1991–92 Philadelphia 76ers season

The 1991–92 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 43rd season for the Philadelphia 76ers in the National Basketball Association, and their 29th season in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[1] During the off-season, the 76ers signed free agents Charles Shackleford and Greg Grant.^[2] For the season, All-Star forward Charles Barkley changed his jersey number from #34 to #32, in honor of Los Angeles Lakers All-Star guard Magic Johnson, who retired early into the regular season due to his HIV infection; however, the 76ers had retired that number in honor of Billy Cunningham, who then un-retired it for Barkley to wear.^[3][4][5]

Despite the loss of Rick Mahorn, who left to play overseas in Italy, the 76ers won seven of their first ten games of the regular season, but then struggled posting a seven-game losing streak between November and December afterwards, and later on held a 23–24 record at the All-Star break.^[6] After holding a 29–31 record as of March 6, 1992, the team continued to struggle losing 16 of their final 22 games of the season. The 76ers finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with a disappointing 35–47 record, and failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs.^[7]

Barkley averaged 23.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while Hersey Hawkins averaged 19.0 points and 1.9 steals per game, and Armen Gilliam provided the team with 16.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. In addition, sixth man Ron Anderson contributed 13.7 points per game off the bench, while Johnny Dawkins provided with 12.0 points and 6.9 assists per game, Shackleford averaged 6.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, Grant contributed 4.1 points and 3.6 assists per game, and Manute Bol provided with 1.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.^[8]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida, Barkley was selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team.^[9][10][11] Johnson briefly returned to score 25 points along with 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, and made all 3 of his three-point field goals attempts; Johnson was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, as the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 153–113.^[12][13][14] Barkley also finished tied in twelfth place in Most Valuable Player voting.^[15]

The 76ers finished 20th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 574,137 at The Spectrum during the regular season.^[8][16] Following the season, Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns after eight seasons with the 76ers,^[17][18][19] while Mahorn would later on sign as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets,^[20] second-year forward Jayson Williams was traded to the Nets, and head coach Jim Lynam was fired.^[21]

For the season, the 76ers changed their uniforms, adding the city name "Philadelphia" along with the team name "Sixers", plus adding stars to their jerseys;^[22][23] these uniforms would remain in use until 1994.