Sixers draft history: Samuel Dalembert taken No. 26 overall in 2001

With the NBA draft right around the corner, now is the time to look at some past drafts and see what the Philadelphia 76ers have done in their history.

The Sixers have selected some big-time players in the past who have become an important part of the fabric of the franchise's history.

This next edition focuses on the 2001 NBA draft when the Sixers selected big man Samuel Dalembert with the No.

26 overall pick.

Philadelphia was looking to continue adding the right pieces around superstar Allen Iverson in order to be in the best position to succeed after a run to the finals.In his rookie season, Dalembert averaged 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds and then missed the entire 2002-03 season due to injury.

When he returned for the 2003-04 season, he took over the starting center spot as he was a fixture in Philadelphia's lineup for the next seven seasons.

He averaged 8.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in eight seasons with the Sixers as he helped them make the playoffs in 2005 and 2008.

He was then traded to the Sacramento Kings in the 2010 offseason in the Spencer Hawes deal.

Overall, he spent 13 seasons in the league playing for the Sixers, Kings, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, and New York Knicks.This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers draft history: Samuel Dalembert taken No.

26 overall in 2001.

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