With the NBA draft right around the corner, now is the time to look at some past drafts and see what the Philadelphia 76ers have done in their history. The Sixers have selected some big-time players in the past who have become an important part of the fabric of the franchise’s history.
This next edition turns to the 2002 draft. The Sixers did make a Round 1 selection in the form of Jiri Welsch with the No. 16 overall pick, but they then sent him to the Golden State Warriors shortly after. Philadelphia did make a move later in the draft when it acquired John Salmons from the San Antonio Spurs.
Salmons was the No. 26 pick of the draft and Philadelphia sent Speedy Claxton to San Antonio for in a package focused on Salmons. In four seasons with the Sixers, he averaged 5.1 points and 2.1 rebounds. He left after the 2005-06 season to join the Sacramento Kings where he averaged 10.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in six years across two different stints.
Salmons turned into a bit of a journeyman, but he made an impact for the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks as a starter for both teams’ playoff runs in 2009 and 2010, respectively. He also played for the Toronto Raptors and the New Orleans Pelicans before his career was over in 2015. He got 13 years in the league so that’s a solid career for anybody.
