Why is the 76ers called that?

Why is the 76ers called that? Often referred to simply as the Sixers, the team is the oldest franchise in the NBA and is named for the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. The team was founded in 1939 in Syracuse, New York, as the Nationals but perhaps was better known as simply the Nats.

Often referred to simply as the Sixers, the team is the oldest franchise in the NBA and is named for the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. The team was founded in 1939 in Syracuse, New York, as the Nationals but perhaps was better known as simply the Nats.