Theo Ratliff sits at the top as the 76ers single-season BPG leader.
The 76ers organization has been home to some of the best centers in league history, and that accounts for performances on both ends of the court. Here, we’ll take a look at the players who have excelled as rim protectors and defensive stalwarts while donning the Sixers uniform. Note that blocks did not become an official NBA stat until the 1973-74 season.
Theo Ratliff – 2001, 3.7 BPG
Ratliff was one of the best interior defenders in the NBA in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The big man, who played five years with the 76ers in two separate periods throughout his 16-year career in the NBA, averaged at least 3.0 blocks per game in six different seasons, and two of those came with the 76ers. Ratliff not only led the league in blocks per game in 2001, but he also played in his first and only All-Star Game.
Theo Ratliff – 1998, 3.5 BPG
The 1997-98 season was Ratliff’s third in the league, and the first in which the big man averaged at least 3.0 blocks per game. He finished the campaign with 3.1 swats per contest while spending time with both the Pistons and 76ers. He was at his best when he joined Philly, though. In 58 regular-season appearances and 55 starts with the 76ers, Ratliff averaged 11.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game: foreshadowing of one of the best stretches of his career.
Shawn Bradley – 1995, 3.3 BPG
At one point, Bradley was the tallest player in The Association, so it wasn’t a surprise to see him being an elite rim protector. Despite his clear size advantage compared to other centers, Bradley didn’t lead the NBA in blocks per game in the 1994-95 campaign — his second in the league. He finished third behind Dikembe Mutombo (3.9 BPG) and Hakeem Olajuwon (3.4 BPG). Bradley averaged at least 3.0 blocks per game in each of his first six seasons in the NBA.
Manute Bol – 1991, 3.0 BPG
Bol was known for his defensive ability and elite rim protection, and he had one of his five seasons with at least 3.0 blocks per game in the 1990-91 campaign while in his first year with the Sixers. In that campaign, Bol ranked fourth in the NBA in swats per game. Hakeem Olajuwon (3.9), David Robinson (3.9) and Patrick Ewing (3.2) ended ahead of him in the race. Bol averaged 3.7 blocks per game in 160 regular-season appearances across three seasons with the 76ers.
Shawn Bradley – 1994, 3.0 BPG
Bradley didn’t need a lot of time to make his presence felt in the NBA and was a dominant rim protector during his rookie year in the 1993-94 campaign. The former BYU standout averaged 3.0 swats per game as a rookie while starting in 45 of his 49 appearances for the Sixers. He also averaged 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest. In the blocks-per-game department, Bradley finished fifth in the league. The players ahead of him? Dikembe Mutombo (4.1 BPG), Hakeem Olajuwon (3.7), David Robinson (3.3) and Alonzo Mourning (3.1).
