The Philadelphia 76ers’ 2010 All-Decade Team
We are now about a week into the year 2020, which means we are at the start of a new decade. The 2010’s brought us a mixed bag of Philadelphia 76ers basketball, as the team experienced its fair share of highs and lows. What started off with a first-round exit to the Heat in LeBron’s first year with Miami, to ending with back-to-back 50- win seasons, this team really has seen it all. From Doug Collins to Brett Brown, from Tony Wroten to Ben Simmons, from Andrew Bynum to Joel Embiid, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at everybody that has been a part of this team over the last 10 years and construct an All-Decade team. The team will consist of players who I think best represented the Sixers throughout the last decade, while also taking into account their impacts, performances, and stats.
Here we go.
(Note: I will also do a Wrong Answers Only team just for fun and to show how far we have come in the last 10 years.)
Sixers’ 2010 All-Decade Team
Point Guard: Ben Simmons (2016-Present)
Career Averages with PHI: 16.1 PTS, 8.3 REB, 8.1 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.8 BLK, 21.8 Win Shares
I thought this one was a pretty easy choice to start off with considering just how good Ben has been since entering the league. After missing his first year with a broken bone in his right foot, the 2016 first overall pick took the league by storm, winning the 2018 Rookie of the Year Award by averaging 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. Simmons became only the third rookie in NBA history to have over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists (joining Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson) while leading the Sixers to a 52-30 record, their best record since 2001. Last year, Simmons was named to his first All-Star game, joining Jrue Holiday as the youngest players in franchise history to make the All-Star team. This year, Ben hasn’t really taken the next step we all expected him to offensively, but hey at least he’s got two threes to his name now. Defensively, however, Simmons looks to be on his way in making his first all-defensive team as he leads the league in steals per game and total steals. Overall, his 8.1 assists per game are the most in franchise history, while he also ranks top 10 in Player Efficiency Rating (19.9) and Effective Field Goal Percentage (55.6 percent).
Honorable Mentions: Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams
Wrong Answer: Isaiah “Cannonball” Canaan
Shooting Guard: J.J. Redick (2017-2019)
Career Averages with PHI: 17.6 PTS, 2.5 REB, 2.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.2 BLK, 12.5 Win Shares
Although he only spent two seasons with the Sixers, J.J. Redick has to be the best shooting guard this team has had in the last 10 years. The 14-year NBA vet averaged 17.6 points per game with the Sixers, his most points per game he’s had with any team. Redick is top three in franchise history in three-point percentage at 40.7 percent, while also was almost automatic from the charity stripe as he holds the franchise record for free throw percentage at 89.8 percent. Redick was the perfect two guard to pair with this offense, as Simmons constantly found him open beyond the arc, while Embiid and Redick worked the dribble handoff to perfection. Even though he was a defensive liability at times, Redick’s ability to stretch the offense and space the floor was second to none and is severely missed by the Sixers this season.
Honorable Mention: I guess Hollis Thompson?
Wrong Answer: Jerryd Bayless
Small Forward: Andre Iguodala (2004-2012)
Career Averages with PHI: 15.3 PTS, 5.8 REB, 4.9 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.5 BLK, 61.2 Win Shares
If we were talking the better player, Jimmy Butler or Tobias Harris would be here. But considering Butler only played half a season with Philly, and Tobias hasn’t eclipsed a full-year yet, you have to go with Iggy. Andre Iguodala spent his first eight seasons in Philly where he basically did everything you could ask for out of a first-round pick. Drafted ninth overall in the 2004 NBA draft, Iguodala had high expectations coming out of Arizona. Although he never really became the superstar we expected to take over the team after Allen Iverson, Iguodala still had a solid career with the Sixers, finishing top 10 in franchise history in points, steals, and assists. He even had an All-Star game appearance in 2012 to boot. Now, I wish his Finals MVP came with a Sixers team, but nevertheless, Iggy deserves some credit for being a solid Philadelphia 76er. (Also, I know we all remember that he should have a 2006 Slam Dunk Contest Champion title to his name too. We don’t forget judges/Nate Robinson).
Honorable Mentions: Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, Robert Covington
Wrong Answer: Evan Turner
Power Forward: Thaddeus Young (2007- 2014)
Career Averages with PHI: 13.7 PTS, 5.5 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.4 STL, 0.4 BLK, Win Shares 35.5
Thaddeus Young had to be on this list, as the 6’8” forward was as consistent as they come on his time with the Sixers. Young, who was selected 12th overall out of Georgia Tech in the 2007 draft, spent seven seasons in Philly where he became top 10 in franchise history in steals and offensive rebounds. After averaging 17.9 points per game in his final season with the Sixers, Young was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the three-team deal that landed Kevin Love with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He would go on to play for the Nets and Pacers before ending up in Chicago where he now averages 8.7 points per game for the Bulls.
Honorable Mentions: Elton Brand, Dario Saric
Wrong Answer: Brandon Davies
Center: Joel Embiid (2014-Present)
Career Averages with PHI: 24.1 PTS, 11.6 REB, 3.2 AST, 0.7 STL, 1.9 BLK, 21.1 Win Shares
An obvious choice here, Joel Embiid rounds out the All-Decade team starting five at center. After getting drafted 3rd overall by the Sixers in 2014, Embiid sat out his first two seasons due to injury and there were concerns if he’d be the next Greg Oden. Embiid put those concerns to rest by dominating his rookie season on the way to a First Team All-Rookie selection. Now in his sixth NBA season (fourth really), Embiid already has two All-Star selections to his name to go along with two All-NBA second-team selections and two NBA All-Defensive second-team selections. He’s already etched his name into the team record book too, as the 7’2” center holds franchise records in Total Rebound Percentage (20.3) and Usage Rate (33.4). He’s third on the all-time franchise list in points per game (24.1), while ranks top 10 in rebounds per game (11.6), blocks per game (1.9), and player efficiency rating (24.7).
Honorable Mentions: Spencer Hawes, Nerlens Noel
Wrong Answer: Andrew Bynum
Sixth Man: Lou Williams (2005-2012)/ Jrue Holiday (2009-2013)
Williams Career Averages with PHI: 11.3 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.2 BLK, 25.2 Win Shares
Six man like Lou Will! Lou Williams is the perfect pick here to be our first man off the bench for our All-Decade squad. Williams, who was selected in the second round out of high school by the Sixers in the 2005 draft, would go on to play in Philly for seven seasons before leaving for Atlanta in 2012. During his final season with the Sixers, Lou Will led the Sixers in scoring with 14.9 points per game, despite not starting a single game. He would finish runner up for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award that year, a foreshadowing of things to come later in his career. Williams would go on to play for five other NBA teams after the Sixers where he’s won three NBA Sixth Man of the Year awards and is now the all-time leader in points scored off the bench. Although most of Williams’ career accolades came after his time with the Sixers, the best bench scorer to ever play the game deserves to be the sixth man on this All-Decade team.
Holiday Career Averages with PHI: 13.4 PTS, 3.6 REB, 5.8 AST, 1.4 STL, 0.3 BLK, 14.4 Win Shares
I know Jrue Holiday didn’t come off the bench, but I think it’d be a real shame if we kept him off this list for that technicality. It’s hard to believe that Holiday is still only 29 years old after we traded him seven years ago to the New Orleans Pelicans for Nerlens Noel. The 2009 17th overall pick’s time with the Sixers was limited, as he showed flashes of the player he is now, but never really could put it together in Philly. Still, he did help lead the Sixers to Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2012 and was the youngest All-Star selection in franchise history (22) in 2013. The Jrue Holiday trade also kind of jump-started the whole Process era, so it’s only right to have him on this list as a true “Process Pioneer.”
Honorable Mention: T.J. McConnell
Wrong Answer: Alexey Shved
