Billy Cunningham

Billy Cunningham

4x NBA All-Star | 1967 & 1983 NBA Champion | Most Coaching Wins in Philadelphia 76ers History

Billy Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

1965: 1st round, 5th overall pick in the 1965 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. The team won the 1967 NBA championship in 6 games against Bill Sharman and his San Franscisco Warriors.

After playing 7 seasons with the 76ers, Cunningham played 2 seasons with the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association (ABA). He won the 1973 ABA MVP, named an ABA All-Star in 1973, and was later named to the ABA All-Time Team in 1997.

Cunningham returned to the NBA in 1974 and played 2 more seasons for the 76ers before retiring and transitioning into coaching in 1977.

As of 2026, Cunningham holds the record for the most Philadelphia 76ers regular season coaching wins with 454 and most playoff wins with 66 in franchise history.

  • Overall Coaching Record: 454-196

Coaching Career

Billy Cunningham became the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, replacing Gene Shue after a 2-4 start. In his first season, the team finished with a 53-23 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the conference finals by Dick Motta and the Washington Bullets who would win the 1978 NBA championship.

The following season, the team finished with a 47-35 record, they were eliminated in the semifinals in 7 games by Doug Moe and the San Antonio Spurs. In 1980, the 76ers finished with a 59-23 record, making a deep playoff run to the finals but were eliminated by Paul Westhead and the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games.

In 1981, the 76ers finished with a 62–20 record, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals against Bill Fitch and the Boston Celtics, losing in 7 games. In 1982, the 76ers finished with a 58–24 record, making their second finals appearance under Cunningham, facing off against the Lakers once again, now led by Pat Riley, losing in 6 games.

In 1983, the 76ers finished with a 65–17 record, reaching their 3rd finals under Cunningham, finally defeating Pat Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers in 4 games (4-0). His assistant coaches on the championship roster were Matt Guokas Jr. and Jack McMahon.

Notable Players Coached

  • Julius Erving
    • 1983 NBA champion
    • 2× ABA champion (1974, 1976)
    • 2× ABA Playoffs MVP (1974, 1976)
    • 1981 NBA Most Valuable Player
    • 3× ABA Most Valuable Player (1974–1976)
    • 11× NBA All-Star (1977–1987)
    • 5× ABA All-Star (1972–1976)
    • 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1977, 1983)
    • 5× All-NBA First Team (1978, 1980–1983)
    • 4× All-ABA First Team (1973–1976)
    • 1976 ABA All-Defensive First Team
    • 1972 ABA All-Rookie First Team
    • 3× ABA scoring champion (1973, 1974, 1976)
    • 1976 ABA Slam Dunk champion
    • ABA All-Time Team
    • ABA All-time MVP
    • 35th, 50th, & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
    • No. 32 retired by Brooklyn Nets
    • No. 6 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
  • Moses Malone
    • 1983 NBA champion
    • 1983 NBA Finals MVP
    • 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1979, 1982, 1983)
    • 12× NBA All-Star (1978–1989)
    • 1975 ABA All-Star
    • 4× All-NBA First Team (1979, 1982, 1983, 1985)
    • 1983 NBA All-Defensive First Team
    • 1975 ABA All-Rookie Team
    • 6× NBA rebounding leader (1979, 1981–1985)
    • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
    • ABA All-Time Team
    • No. 2 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
    • No. 24 retired by Houston Rockets
  • George McGinnis
    • 3× NBA All-Star (1976, 1977, 1979)
    • 1976 All-NBA First Team
    • 1977 All-NBA Second Team
    • 2× ABA champion (1972, 1973)
    • 1973 ABA Playoffs MVP
    • 1975 ABA MVP
    • 3× ABA All-Star (1973–1975)
    • 2× All-ABA First Team (1974, 1975)
    • 1973 All-ABA Second Team
    • 1972 ABA All-Rookie First Team
    • 1975 ABA scoring champion
    • ABA All-Time Team
    • No. 30 retired by Indiana Pacers
  • Bobby Jones
    • 1983 NBA champion
    • 4× NBA All-Star (1977, 1978, 1981, 1982)
    • 8× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1977–1984)
    • 1985 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
    • 1983 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
    • 1976 ABA All-Star
    • 1976 All-ABA Second Team
    • 2× ABA All-Defensive First Team (1975, 1976)
    • 1975 ABA All-Rookie First Team
    • No. 24 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
  • Lionel Hollins
    • 1977 NBA champion
    • 1978 NBA All-Star
    • 1978 NBA All-Defensive First Team
    • 1979 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
    • 1976 NBA All-Rookie First Team
    • No. 14 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
  • Maurice Cheeks
    • 1983 NBA champion
    • 4× NBA All-Star (1983, 1986–1988)
    • 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983–1986)
    • 1987 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
    • No. 10 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
  • Doug Collins
    • 4× NBA All-Star (1976–1979)
    • Future NBA Head Coach
  • Andrew Toney
    • 1983 NBA champion
    • 2× NBA All-Star (1983, 1984)
  • Ted McClain
    • 2× ABA champion (1975–1976)
    • 1974 ABA All-Star
    • 1974 ABA All-Defensive First Team (1974)
    • 1974 ABA steals leader
  • Caldwell Jones
    • 1975 ABA All-Star
    • 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1981, 1982)
    • 2× ABA blocks leader (1974, 1975)
  • World B. Free
    • 1980 NBA All-Star
    • 1979 All-NBA Second Team