The 76ers missed the postseason in 1991-92 season, just the 2nd time during Barkley’s stay in the squad.
On the offseason in 1992, Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang. After Barkley’s departure they would struggle and not make the postseason. In 1993-94 season, John Lucas was hired to the head coach and he was also the genereal manager.
As Lucas would have impressive seasons with the Spurs in the past, they hoped that he would revive the 76ers. He was not able to revive the team to to its playoff contention instead for the next two seasons, the Sixers had a 42-122 record under him.
From 1990-91 season to 1995-96 season, the Sixers would decrease their wins every season. The worst was in 1995-96 season as they ended it with a 18-64 record. These series of low years of the franchise was regarded by the fans as the Dark Ages. Their low record would result the team to win the lottery in the 1996 NBA Draft.
They would pick Allen Iverson to be their “Answer” to be the number one pick. In his rookie season, he was named the Rookie of the Year and the Sixers had improved to a 22-60 record.
The next year, they hired Larry Brown as the head coach. Brown would have some issues with Iverson but the season had improved more with a 31 win season. The Sixers traded their 3rd overall pick in 1995 who is Jerry Stackhouse to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Aaron McKie and Theo Ratliff who would be the defensive key players of the team.
In acquiring other players that would help the team, with the shortened season in 1998-99, they finished with a 28-22 record as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. They had an upset series win against the Orlando Magic in the first round but swept by the Pacers in the next.
They improved more the next season and had a 49-33 record and finished fifth in the East. They defeated the Hornets in the first round but lost again to the Pacers in the 2nd.
In 2001-02 season, Iverson was named MVP in the All-Star as they would finish the season with a 56-26 record and win the Atlantic Division title and be the top seed of the East. They defeated the Pacers in the first round and faced the Toronto Raptors in the 2nd.
The Sixers would win in 7 games and face the Bucks in the Eastern Finals. They finished the Bucks in seven games and faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. They would lose against the Lakers in five games.
The next season, they finished with a disappointing 43-39 record and the sixth in the East. In the postseason, they faced the Celtics in the first round but lost immediately in five game. The next season, as they would struggle early, they would catch fire and finish with 48-34 record. They won the series against the Hornets in the first round and would lose to the Pistons in the next.
In 2003-04 season, Iverson had some injuries and the team would only finish 33-49 and would miss the playoffs. For 2004-05, they hired Jim O’Brien as the head coach and they also acquired Andre Iguodala in the draft. They got Chris Webber in a trade with the Kings.
They would finish 43-39 record and would lose against the Pistons in the first round. Maurice Cheeks was hired as the head coach. They would finish the season with 38-44 record and would miss the postseason again. In 2006-07 season, they would stumble again with a 35-47 record. In 2006, Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange of Andre Miller and Joe Smith and two first round picks.
Andre Iguodala would rise for the team in the departure of Ierson for the next seasons. In 2008 they acquired Elton Brand hoping he would give the team a boost. They achieved a 41-41 record and faced the Orlando Magic in the first round. They would lose in six games.
The Sixers would have mediocre seasons until the present as they continue to rebuild with their young players like Evan Turner who was the 2nd overall pick in 2010, Thaddeus Young and Jrue Holiday.
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