five games in the Conference Finals. They went on to win their third NBA championship with a four-game sweep of the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, who had defeated them the season before. Malone was named the Finals MVP, and his prediction turned out to be only one game off, as some used the adapted phrase "fo', fi', fo'" reflecting their one playoff loss to the Bucks.
Regarded as one of the greatest teams in history, their 12–1 playoff record still ranks as the third-best in league history after the 2016–17 Warriors, who went 16–1, and the 2000–01 Lakers, who went 15–1 en route to the NBA title coincidentally beating the 76ers in the finals. The Philadelphia-based group Pieces of a Dream had a minor hit in 1983 with the R&B song "Fo-Fi-Fo", which title was prompted by Malone's quip.
As of 2024, this remains the third and last NBA championship in 76ers franchise history, though they made their above-mentioned NBA Finals appearance in 2001, losing to the Lakers.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 22 | Mark McNamara | C/F | United States | California |
| 2 | 36 | J.J. Anderson | SF | United States | Bradley |
| 2 | 45 | Russ Schoene | PF | United States | Tennessee-Chattanooga |
| 3 | 68 | Dale Solomon | | United States | Virginia Tech |
| 4 | 91 | Bruce Atkins | | United States | Duquesne |
| 5 | 114 | Donald Mason | | United States | Fresno State |
| 6 | 137 | Kevin Boyle | | United States | Iowa |
| 7 | 160 | Keith Hilliard | | United States | Southwest Missouri State |
| 8 | 183 | Donald Seals | | United States | Jackson State |
| 9 | 204 | George Melton | | United States | Cheyney (PA) |
| 10 | 224 | Randy Burkert | | United States | Drexel |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Philadelphia 76ers | 65 | 17 | .793 | – | 35–6 | 30–11 | 15–9 |
| x-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 9 | 33–8 | 23–18 | 14–10 |
| x-New Jersey Nets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 16 | 30–11 | 19–22 | 11–13 |
| x-New York Knicks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 21 | 26–15 | 18–23 | 10–14 |
| Washington Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 23 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 10–14 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Philadelphia 76ers | 65 | 17 | .793 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 51 | 31 | .622 | 14 |
| 3 | x-Boston Celtics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 9 |
| 4 | x-New Jersey Nets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 16 |
| 5 | x-New York Knicks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 21 |
| 6 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 22 |
| 7 | Washington Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 23 |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | 37 | 45 | .451 | 28 |
| 9 | Chicago Bulls | 28 | 54 | .341 | 37 |
| 10 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 23 | 59 | .280 | 42 |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | 20 | 62 | .244 | 45 |

### Record vs. opponents

1982-83 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 2–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Cleveland | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–3 | — | 2–0 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 0–6 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 4–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| New Jersey | 4–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| New York | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | — | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–0 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | — | 0–6 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 6–0 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 0–5 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

### Game log

1982–83 Game Log Total: 65–17 (Home: 35–6; Road: 30–11) :
October: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road 1–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
1October 29@ New York Knicks104–89Madison Square Garden1–0
2October 30New Jersey Nets110–99The Spectrum2–0 :
November: 11–3 (Home: 7–2; Road 4–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
3November 3San Diego Clippers130–111The Spectrum3–0
4November 5@ Detroit Pistons120–109Pontiac Silverdome4–0
5November 6Boston Celtics119–115The Spectrum5–0
6November 10Chicago Bulls145–108The Spectrum6–0
7November 12Indiana Pacers108–117The Spectrum6–1
8November 13@ New Jersey Nets110–100Brendan Byrne Arena7–1
9November 14Washington Bullets102–93The Spectrum8–1
10November 17Detroit Pistons120–103The Spectrum9–1
11November 19Milwaukee Bucks121–109The Spectrum10–1
12November 23Portland Trail Blazers103–106The Spectrum10–2
13November 24@ Indiana Pacers121–106Market Square Arena11–2
14November 26@ Cleveland Cavaliers120–102Richfield Coliseum12–2
15November 27Utah Jazz126–113The Spectrum13–2
16November 30@ Atlanta Hawks97–111The Omni13–3 :
December: 11–2 (Home: 5–0; Road 6–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
17December 2@ Phoenix Suns116–108Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum14–3
18December 3@ San Diego Clippers127–110San Diego Sports Arena15–3
19December 5@ Los Angeles Lakers114–104The Forum16–3
20December 8Atlanta Hawks132–85The Spectrum17–3
21December 10@ Boston Celtics97–123Boston Garden17–4
22December 11Detroit Pistons128–111The Spectrum18–4
23December 15Cleveland Cavaliers99–93The Spectrum19–4
24December 17New York Knicks109–95The Spectrum20–4
25December 18@ Washington Bullets97–100Capital Centre20–5
26December 21Boston Celtics122–105The Spectrum21–5
27December 26@ San Antonio Spurs124–122HemisFair Arena22–5
28December 28@ Houston Rockets104–93The Summit23–5
29December 29@ Dallas Mavericks126–116Reunion Arena24–5 :
January: 14–1 (Home: 7–0; Road 7–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
30January 5Los Angeles Lakers122–120The Spectrum25–5
31January 7@ Washington Bullets106–89Capital Centre26–5
32January 8Kansas City Kings125–113The Spectrum27–5
33January 11@ Atlanta Hawks109–99The Omni28–5
34January 12Milwaukee Bucks122–121The Spectrum29–5
35January 14@ Detroit Pistons115–105Pontiac Silverdome30–5
36January 15Indiana Pacers114–105The Spectrum31–5
37January 18@ Cleveland Cavaliers98–90Richfield Coliseum32–5
38January 19Chicago Bulls126–106The Spectrum33–5
39January 21Seattle SuperSonics130–117The Spectrum34–5
40January 23@ Milwaukee Bucks96–107MECCA Arena34–6
41January 25@ Chicago Bulls116–99Chicago Stadium35–6
42January 26Phoenix Suns113–102The Spectrum36–6
43January 28@ Kansas City Kings114–99Kemper Arena37–6
44January 29@ Utah Jazz126–109Salt Palace38–6 :
February: 11–1 (Home: 7–0; Road 4–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
45February 1@ Denver Nuggets133–124McNichols Sports Arena39–6
46February 3@ Golden State Warriors117–111Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena40–6
47February 4@ Portland Trail Blazers109–115Memorial Coliseum40–7
48February 6@ Seattle SuperSonics97–96Kingdome41–7
49February 9Atlanta Hawks106–93The Spectrum42–7
50February 10@ Chicago Bulls116–110Chicago Stadium43–7
51February 16Denver Nuggets116–95The Spectrum44–7
52February 18Houston Rockets127–98The Spectrum45–7
53February 20New York Knicks104–89The Spectrum46–7
54February 23Dallas Mavericks133–101The Spectrum47–7
55February 25Chicago Bulls116–111The Spectrum48–7
56February 27Golden State Warriors115–104The Spectrum49–7 :
March: 11–5 (Home: 6–1; Road 5–4)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
57March 1@ New York Knicks106–94Madison Square Garden50–7
58March 4@ Boston Celtics110–115Boston Garden50–8
59March 6@ New Jersey Nets106–112Brendan Byrne Arena50–9
60March 7Detroit Pistons123–114The Spectrum51–9
61March 12@ Washington Bullets95–86Capital Centre52–9
62March 13Washington Bullets97–93The Spectrum53–9
63March 15@ Indiana Pacers132–128Market Square Arena54–9
64March 16Boston Celtics105–100The Spectrum55–9
65March 19@ Milwaukee Bucks105–97MECCA Arena56–9
66March 20@ Detroit Pistons121–119Pontiac Silverdome57–9
67March 22@ New York Knicks76–89Madison Square Garden57–10
68March 23Milwaukee Bucks104–101The Spectrum58–10
69March 25New Jersey Nets92–101The Spectrum58–11
70March 27Cleveland Cavaliers94–80The Spectrum59–11
71March 29@ Chicago Bulls95–97Chicago Stadium59–12
72March 30Atlanta Hawks120–113The Spectrum60–12 :
April: 5–5 (Home: 2–3; Road 3–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
73April 1New Jersey Nets104–111The Spectrum60–13
74April 3@ Cleveland Cavaliers96–84Richfield Coliseum61–13
75April 5@ Milwaukee Bucks116–108MECCA Arena62–13
76April 6San Antonio Spurs109–112The Spectrum62–14
77April 8Indiana Pacers126–118The Spectrum63–14
78April 10New York Knicks113–97The Spectrum64–14
79April 12@ Atlanta Hawks97–102The Omni64–15
80April 13Washington Bullets76–95The Spectrum64–16
81April 15@ New Jersey Nets100–98Brendan Byrne Arena65–16
82April 17@ Boston Celtics101–114Boston Garden65–17 :
1982–83 Schedule :

## Playoffs

1983 playoff game log :
Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 24
New York
W 112–102
Moses Malone (38)
Moses Malone (17)
Maurice Cheeks (10)
The Spectrum 14,375
1–0
2
April 27
New York
W 98–91
Moses Malone (30)
Moses Malone (17)
Maurice Cheeks (6)
The Spectrum 15,829
2–0
3
April 30
@ New York
W 107–105
Moses Malone (28)
Moses Malone (14)
Maurice Cheeks (7)
Madison Square Garden 17,735
3–0
4
May 1
@ New York
W 105–102
Moses Malone (29)
Moses Malone (14)
Maurice Cheeks (7)
Madison Square Garden 15,457
4–0 :
Conference Finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 8
Milwaukee
W 111–109 (OT)
Maurice Cheeks (26)
Moses Malone (12)
Maurice Cheeks (7)
The Spectrum 18,482
1–0
2
May 11
Milwaukee
W 87–81
Moses Malone (26)
Moses Malone (17)
Cheeks, Toney (4)
The Spectrum 18,482
2–0
3
May 14
@ Milwaukee
W 104–96
Julius Erving (26)
Moses Malone (14)
Maurice Cheeks (9)
MECCA Arena 11,052
3–0
4
May 15
@ Milwaukee
L 94–100
Andrew Toney (24)
Moses Malone (12)
Maurice Cheeks (8)
MECCA Arena 11,052
3–1
5
May 18
Milwaukee
W 115–103
Andrew Toney (30)
Moses Malone (17)
Maurice Cheeks (8)
The Spectrum 18,482
4–1 :
NBA Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 22
Los Angeles
W 113–107
Moses Malone (27)
Moses Malone (18)
Julius Erving (9)
The Spectrum 18,482
1–0
2
May 26
Los Angeles
W 103–93
Moses Malone (24)
Moses Malone (12)
Maurice Cheeks (8)
The Spectrum 18,482
2–0
3
May 29
@ Los Angeles
W 111–94
Moses Malone (28)
Moses Malone (19)
Moses Malone (6)
The Forum 17,505
3–0
4
May 31
@ Los Angeles
W 115–108
Moses Malone (24)
Moses Malone (23)
Andrew Toney (9)
The Forum 17,505
4–0 :
1983 schedule :

## NBA Finals

The 1983 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1982–83 season.
The 76ers went on to capture their second NBA championship in Philadelphia, and the third as the 76ers/Nationals franchise as they swept the New York Knicks, and proceeded to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. They finally finished it off with a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, who had defeated them the season before, making this the only NBA championship not to be won by either the Lakers or the Boston Celtics from 1980 to 1988.
Said head coach Billy Cunningham, "The difference from last year was Moses." Malone was named MVP of the 1983 Finals, as well as league MVP for the third time in his career. The 76ers completed one of the most dominating playoff runs in league history with a 12–1 mark after league and NBA Finals MVP Moses promised "Fo', fo', fo" (as in "four, four, four" – four wins to win each playoff series). The 76ers were also led by Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones.
The 1983 NBA Finals was the last to end before June 1. This championship is especially noted because it would be the last major sports championship for the city of Philadelphia until the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. At the time, no other city with all four professional sports teams had a championship drought last as long as that from 1983 to 2008 (25 years). When the Flyers played for the 2010 Stanley Cup, The Ottawa Citizen reported that the main reason for that lengthy championship drought was because the only years the city's teams played for championships during that time were years presidents were inaugurated. The city's teams had lost championships during such years, beginning with the 76ers themselves in 1977. The exceptions were the Phillies in 1983 and the Flyers in 1987.
Following the 1983 NBA Finals, a video documentary called "That Championship Feeling" recaps the NBA Playoff action that year. Dick Stockton narrated the video, and Irene Cara's 1983 hit single "What A Feeling" is the official theme song for the video documentary. For the first time, NBA Entertainment used videotape instead of film for all the on-court and off-court footage.

## Awards, records, and legacy

* Moses Malone, NBA Most Valuable Player Award
* Moses Malone, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
* Bobby Jones, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
* Moses Malone, All-NBA First Team
* Julius Erving, All-NBA First Team
* Bobby Jones, NBA All-Defensive First Team
* Maurice Cheeks, NBA All-Defensive First Team
* Moses Malone, NBA All-Defensive First Team
At the time, their 65–17 regular season record ranked as the fifth greatest regular season win total in NBA history. Previously, only the 1972 Lakers (69–13), 1967 Sixers (68–13), 1971 Bucks (66–16), and 1973 Celtics (68–14; who lost the Conference Finals) exceeded this win total.
In addition, their regular season winning percentage of .793 was only bettered by three teams before 1968 (the 1947 Washington Capitals of .817; 1950 Syracuse Nations of .797 and aforementioned 1967 Sixers of .840), when NBA teams played less than an 82-game regular season. Both the Capitols and the Nationals failed to win an NBA championship.
Their .8105 winning percentage, combined regular season and postseason (77–18) in 1983, has been topped since by just five teams, the 1986 Celtics (.820, also with 18 losses), 1996 and 97 Bulls (.870 and .832), 2016 Warriors (.830, with 18 losses as well as an NBA Finals loss), and 2017 Warriors (.838).
Through the first 66 regular season games, their record stood at 57–9. The 2016 Golden State Warriors started only 3 games better at 60–6 before breaking the regular season record with 73 wins.
Possessing an exceptionally talented roster and a brilliant coaching staff with Billy Cunningham, Matt Goukas, and Jack McMahon, the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers were one of the very best teams in NBA history.