Billy Cunningham

Billy Cunningham, born June 3, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, is one of the most important figures in Philadelphia 76ers franchise history — a player who won a championship with the team in 1967 and later coached the organization to its most recent title in 1983, becoming one of a tiny group of individuals to win NBA championships with the same franchise as both player and coach. Cunningham played college basketball at the University of North Carolina under Dean Smith before the 76ers selected him seventh overall in the 1965 NBA Draft. His six-foot-six frame, extraordinary leaping ability, and fierce competitive nature earned him the nickname "The Kangaroo Kid" — a moniker that captured his athletic uniqueness in an era when that kind of vertical ability was genuinely remarkable. Cunningham was a central piece of the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers team, widely considered the greatest NBA team assembled to that point in history. That squad — featuring Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, and Luke Jackson alongside Cunningham — finished 68-13 and swept the Boston Celtics to end an eight-year Celtics championship dynasty before claiming the title over the San Francisco Warriors. He was a five-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, known for his scoring inside and outside, his rebounding at the small forward position, and his relentless competitive intensity. After a stint in the ABA with the Carolina Cougars — where he won the ABA Most Valuable Player Award in 1972-73 — Cunningham returned to the 76ers as a player before a knee injury ended his playing career in 1976. His impact on the organization extended beyond his playing days. As head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers from 1977 to 1985, Cunningham led the team to the 1983 NBA Championship — led by Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, and Andrew Toney — giving him a championship distinction on both sides of the sideline. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986, and his jersey number 32 is retired by the franchise.