1983 Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia had reached the Finals three times in six years and lost every time. So the front office traded for Moses Malone before the season, pairing the league's best rebounder with Erving. The result was a 65-17 team that finished first in the league in point differential by a wide margin.

Malone led the team at 24.5 points and 15.3 rebounds and won his second straight MVP. Erving scored 21.4 a game at age 32. Maurice Cheeks ran the offense and locked down opposing guards, Andrew Toney was the scoring threat known as the Boston Strangler for his torment of the Celtics, and Bobby Jones won Sixth Man of the Year.

Asked before the playoffs how Philadelphia would fare, Malone said fo', fo', fo', meaning three four-game sweeps. They nearly delivered, going 12-1 and losing only one game, to Milwaukee in the conference finals. The Finals were a sweep of the Lakers, with Malone dominating the glass and taking Finals MVP.

It was the franchise's first title since 1967 and remains its most recent. Erving, who had won two ABA championships earlier, finally had the NBA crown that had eluded him.