How many years had the Philadelphia 76ers been terrible? Even Philadelphia fans themselves probably couldn't remember.
The lockout-shortened 2011-12 season was the last time the 76ers had made the playoffs. They went 35-31 and finished eighth in the East, but accomplished nothing in the postseason.
After that, the 76ers embarked on a tanking journey with no bottom.
In 2012-13, the 76ers went 34-48 and finished ninth in the East.
In 2013-14, the 76ers "improved" dramatically, winning only 19 games all season—second-worst in the league!
In 2014-15, the 76ers set a new low, winning just 18 games all year, with no hope in sight.
Last season, through the 76ers' tireless efforts, they finally finished dead last in the league!
Winning only ten games all season was so outrageous it made fans' scalps tingle.
Back in the ancient 1972-73 season, the 76ers had posted the worst record in history at 9-73. But last season's 76ers told the entire world that nobody else should even dream of touching that record—the 76ers had it covered!
For four full seasons, the 76ers had forgotten what victory even meant. Their endless tanking had reached the point where even the team's culture had been affected by all the losing!
Naturally, 76ers games had also become poison to attendance.
Even when hugely popular teams like the Grizzlies and Warriors faced the 76ers, fans had absolutely no desire to watch.
Because they knew without even looking that the 76ers would get beaten senseless.
Even the league couldn't stand the 76ers' tanking anymore.
But this year, everything changed with Joel Embiid's sudden emergence.
Embiid's story—returning from two straight lost seasons and still producing like a superstar—put both him and the entire 76ers organization under the spotlight.
Philadelphia fans hadn't been excited by a 76ers player in a very, very long