It’s summertime in the NBA, so it’s time to learn some history. The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the older franchises in the NBA. Their history dates to the 1949-50 season.
With that longevity, the team has had hundreds of players come through the City of Brotherly Love. Sixers Wire looks at the No. 17 which has been worn by 14 of those players in the history of the franchise. This running series will go through all of the uniform numbers worn in franchise history.
Here is the list of the 14 players who have worn No. 17 in Sixers history:
Wally Osterkorn
Osterkorn wore two numbers in the 1951-52 season, 8 and 17, and he averaged 7.4 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Syracuse Nationals. He wore No. 8 in the other three seasons he played in the league.
Jim Neal
Neal played 67 games for the Nationals while donning the No. 17, and he averaged 4.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in those games.
Jim Tucker
Tucker played in 99 games in his NBA career, all with the Nationals, and he averaged 4.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in those games.
Togo Palazzi
Known more for his time with the Boston Celtics, Palazzi played 187 games for the Nationals, and he averaged 8.9 points and 3.8 rebounds. He wore two uniform numbers for Syracuse, 6 and 17.
Albert King
King, donning 55 and playing for the New Jersey Nets against the Sixers, played one season in Philadelphia, and he averaged 7.2 points and 3 rebounds in the 1987-88 season.
Charles Shackleford
Shackleford played two seasons for Philadelphia, and he wore two numbers in those seasons. He wore No. 17 in the 1992-93 season, and he averaged 4 points and 4.3 rebounds.
Casper Ware
Ware only played nine games, and he averaged 5.3 points and 1.1 assists.
JJ Redick
Redick played two very successful seasons in Philadelphia, and he averaged 17.6 points and shot 40.7% from deep. He left to join the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Sixers really missed his 3-point shooting.
Vincent Poirier
Poirer played only 10 games for Philadelphia, and he averaged 0.8 points and 1.4 rebounds before being waived. He expressed disappointment that coach Doc Rivers did not give him a chance.
Ignas Brazdeikis
Brazdeikis, corner left in the photo, played one game for the Sixers, and he pulled down two rebounds in that game.
Braxton Key
Key played two games for Philadelphia before he joined the Detroit Pistons and received a bigger opportunity.
PJ Tucker
Tucker played 78 games across two seasons in Philadelphia. He averaged just 3.5 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Sixers, but his impact was beyond the box score. He was a big voice within Philadelphia’s locker room. He was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers in the big James Harden trade.
Buddy Hield
Hield averaged 12.2 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 38.9% from deep in 32 games with 14 starts. He had a tough playoff performance against the New York Knicks, but he did have a great ending as he had 20 points off the bench. He joined the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade in the 2024 offseason.
Jalen Hood-Schifino
Hood-Schifino played 13 games for the Sixers in the 2024-25 season and averaged 7.8 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.0 rebounds. He was on a two-way deal for Philadelphia as he was looking for his next opportunity in the league.