He was one of my favorite players on the Sixers from the 1980’s and it was easy to see why …he was a Celtic killer.
He was dubbed “The Boston Strangler” by Boston, Massachusetts sportswriters during the 76ers’ and Celtics’ rivalry in the early 1980s because of his ability to single-handedly dominate games against the Celtics, including Game 7 of the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals when he scored 34 points in the game. He also scored 30 points in Game 2, 39 points in Game 4 and averaged 26.4 points per game in that series.
While he was a Celtic killer, one of his greatest games came against not the Celtics but against the Lakers …46 points in all including 26 in the fourth quarter… Laker defensive stopper Michael Cooper couldn’t guard Toney whether it was from outside or driving to the hoop…Toney put on a show.
Toney was drafted by the Sixers out of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) with the eighth pick of the 1980 NBA Draft.
He was named to two All-Star teams, in 1982 and 1983, and averaged 15.9 points per game for his career.
Toney was an integral part of the 1982–83 76ers’ “Fo’ fi’ fo'” championship team, considered by many to be one of the greatest teams ever, and will long be remembered as a fan favorite along with such players as Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Bobby Jones and Maurice Cheeks.
Smallthoughts: Old School Tuesday …Andrew Toney
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Pro playing career
1980–1988
Career history
1980–1988
Philadelphia 76ers
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (1983)
2× NBA All-Star (1983–1984)
2× Southland Conference Player of the Year (1978, 1980)
Career statistics
Points
7,458 (15.9 ppg)
Rebounds
1,009 (2.2 rpg)
Assists
1,965 (4.2 apg
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