Pushing for a title in 2001 with Allen Iverson at his MVP best, the 76ers obtained defensive ace Mutombo in a six-player deal with Atlanta, which received All-Star Theo Ratliff and Toni Kukoc. Ratliff was an extremely popular and productive player for the Sixers, but Mutombo was rejuvenated by the trade and was an even bigger lane presence than Ratliff. He averaged 13.9 points, 13.7 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots in the playoffs, spurring Philadelphia into the NBA Finals. where the Sixers lost to Shaq's and Kobe's Lakers.
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