When Julius Erving joined the Philadelphia 76ers in 1976, the buzz was electric. A championship seemed inevitable, but despite three NBA Finals appearances in six years, the Larry O’Brien Trophy stayed out of reach.
Enter Moses Malone, the reigning MVP, who landed in Philly before the 1982-83 season. The Sixers paid a steep price — sending Caldwell Jones and a first-rounder to Houston — but the message was clear: It was title or bust.
From day one, Malone transformed the Sixers into a juggernaut. Philly stormed to a league-best 65 wins, with Malone snagging his third MVP award and Erving dazzling as always. Bobby Jones? He locked up the first-ever Sixth Man Award.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s Sidney Moncrief snagged the inaugural Defensive Player of the Year, proving the NBA was introducing hardware for all the right reasons.
Malone’s bold prediction for the playoffs? “Fo’, Fo’, Fo’,” meaning the Sixers would sweep every round en route to the championship. It didn’t pan out exactly like that, but close enough.
After sweeping the Knicks and dispatching the Bucks in five, Philly ran into the Lakers in the Finals — a banged-up Lakers squad, no less. James Worthy, the No. 1 pick from the previous draft, was already sidelined with a leg fracture. Norm Nixon and Bob McAdoo? Also hobbled.
The Sixers smelled blood and swept L.A., securing their first title since Wilt Chamberlain’s 1967 squad. Adjusted prediction? “Fo’, Fi’, Fo’.”
The Finals MVP? No surprise — it was Moses Malone. He dominated the boards all season (league-best 15.3 RPG) and gave Philly the interior consistency Kareem Abdul-Jabbar provided for the Lakers for years.
“Let’s not make believe,” said coach Billy Cunningham, a member of that ’67 title team. “Moses was the difference. Period.”
Philly’s dominance was undeniable, and for the first time in 16 years, the city celebrated an NBA championship. “Fo’, Fi’, Fo’” wasn’t just a rallying cry — it became a legacy.
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