The 1975-76 Philadelphia 76ers season marked a significant turnaround for the franchise. After acquiring George McGinnis from the Indiana Pacers, the team was poised for improvement. McGinnis, alongside Fred Carter and Doug Collins, formed a formidable lineup that propelled the 76ers to a 46-36 regular-season record, a substantial improvement from their previous seasons.
Under head coach Gene Shue, the team finished third in the Atlantic Division and secured a playoff berth. In the postseason, the 76ers faced the Buffalo Braves in the first round, winning the series in three games. However, their playoff journey ended in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they were defeated by the Boston Celtics in a grueling six-game series. Despite the playoff exit, the 1975-76 season laid the groundwork for future success, setting the stage for the arrival of Julius Erving and the team’s eventual resurgence in the late 1970s.
- Regular Season Record: 46-36
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-2
Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats for 1975-76 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| George McGinnis | 77 | 23.0 | 12.6 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 23.0 | 13.7 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Doug Collins | 77 | 20.8 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 19.3 | 7.0 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fred Carter | 82 | 18.9 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 28.0 | 3.3 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Steve Mix | 81 | 13.9 | 8.2 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 14.7 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Billy Cunningham | 20 | 13.7 | 7.4 | 5.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| World B. Free | 71 | 8.3 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 10.7 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Bryant | 75 | 7.4 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Connie Norman | 65 | 5.9 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Leroy Ellis | 29 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Clyde Lee | 79 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Harvey Catchings | 75 | 3.5 | 6.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 5.7 | 9.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Wali Jones | 16 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darryl Dawkins | 37 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerry Baskerville | 21 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Freddie Boyd | 6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Philadelphia 76ers in the 1976 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Buffalo Braves
In the first round of the 1976 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Buffalo Braves in a tightly contested series. Despite a valiant effort from the Braves, the 76ers emerged victorious, winning the series 2-1, thanks in part to the standout performances from stars like George McGinnis. This win marked a significant step for the 76ers as they advanced to the conference semifinals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | L 95-89 | |
| Apr 16, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 131-106 | |
| Apr 18, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | L 124-123 |
Philadelphia 76ers 1975-76 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1975-76 season for the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 1975 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 110-103 | |
| Oct 27, 1975 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 117-104 | |
| Oct 31, 1975 | vs. Buffalo Braves | L 92-87 | |
| Nov 01, 1975 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-98 | |
| Nov 04, 1975 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 121-114 | |
| Nov 05, 1975 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 115-82 | |
| Nov 07, 1975 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 103-99 | |
| Nov 11, 1975 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-81 | |
| Nov 12, 1975 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-84 | |
| Nov 14, 1975 | @ Boston Celtics | W 119-109 | |
| Nov 15, 1975 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 110-109 | |
| Nov 19, 1975 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 113-103 | |
| Nov 21, 1975 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 131-111 | |
| Nov 23, 1975 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 115-111 | |
| Nov 25, 1975 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 109-108 | |
| Nov 28, 1975 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 113-94 | |
| Nov 29, 1975 | @ Houston Rockets | L 99-98 | |
| Nov 30, 1975 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 113-96 | |
| Dec 03, 1975 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 102-94 | |
| Dec 05, 1975 | vs. New York Knicks | W 99-97 | |
| Dec 06, 1975 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 98-84 | |
| Dec 09, 1975 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 100-85 | |
| Dec 11, 1975 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 110-106 | |
| Dec 12, 1975 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-102 | |
| Dec 14, 1975 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-105 | |
| Dec 16, 1975 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 105-98 | |
| Dec 19, 1975 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 115-114 | |
| Dec 20, 1975 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 111-97 | |
| Dec 25, 1975 | @ New York Knicks | L 111-103 | |
| Dec 26, 1975 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 96-95 | |
| Dec 27, 1975 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 130-105 | |
| Dec 30, 1975 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 114-108 | |
| Jan 02, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 112-101 | |
| Jan 03, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | L 119-104 | |
| Jan 07, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-102 | |
| Jan 08, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 115-105 | |
| Jan 09, 1976 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 109-106 | |
| Jan 11, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 118-107 | |
| Jan 14, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 100-95 | |
| Jan 16, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-110 | |
| Jan 17, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | L 105-103 | |
| Jan 20, 1976 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-108 | |
| Jan 23, 1976 | @ New York Knicks | L 104-92 | |
| Jan 24, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 130-116 | |
| Jan 25, 1976 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 112-109 | |
| Jan 27, 1976 | @ Houston Rockets | L 127-116 | |
| Jan 29, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 123-114 | |
| Jan 31, 1976 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 119-105 | |
| Feb 01, 1976 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 103-82 | |
| Feb 06, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 92-87 | |
| Feb 08, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 100-97 | |
| Feb 10, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 85-84 | |
| Feb 11, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 118-106 | |
| Feb 13, 1976 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 134-109 | |
| Feb 14, 1976 | @ New York Knicks | L 101-97 | |
| Feb 15, 1976 | vs. New York Knicks | L 88-82 | |
| Feb 17, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 125-107 | |
| Feb 20, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-92 | |
| Feb 22, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 94-93 | |
| Feb 24, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-102 | |
| Feb 27, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 121-114 | |
| Feb 29, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 130-115 | |
| Mar 02, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | L 128-111 | |
| Mar 03, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 123-110 | |
| Mar 05, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-112 | |
| Mar 06, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 105-99 | |
| Mar 10, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 125-108 | |
| Mar 12, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 109-107 | |
| Mar 17, 1976 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-101 | |
| Mar 18, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 110-104 | |
| Mar 20, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 103-96 | |
| Mar 21, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 108-100 | |
| Mar 24, 1976 | vs. New York Knicks | W 118-100 | |
| Mar 27, 1976 | @ Houston Rockets | L 109-95 | |
| Mar 28, 1976 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 110-107 | |
| Mar 31, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 107-103 | |
| Apr 02, 1976 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 96-94 | |
| Apr 04, 1976 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 101-97 | |
| Apr 05, 1976 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 130-129 | |
| Apr 07, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 102-99 | |
| Apr 09, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 112-108 | |
| Apr 10, 1976 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 123-109 |