The 1977–78 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 76ers 29th season in the NBA and 15th season in Philadelphia. The team finished the regular season with a record of 55–27. Head coach Gene Shue was replaced only 6 games into the season, by former Sixers player Billy Cunningham, who was only 34 years old at the time he replaced Shue. In the playoffs, the Sixers would sweep the New York Knicks, but lose in the Eastern Conference finals to the Washington Bullets, a team with 11 fewer wins, 4 games to 2.
Following the season, George McGinnis was traded to the Denver Nuggets for Bobby Jones and World B. Free was dealt to the San Diego Clippers for a 1984 first round draft pick which would become Charles Barkley.
Offseason
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 20 Glenn Mosley PF 2 25 Wilson Washington PF/C 2 42 Bob Elliott C/PF 2 43 Herm Harris F 3 64 Arnold Dugger SG Oral Roberts 4 86 Jack Jones PG 5 108 Teko Wynder 6 129 George Gibson Winston-Salem State 7 149 Dennin Forest Omaha 8 168 John Olive SF
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot
Playoffs
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 16 | New York | W 130–90 | Steve Mix (19) | Caldwell Jones (16) | Steve Mix (7) | Spectrum13,011 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 18 | New York | W 119–100 | Julius Erving (22) | Caldwell Jones (11) | Darryl Dawkins (6) | Spectrum15,853 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | April 20 | @ New York | W 137–126 | McGinnis, Free (29) | Julius Erving (10) | Collins, Erving (7) | Madison Square Garden18,697 | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | April 23 | @ New York | W 112–107 | Doug Collins (24) | Caldwell Jones (14) | Collins, Erving (4) | Madison Square Garden16,307 | 4–0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 30 | Washington | L 117–122 (OT) | Julius Erving (25) | George McGinnis (15) | three players tied (5) | Spectrum13,708 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | May 3 | Washington | W 110–104 | Doug Collins (28) | Erving, Dawkins (11) | Henry Bibby (9) | Spectrum18,276 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 5 | @ Washington | L 108–123 | George McGinnis (16) | Julius Erving (10) | Henry Bibby (5) | Capital Centre19,035 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 7 | @ Washington | L 105–121 | Julius Erving (24) | Caldwell Jones (13) | World B. Free (6) | Capital Centre19,035 | 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | May 10 | Washington | W 107–94 | Collins, Erving (24) | Caldwell Jones (15) | Henry Bibby (10) | Spectrum18,276 | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | May 12 | @ Washington | L 99–101 | Doug Collins (33) | Erving, McGinnis (8) | Henry Bibby (5) | Capital Centre19,035 | 2–4
Awards and records Julius Erving, All-NBA First Team
References