1999–2000 Philadelphia 76ers season

Off-season

During the off-season, the 76ers acquired Billy Owens from the Orlando Magic,^[2][3][4] and signed free agent Bruce Bowen.^[5][6] The team also changed their starting lineup, replacing center Matt Geiger with forward Tyrone Hill as the team's starting power forward.

For the season, the 76ers revealed new blue alternate road uniforms, which featured a red, black and bronze trim; these uniforms would remain in use until 2006.^[7]

Regular season

With the addition of Owens, the 76ers lost their first three games of the regular season, and got off to an 11–12 start to the season, as Allen Iverson missed twelve games due to a broken thumb injury.^[8][9][10] However, Iverson eventually returned as the team played above .500 in winning percentage as the season progressed, holding a 27–22 record at the All-Star break.^[11] At mid-season, the team traded Owens, and second-year guard Larry Hughes to the Golden State Warriors, and traded Bowen to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Toni Kukoč in a three-team trade;^[12][13][14] however, Bowen never played for the Bulls and was released to free agency, and signed with the Miami Heat.^[15][16] The 76ers posted a seven-game winning streak in March, and won seven of their final nine games of the season, finishing in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 49–33 record, and earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.^[17]

Iverson averaged 28.4 points, 4.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Kukoč played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 12.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in 32 games after the trade, and Hill provided the team with 12.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. In addition, Theo Ratliff averaged 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game, but only played 57 games due to a stress fracture in his left ankle,^[18][19][20] while George Lynch provided with 9.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, and Eric Snow contributed 7.9 points, 7.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Off the bench, Geiger averaged 9.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and Aaron McKie contributed 8.0 points and 1.3 steals per game.^[21]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at The Arena in Oakland in Oakland, California, Iverson was selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance, as he scored 26 points along with 9 assists and 2 steals, despite the Eastern Conference losing to the Western Conference, 137–126.^[22][23][24] In addition, Iverson also participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout,^[25][26] while before the mid-season trade, Hughes participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest,^[25][26] and rookie center, and second-round draft pick Todd MacCulloch was selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Rookies team.^[25][27] Iverson also finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting; Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers won the MVP award almost unanimously, receiving 120 out of 121 first-place votes from the media, while Iverson received one vote from CNN sports broadcaster Fred Hickman, who was the only person who did not vote for O'Neal.^[28][29][30]

The 76ers finished eighth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 756,956 at the First Union Center during the regular season.^[21][31]

NBA playoffs

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 2000 NBA playoffs, the 76ers faced off against the 4th–seeded Charlotte Hornets, who were led by All-Star guard Eddie Jones, former 76ers forward Derrick Coleman, and Anthony Mason. Despite both teams finishing with the same regular-season record, the Hornets had home-court advantage in the series. The 76ers won Game 1 over the Hornets on the road, 92–82 at the Charlotte Coliseum, before losing Game 2 on the road in overtime, 108–98 as the Hornets tied the series at 1–1.^[32][33] The 76ers won the next two games at home, which included a Game 4 win over the Hornets at the First Union Center, 105–99 to win the series in four games.^[34][35][36]

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, and for the second consecutive year, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and Central Division champion Indiana Pacers, who were led by Most Improved Player of the Year, Jalen Rose, All-Star guard Reggie Miller, and All-Star forward Dale Davis. The Pacers took a 3–0 series lead, but the 76ers managed to win the next two games, including a Game 5 win on the road, 107–86 at the Conseco Fieldhouse.^[37] However, the 76ers lost Game 6 to the Pacers at home, 106–90 at the First Union Center, thus losing the series in six games.^[38][39][40]

The Pacers would advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, but would lose to the Lakers in six games in the 2000 NBA Finals.^[41][42][43]

Draft picks

More information Round, Pick ...

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
2	47	Todd MacCulloch	Center	Canada	University of Washington

Close

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics citation:^[21]