Last year, Philadelphia 76ers fans endured Al Horford and the Boston Celtics hoisting the Larry O’Brein trophy after defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the 2024 NBA Finals. It was a bitter moment for Philadelphia since not only did its biggest rival win the title, but Horford, who signed a disastrous four-year/$109 million contract with Philadelphia in 2019, did so as well. However, this season, three former 76ers players are in the Finals between the Oklahoma City [Thunder and Indiana Pacers](https://thesixersense.com/nba-finals-trend-should-force-a-major-rethink-inside-76ers-front-office-01jwp2t2a84m), all of whom are remembered fondly.
T.J. McConnell
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Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell is beloved in Philadelphia to this day after spending the first four years of his professional career there. In McConnell’s rookie season (2015-16), the 76ers infamously finished with a 10-72 record and in his final season (2018-19), Kawhi Leonard hit one of the most iconic, yet heart-breaking game-winning shots in NBA history. He notched 6.4 points per game on 48.7% shooting from the field, 4.7 assists per game, and 1.3 steals per game in his time with Philadelphia.
Throughout his 76ers tenure, McConnell, at 6 '1, became known for his abundance of grit and hustle, which strongly won over the fanbase. Also, who could forget his game-clinching turnaround jumper against the New York Knicks during the 2016-17 season? Still, McConnell departed from Philadelphia in 2019 to sign a two-year/$7 million deal with the Pacers, where he has [become a key contributor](https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/nba/2025/06/05/t-j-mcconnell-wpial-city-league-players-nba-finals-megan-mcconnell-tim-mcconnell/stories/202506040017), especially in their latest postseason runs. Between salary cap flexibility and fit concerns, the 76ers let him walk, which is a decision that even now haunts fans.
Isaiah Joe
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76ers faithful think of Isaiah Joe as the one who got away and rightfully so. Joe, alongside Tyrese Maxey and Paul Reed, were the first players drafted in the 2020 NBA Draft by Daryl Morey in his Philadelphia tenure. Unlike Maxey, and later on Reed, Joe never got a chance to contribute meaningful minutes to the 76ers as then head coach Doc Rivers preferred to play veterans over younger players. In two seasons with Philadelphia, Joe played only 96 games where he averaged 3.7 points per game on 35.5% shooting from the field.
Before the 2022-23 season began, the 76ers waived Joe and second-year center Charles Bassey to distance themselves from the first tax apron and create more roster flexibility. Philadelphia later used its open roster spot to sign veteran center Dewayne Dedmon in February 2023, which epitomized fans’ frustration that the organization seemingly undervalued youth. Meanwhile, the Thunder signed Joe that very season and he has been a productive bench contributor since.
Tony Bradley
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Tony Bradley’s brief 76ers tenure is largely remembered by Joel Embiid tweeting “That’s it!!! I’ve seen enough. Build around Tony Bradley @sixers.” This came during Philadelphia’s contest against the Chicago Bulls on March 11th, 2021, where Embiid was sidelined and Bradley posted 14 points on seven of seven shooting from the field, five rebounds, and three blocks.
The 76ers acquired Bradley from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Zhaire Smith ahead of the 2020-21 season. He played 20 games for Philadelphia – averaging 5.5 points per game on 68% shooting from the field and 5.2 rebounds per game. However, Bradley was dealt to the Thunder in a three-team trade that primarily landed the 76ers George Hill. Since then, Hill was waived by Philadelphia in August 2021 and Bradley has bounced around the NBA before ending up with Indiana this season where he played meaningful minutes in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks.