Philadelphia 76ers

Few teams in American sport carry a name so tightly bound to the nation’s founding as the Philadelphia 76ers. Officially shortened to “Sixers,” their name commemorates 1776, the year the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. Chosen in 1963 after the franchise relocated from Syracuse, it tied the team directly to Philadelphia’s role as the birthplace of the United States. The badge, with its bold “76” beneath 13 stars arranged in a circle, reflects both the Revolution and the ideals of liberty and unity forged in the city.

Those 13 stars are no accident. They represent the 13 original colonies that declared independence from Britain. Their circular arrangement echoes the famous Betsy Ross flag, one of the earliest versions of the U.S. flag, which was carried into battle during the Revolutionary War. By adopting this symbol, the Sixers linked themselves not only to 1776 but also to the struggle and unity that defined the young nation as it fought against the British.

Philadelphia is woven through the American story. Founded by William Penn in 1682 as a Quaker city of religious tolerance, it grew rapidly into one of the largest and most important cities in the colonies. By the 18th century, its busy docks, printing presses, and workshops made it a hub of commerce and ideas. When discontent with British rule swelled, Philadelphia became the gathering place of revolutionaries. In 1776, at Independence Hall, delegates of the thirteen colonies declared freedom, and in 1787, the U.S. Constitution was drafted there. Few cities can claim so central a role in shaping a nation.

That heritage permeates the Sixers’ identity. Their branding draws on the symbols of the Revolution — the stars and stripes, the year 1776, the imagery of founding ideals. Even their mascot, Franklin the Dog, nods to Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia’s most famous son: printer, inventor, statesman, and embodiment of American ingenuity. And no symbol of the city looms larger than the Liberty Bell, cracked but still standing, a reminder that freedom is often tested but endures. For Philadelphia fans, that bell mirrors their team and city — resilient, imperfect, but unbreakable.

On the court, the franchise’s story began in 1946 as the Syracuse Nationals, before moving to Philadelphia in 1963 and adopting its patriotic new name. The Sixers’ history is studded with legends. In the 1960s, Wilt Chamberlain dominated in a way no player ever had, scoring 100 points in a single game and delivering an NBA title in 1967. In the 1980s, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, joined by Moses Malone, brought flair and power, culminating in another championship in 1983. Malone’s famous prediction of “Fo’, Fo’, Fo’” (a sweep through the playoffs) nearly came true, cementing that team as one of the greatest in NBA history.

The modern era has seen the Sixers defined by stars like Allen Iverson, the fearless guard who carried them to the 2001 NBA Finals, and, more recently, Joel Embiid, whose skill and personality have made him one of the most dominant centres of the 21st century. Their motto, “Trust the Process,” born during years of painful rebuilding, has become a rallying cry for both fans and the wider sports world.

Philadelphia itself embodies the Sixers’ grit. It is a city of workers — shipyards, railroads, factories, and mills built it, and immigrant neighbourhoods gave it soul. It’s also the city of independence, of Liberty Bells and constitutional ideals, where the fight for freedom was first declared. That blend of toughness and pride flows straight into Sixers fandom, where passion runs as deep as any in sport.

The Philadelphia 76ers are more than a basketball team. They are the echoes of Independence Hall, the ideals of 1776, the cracked resilience of the Liberty Bell, and the fire of legends from Wilt to Iverson to Embiid. Their badge — the number 76 beneath a circle of 13 stars — is not just a logo. It’s a declaration that in Philadelphia, basketball is part of the same heritage as freedom itself.