As the Sixers prepare for the 2019 NBA draft, here’s a look at the 10-best draft picks in team history.

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Coming off an NBA Finals appearance, the Sixers were drafting from a position of strength in 1980. Toney certainly provided another dimension for a team that was constantly competing for a title. “The Boston Strangler” proved his worth in the 1982 and 1983 NBA Playoffs, helping to guide the Sixers to back-to-back Finals appearances and a long-awaited NBA title. Unfortunately, stress fractures in his feet derailed his career. But Toney’s impact was undeniable.

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Billy King selected the obviously talented but somewhat raw Iguodala in 2004 to fill the role of a complementary piece around Allen Iverson. The University of Arizona product would eventually emerge as the focal point of a couple of playoff teams in his eight seasons as a Sixer. After departing Philly, Iguodala became an integral piece of the Warriors' dynasty and has even generated Hall of Fame buzz.

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Billy King saw what few others did when he selected the skinny high schooler from Georgia in the second round of the 2005 draft. From a sheer value standpoint, you could make the case that Williams deserves to be higher on this list. The two-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner is a walking bucket. This past season, Williams averaged 20 points per game as the best player on a promising Clippers team. 

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The Ben Simmons story remains mostly unwritten, but in two seasons, the native of Australia has demonstrated the potential to be a generational talent. The 6-foot-10 point guard already has an All-Star Game under his belt and two playoff appearances. If he develops a jump shot, Simmons could one day be at the top of this list.

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The big man from Cameroon via Kansas was certainly worth the wait. After missing his first two seasons due to injury, Embiid has been a dominant player after actually getting on the floor. Much like Simmons, Embiid might one day move to the top of this list depending on how the rest of his career unfolds.

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“The Kangaroo Kid” hopped right on the scene out of North Carolina and became an immediate contributor for championship contenders. Cunningham scored over 18 points per game for arguably the greatest team of all-time in the 1966-67 season. The versatile forward was a five-time All-Star and three-time First team All-NBA en route to the Hall of Fame. He also coached the Sixers to the 1983 NBA title.

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One of the great guards of the 1960s, Greer played his entire 15-year career for the Nationals/76ers franchise. In his prime, Greer scored over 20 points per game in eight different seasons while making 10 All-Star teams. In the championship season of 1966-67, Greer averaged 27.7 points per game in the playoffs — a full six points more than some guy named Wilt Chamberlain. Greer was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.

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The Sixers unearthed a true gem in the second round of the 1978 draft when they selected Cheeks out of basketball powerhouse West Texas A&M University. The primary ball handler on the great Sixers teams of the early 1980s, Cheeks was also among the great defensive players of his era. Despite retiring 26 years ago, Cheeks is still fifth on the NBA’s all-time steals list and 13th all-time in assists. Cheeks finally made the Hall of Fame in 2018.

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Despite a decorated career at Auburn, many wondered if Barkley could thrive at the NBA level due to his weight. “The Round Mound of Rebound” quickly proved it was his game that was larger than life. Barkley made six All-Star teams in eight seasons with the Sixers before winning an MVP award in Phoenix. He may not have wanted to be a role model, but Barkley was a first ballot Hall of Famer and one of the great players of all-time.

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From Chuck to Bubba Chuck, Iverson lived up to the hype that preceded his arrival in Philadelphia. An 11-time All-Star, Iverson led the league in scoring four times. Arguably the best pound-for-pound athlete in league history, Iverson willed the Sixers to the NBA Finals in 2001 and picked up an MVP award along the way. Perhaps more importantly, Iverson single-handedly revitalized a moribund franchise with his talent and personality — both of which turned out to be larger than life.

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