This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers team won the Eastern Conference and made their way to the NBA Finals.
While they weren’t able to capture the NBA championship, the team is still special in the minds and hearts of Philadelphia sports fans, writes Pat Gallen for CBS News Philadelphia.
“I don’t believe — and I’m a lifelong Philadelphian — but I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen fan engagement like that for a Philadelphia team, pro or college, in my lifetime,” former Philadelphia 76ers play-by-play announcer Marc Zumoff said.
It remains the furthest playoff run the Sixers have made since the turn of the millennium.
Twenty-five years after Allen Iverson was named the NBA MVP and led the team to a magical run as Eastern Conference championship, the Sixers will honor that 2001 team.
Zumoff praises Iverson as being “a rockstar” who “transcended basketball.”
That 2001 team was built by Pat Croce.
From Iverson to Eric Snow, Aaron McKie, Tyrone Hill, George Lynch, the late Dikembe Mutombo, and the bench, Croce said the team made for a perfect combination.
However, he added it was the fan support that truly pushed this team.
“That’s all they care about is do your very best,” he said.
Read more about the 2001 Sixers and the magical season they had at CBS News Philadelphia.
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