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  • 2025-26 Sixers season guide: Sixers outlook, schedule highlights, player to watch and hot takes

    2025-26 Sixers season guide: Sixers outlook, schedule highlights, player to watch and hot takes

    The NBA season is here, with the 76ers’ slate kicking off at 7:30 p.m. against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. As has become customary, there are more questions than answers about this team at the moment.

    Last season ended with a tank job that delivered prized rookie VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey got another year of experience under his belt. But Joel Embiid and Paul George spent much of their time in street clothes, and Quentin Grimes, who experienced a star turn after coming to Philly at the trade deadline, did not get a deal done with the team over the summer and will play on a qualifying offer.

    The Inquirer’s staff writers took all of that information in mind as they considered the Sixers’ season and tried to project what 2025-26 might look like for Nick Nurse’s team at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Tyrese Maxey is playing freely — and speaking up — in quest for Sixers turnaround and a steady ‘flow state’

    Gina Mizell

    Sixers season outlook: Can I insert the shrugging shoulders emoji here? Not because of apathy, but because I genuinely have no idea how this is all going to unfold. So much, of course, hinges on the health of Joel Embiid and Paul George. And just far better injury luck, in general. But even if this championship window essentially closed before it opened, the Sixers’ desired style of play and influx of young talent should make this season far more enjoyable. The guard rotation of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes and, eventually, Jared McCain is worth the watch alone.

    Schedule highlights: The Sixers play 16 of their first 26 scheduled games before Christmas at home, depending on how the In-Season Tournament shakes out. That means getting off to a strong start is crucial to this team’s quest for a turnaround. January is a particularly challenging month on paper, with three back-to-backs and matchups against the New York Knicks (twice), Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Houston Rockets. So is February, with eight of 11 games on the road, including their primary Western Conference swing.

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe has impressed the coaching staff and is set to start in his first NBA game.

    Player to watch: The obvious answer here is Edgecombe, the electric rookie who is on track to be an opening night starter. Or Embiid and George because, well, you know. But I’m fascinated to see how Maxey responds after a season he acknowledges was trying from a basketball and emotional standpoint. Coach Nick Nurse constantly reiterates that he believes the 24-year-old Maxey still has plenty of room to blossom. This season, he will be tasked with spearheading an offense aiming to play at a much faster pace — and with being a bridge between the aging stars and an intriguing crop of young players. (My deep-cut answers, for the record, are Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow, after the way they played during the preseason.)

    Hot take on the 2025-26 season: When the Sixers are the NBA team whose outlook is toughest to predict, is everything considered a hot take or is nothing considered a hot take? How about this: Edgecombe wins Rookie of the Year, even if overwhelming favorite Cooper Flagg remains healthy the whole season. Edgecombe may eventually move to a reserve role once Grimes is fully reacclimated and McCain returns from thumb and knee injuries, but that might be an ideal initial fit for Edgecombe. He can empty the tank during every stint by flying down the floor in transition, and being an absolute pest on defense.

    Keith Pompey

    Sixers season outlook: The 76ers might be the toughest team to give a prognosis for. A lot of that has to do with the uncertainty surrounding Joel Embiid. Due to left knee management, the Sixers are basically taking a game-to-game approach with his availability. Meanwhile, Paul George, who is also dealing with left knee issues, could miss some time at the start of the season. And there’s no telling how the forward will perform once he returns. So at least early on, a lot of the team’s success could fall, once again, on the shoulders of Tyrese Maxey.

    But the squad is going to need Maxey, Embiid and George all playing at a high level to become an Eastern Conference contender. If that doesn’t happen, this could be another long season.

    Schedule highlights: Dec. 28 at the Oklahoma City Thunder. Assuming the Sixers are healthy, the defending NBA champions will be an accurate barometer of the Sixers’ competitiveness. We will see how the big-man pairing of Joel Embiid and Adem Bona stacks up against Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. We will also see if the Sixers have an answer for reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and third-team All-NBA swingman Jalen Williams.

    Full speed ahead? Young and fast guards give Sixers a chance to leave last season in the dust.

    Player to watch: VJ Edgecombe. The third pick in June’s NBA draft has been better than expected throughout the preseason. Known as an athletic shooting guard at Baylor, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound has shown that he can handle point guard duties for the Sixers. He’s also been arguably their best perimeter defender. If he continues to develop, Edgecombe could blossom into one of the NBA’s best young players.

    Hot take on the 2025-26 season: Dominick Barlow becomes an all-time Sixers fan favorite. Fans are already raving over the power forward’s stellar play in the preseason. That in itself is one reason why the Sixers need to strongly consider converting his two-way contract into a standard NBA deal. Barlow has mastered how to make an impact without having plays called for him. His offensive rebounding, solid attention to detail, and athleticism makes him a solid fit to play alongside Maxey and Embiid.

    Gabriela Carroll, Inquirer staff writer

    Sixers season outlook: This season feels virtually impossible to predict, because the variance in outcomes is so wide. The Sixers could keep Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and VJ Edgecombe mostly healthy this year, and get just enough games from Joel Embiid and Paul George to stay playoff competitive. They could have the disastrous injury luck of the 2024-25 season, and end up back in the lottery. Who knows, maybe they get supremely lucky and almost everyone is available all year? That feels like a bridge too far even for the Sixers. But in what looks like it could be a down year for the Eastern Conference, making the Play-In and winning a game feels doable.

    Schedule highlights: Dec. 7 vs Lakers. Look, LeBron James baited everyone with his “Decision” that turned out to be a Hennessey commercial, but there’s no denying that at age 40, his career is nearing its end. No matter how good or bad the Sixers end up (and there are so many different ways this year could go), you’ve only got so many chances to see one of the all-time greats play in Philadelphia.

    Sixers guard Jared McCain will miss the start of the season with a thumb injury.

    Player to watch: Jared McCain. McCain immediately popped in his 23 games last year, working himself into the starting lineup and becoming one of the few bright spots of a disappointing start before he tore his meniscus and had to miss the rest of the year. Heading into camp, he tore the UCL in his thumb. If McCain can continue to improve and develop from where he finished his 24-25 season, that will be a huge boost for the Sixers’ chances, but it could take him some time to round into form.

    Hot take on the 2025-26 season: VJ Edgecombe will win Rookie of the Year. All eyes will be on Cooper Flagg, but Edgecombe should get a ton of minutes right away. The Sixers are already experimenting with Edgecombe as the primary ball-handler to open up more opportunities for Maxey, and he’s flashed his elite defensive skill in preseason.

  • What should you expect out of the Sixers this season? Nothing and everything all at once.

    What should you expect out of the Sixers this season? Nothing and everything all at once.

    The Sixers have figured out the key to a stress-free life.

    You can’t let anybody down if they don’t have any expectations.

    It would be a fitting twist if this was the year the Sixers finally lived up to the hype of the last decade. They spent eight years as a Snapchat-filter contender, entering each season with the unsubstantiated energy of a team that desperately wants to speak its self-image into existence but at the same time understands that the teams that win NBA titles usually aren’t the ones trying to channel Ben Affleck in Boiler Room. The problem with the whole “act as if” mindset is that you need to stop acting at some point or else you just become an act.

    The tricky thing about the Sixers is that it is tough to pinpoint when, exactly, they became that act, given the preponderance of options. I would argue that it was when James Harden held a birthday party at which women held signs that said, “Daryl Morey is a liar.” But you could just as easily argue that it happened a year earlier, when the Sixers traded a guy who was too scared to throw down an open dunk in a decisive playoff game for a guy who showed up to a playoff press conference wearing a designer coat that looked like it was constructed from the pelt of a Teletubby.

    Sixers predictions: Regular-season record and postseason performance for the 2025-26 season

    Morey has taken the brunt of the blame for the last couple of seasons, mostly because it was his name on the marquee. If you don’t like the circus, you either blame Barnum or you blame Bailey. In selling Harden and then Paul George, Morey’s message was the classic “Don’t believe your eyes.” The scariest part of Dave Dombrowski’s press conference last week was when he channeled Morey and suggested that older players don’t get old the same way they used to. Whatever truth there is to it — and I could lay out a very strong case that there isn’t much — the marvels of modern sport science still haven’t managed to solve a conundrum that each of us encounters at some physiological age. Once you get old, there is no getting un-old. The only question is whether you can slow down the decay.

    Funny thing about Morey, though. While his more vocal critics have written him off as little more than a salesman, they are giving his sales proficiency way too much credit. He has been much better at his actual job, which, let’s not forget, began five years ago with inheriting a roster that was assembled on the premise that Al Horford and Josh Richardson could be the missing pieces that would enable Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris to win a title. Back then, people felt a lot like they did by the end of last season. The Sixers’ best chance had already passed them by.

    Sixers president Daryl Morey is entering his sixth season with the franchise.

    What the interim has wrought is in the eye of the beholder. It has been easiest to focus on Morey’s yearly quest to push the Sixers over the top, his annual reshuffling of the deck, from Simmons to Harden to George, each one falling short of even reaching the conference finals. The Sixers have not come close to achieving the ultimate goal, but they have made a sport of it, taking the Celtics to Game 7 in 2023 and the Knicks to Game 6 in 2024 before landing George as part of a free-agent bonanza last summer. Yet even as they have tried and failed — and flailed — they somehow manage to enter 2025-26 with a roster that actually looks like the one the Sixers thought they had in those first post-Process years, long before Morey arrived. Morey drafted Tyrese Maxey and then Jared McCain and just five months ago VJ Edgecombe, who may have the most potential of them all.

    You watched the Sixers this preseason and you saw the makings of the team they never actually had. The first quarter of their 126-110 win over the Timberwolves on Friday was eye-opening. Early in the quarter, Edgecombe crashed the weak-side glass and corralled a Kelly Oubre miss for an easy putback. Edgecombe and Maxey spent the period running the court like it was crumbling behind them, pushing the pace after makes as well as misses, displaying an uncanny connection for teammates whose partnership can be measured in months.

    After going hard to the basket and finishing his textbook footwork with a contested layup off a fastbreak pass from Maxey, Edgecombe stole the ball from Johnny Juzang at the other end of the court, sparking another break that resulted in a free-throw trip for Quentin Grimes. But the most instructive play might have been one that failed: a cross-court, alley-oop pass from Maxey near the hash to Edgecombe on the weak-side block. They did not convert, but they came close enough to project that they will finish plenty of them.

    Seven burning questions for the Sixers season, including VJ Edgecombe’s impact and Joel Embiid and Paul George’s health

    Even without McCain, who quickly worked his way to the top of the rotation last season and who will be there again soon, the Sixers looked a lot like the kind of team people always wished they would be instead of steadily growing older, slower, and more difficult to watch.

    For the first time in a long time, the Sixers have the makings of a team that is, at the very least, a fun team to root for. It remains to be seen how well it will translate into wins. It will translate into more than people think if Embiid can consistently be the guy he was in his preseason debut. Healthy. Light on his feet. Knocking down elbow jumpers and charging to the rim. Whatever they get from George will be a bonus.

    And, who knows, maybe that will be enough in a wide-open Eastern Conference where two top contenders are taking gap years. Injuries to the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton have created a power vacuum. You can’t completely discount the Sixers’ chances of filling it.

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe brings the ball upcourt alongside Tyrese Maxey during Friday’s preseason game against the Timberwolves.

    For now, the reason to watch this team is for an early look at what the future will look like. Edgecombe has a chance to become the Sixers’ most electric star since Allen Iverson. Maxey is Maxey, and McCain is almost as fun to watch. It is a fascinating dynamic, one that complicates the more cynical narratives about the Sixers’ trajectory over the last five years.

    The safe play is to not expect much out of the Sixers. But you can expect them to be fun.

  • Joel Embiid will play in Sixers’ opener vs. Celtics; Paul George to sit out

    Joel Embiid will play in Sixers’ opener vs. Celtics; Paul George to sit out

    BOSTON — Joel Embiid will play for the 76ers in the season opener against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Garden.

    As expected, Paul George, Trendon Watford, and Jared McCain will be sidelined.

    The game will mark Embiid’s first regular-season contest since he faced the Brooklyn Nets in a 105-103 loss on Feb. 22. Embiid played in just 19 games last season before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on April 11. It was his second surgery on the knee in 14 months and the third in nine years.

    Joel Embiid is embracing his new reality and a potentially new role for the Sixers

    Embiid played Friday in the final preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in a little over 18 minutes. The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder then took part in practices on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before being cleared to play.

    Delaware Blue Coats name JP Clark as head coach

    George is sidelined as he continues to recover from left knee surgery. Watford will miss the game with left hamstring tightness, while McCain is out as he recovers from right thumb surgery.

    Boston’s Jaylen Brown is questionable with a strained left hamstring and Jayson Tatum is expected to miss the season after suffering a torn right Achilles tendon during the playoffs.

  • Seven burning questions for the Sixers season, including VJ Edgecombe’s impact and Joel Embiid and Paul George’s health

    Seven burning questions for the Sixers season, including VJ Edgecombe’s impact and Joel Embiid and Paul George’s health

    Nick Nurse has not been shy about the reality facing the 76ers. That they are, in their coach’s words, “digging ourselves out of a pretty big hole.”

    That’s life coming off a shocking 24-58 season, when sky-high hopes quickly descended into a dreadful, injury-derailed slog. It initially was a version of basketball whiplash. And the aftermath has muted outside buzz entering 2025-26.

    The NBA’s general managers said in their annual preseason survey that the Sixers, by a wide margin, are the most unpredictable team entering the season. That means there were plenty of questions before Wednesday’s opener at the Boston Celtics.

    Sixers’ sights set on season opener against Celtics. And they could have reinforcements.

    How much will Joel Embiid and Paul George play?

    Every conversation about the Sixers’ overall outlook begins here.

    This time last year, George’s free-agency addition to the All-Star tandem of Embiid and Tyrese Maxey was overwhelmingly lauded. Those three appeared to form an ideal 1-3-5 positional fit. The championship aspirations felt legitimate.

    And then Embiid’s ongoing knee issues limited him to 19 games before another surgery. George played in 41 but was hampered by several ailments and had an arthroscopic knee procedure in July. The Embiid-Maxey-George trio played only 294 minutes together across 15 games.

    So the skepticism — or, at least, uncertainty — is understandable. Yet the news surrounding Embiid and George is trending positively. Embiid played in Friday’s preseason finale — and, perhaps more important, fully participated in the Sixers’ next practice. George also returned to full-contact work but would miss the beginning of the season.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid played in Friday’s preseason finale.

    It is unrealistic to assume either player will look like a perennial All-Star immediately. Or, perhaps, ever again, given that George is 35 years old and Embiid is 31. But if the Sixers can successfully construct and execute an availability plan for both players, that would provide a massive lift to their cohesion and potential on both ends of the floor.

    How will Tyrese Maxey respond?

    Maxey had his own health trouble at the end of last season, sitting the final 22 games because of an injured little finger that dramatically impacted his outside shooting. The point guard also spoke candidly about the mental toll while shouldering mounting losses for the first time in his basketball career. He averaged a career-high 26.3 points as the Sixers’ top scoring option in his fifth NBA season, but his efficiency decreased and turnovers increased.

    The 24-year-old Maxey said he is in a good headspace entering the season, and feels more comfortable countering a variety of defensive coverages. He has taken a significant leadership role, vowing to set the Sixers’ organizational standard with daily habits and style of play. He will be the engine that ignites an offense determined to play at a faster pace, whether Embiid and/or George are on the floor or not. Maxey also will play off the ball, allowing him to leverage his speed and outside shooting stroke.

    If Maxey continues his ascent into his prime — and his team is improved — a second All-Star appearance is likely.

    VJ Edgecombe outpacing Sixers expectations — and bringing his lofty goals into view

    Is VJ Edgecombe an instant-impact rookie?

    The third overall pick in this summer’s NBA draft flashed his dazzling athleticism during the preseason. Transition dunks. Come-from-behind blocks. Leaps for alley-oop passes.

    Edgecombe also has received high praise from those watching him every day behind the scenes. Nurse already trusts the rookie to handle some offense-initiating duties and to be a strong defender. The coach also is pleased with Edgecombe’s progress with his shooting mechanics, although those still need to show up consistently in games.

    As part of a loaded guard group, Edgecombe should not feel overwhelming pressure in his first NBA season. But that Nurse already feels comfortable starting the rookie is a huge compliment. He has a rare opportunity to be an instant-impact player on a team trying to win, not rebuild.

    What about the other young guards?

    At times during the preseason, Nurse has floated the idea of starting three guards, or even experimenting with four-guard lineups. Neither idea is completely outlandish because of the roster construction when healthy.

    Jared McCain was dealt another tough-luck injury blow when he suffered a torn thumb ligament in a workout just before training camp after recovering from meniscus surgery. He will be reevaluated in less than two weeks, but whenever he returns, it is reasonable to anticipate some rust after what could be an 11-month layoff.

    Sixers guard Jared McCain averaged 15.3 points in 23 games as a rookie last season.

    The hope is that McCain can eventually recapture what made him an early Rookie of the Year front-runner, when he averaged 15.3 points in 23 games and became a weapon as an outside shooter, finisher at the basket, and backup point guard.

    Quentin Grimes, meanwhile, was a late addition in the Sixers’ preseason after a contract saga ended with him taking his one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

    Grimes has said all the right things since rejoining the team, and Nurse has been pleased with his conditioning and ability to rapidly pick up the new offensive scheme. Grimes will not regularly be the go-to scorer that he was during his breakout stretch after joining the Sixers at the trade deadline. But his scoring punch at all three levels, complementary ballhandling, and tough-minded defense are valuable.

    Is Adem Bona ready for a leap?

    One silver lining of the Sixers’ tank job last season was the opportunity it gave to their young players. Few took better advantage than Bona, who now is in line to be Embiid’s backup — and perhaps more.

    The Sixers recently have been toying with Bona playing alongside Embiid and started that double-big lineup in Friday’s preseason finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It’s a pairing Bona said he has eyeballed since the Sixers drafted him. It allows Bona, a hyperathletic rim protector and lob threat, to play in the “dunker” spot near the basket, and for Embiid to stretch more out to the perimeter.

    Sixers star Joel Embiid ‘somewhat comfortable’ in his preseason return: ‘That was enough for me’

    Bona’s offensive skill set — notably his shooting range — remains a work in progress. An even more urgent priority: He must stop getting into early foul trouble if he is relied on for heavier minutes.

    Is Dominick Barlow on track for a full roster spot?

    The 22-year-old forward on a two-way contract perhaps was the surprise of the preseason, earning an early rotation spot and potentially a starting nod. He is another impressive athlete with a knack for rebounding who can fit next to Embiid or Bona.

    The two-way contract structure is designed for players to split time between the Sixers and the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats and limits the number of NBA games one can play. But Nurse said he has no reservations about immediately using Barlow as much as it takes to help the Sixers. There is a full-time roster spot available, should Barlow earn a conversion to a standard contract.

    Jabari Walker also has been viewed as a contender to have his two-way contract converted to a standard deal. But right now, Barlow has the inside track.

    Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (right) and Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton likely are out for the season with Achilles tendon injuries suffered in last season’s playoffs.

    How much does a down East impact the Sixers’ path?

    Perhaps you have heard the East is the NBA’s weaker conference this season.

    The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics are on the equivalent of “gap” years, after stars Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum suffered Achilles tendon injuries during the playoffs. The New York Knicks are coming off their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years but have a new coach in Mike Brown. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and Atlanta Hawks have stout rosters but remain unproven in the postseason.

    Can Nick Nurse work his magic to overcome the Sixers’ injuries and lack of on-court chemistry?

    So there is a window for the Sixers to jump right back into the playoff mix, even as such a preseason wild card.

    In-season injuries and player movement could impact the conference’s landscape. It will be interesting to note where the Sixers are at the trade deadline, at which last season they acquired Grimes but shortly after transitioned to a tank for the best possible draft lottery odds. Keep an eye on Kelly Oubre Jr.’s $8.4 million expiring contract as a potential asset.

  • A milestone for NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Alaa Abdelnaby as the NBA launches new TV schedule

    A milestone for NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Alaa Abdelnaby as the NBA launches new TV schedule

    Charles Barkley on ESPN! Sixers games on Amazon! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!

    The NBA season tips off Tuesday, and with it begins new TV rights deals with NBC, ESPN, and Amazon that will reshape coverage of the league for the next decade plus.

    There’s been a lot of handwringing over the NBA’s new national schedule, with exclusive games being broadcast nationally every night on different channels and streaming platforms. It’s quite a change, considering TNT had been broadcasting national games on Thursday nights for 36 years.

    Despite the shuffling, not much will change for Sixers fans. Sixty nine of the team’s 82 games will air on NBC Sports Philadelphia (seven on NBC Sports Philadelphia+), with Kate Scott and Alaa Abdelnaby back to call all the action.

    Abdelnaby, the former Duke standout and NBA player, is entering his 10th season calling Sixers games (and his fifth alongside Scott). He was hired in the middle of “The Process,” but despite the Sixers losing 72 games during his first season, last season was his most difficult as a broadcaster.

    “Even though it wasn’t written in stone, we knew what they were doing” when the Sixers were intentionally losing games to gain assets, Abdelnaby told The Inquirer. “Last year, that wasn’t the case. They weren’t trying to do anything Process-ish … We kind of went through a whole season of not being relevant. And that stinks.”

    Joel Embiid’s health will be the big question mark for the Sixers this season.

    Abdelnaby has high hopes for this season, pinned on a potentially new role for Joel Embiid following his second knee surgery in 14 months. Embiid played 19 minutes in the Sixers’ final preseason game on Friday, telling reporters he was “in a good space” mentally and physically, though his status for the season opener against the Boston Celtics Wednesday remains uncertain.

    Being around them for two games and at practice, Abdelnaby said the mood among the Sixers seemed more positive then the second half of last season. By his eye, the body language of the players and coaches point in the right direction.

    “I think health has a lot to do with that,” Abdelnaby said. “At least I’m feeling a sense of optimism from the group, and that’s a good thing.”

    The new NBA media deals have opened up broadcasting opportunities dramatically, with national games airing just about every night. While Abdelnaby used to call college basketball games for CBS Sports, he’s in no rush to return to a jet-setting lifestyle.

    “When I did college, it was a rough and tumble existence,” Abdelnaby said. ” I think I’ve gotten soft over the last 10 years, because now I fly on their plane, I don’t have to rent a car in the middle of nowhere and return it … I am so spoiled.”

    As far as NBC Sports Philadelphia’s studio goes, Amy Fadool, Marc Jackson, and former Sixers head coach Jim Lynam return for Sixers pre- and postgame coverage.

    This is the first season Sixers fans within the Philadelphia TV market can subscribe directly to NBC Sports Philadelphia without needing a cable TV plan. Fans outside the area can stream all the games using NBA League Pass.

    Sixers games can also be heard on 97.5 The Fanatic, with Tom McGinnis returning for his 31st season calling games.

    New NBA weekly national schedule

    While the bulk of the Sixers’ regular-season games will air on NBC Sports Philadelphia, 13 games will air nationally across a host of services.

    Here’s a general breakdown of the NBA’s national broadcast and streaming schedule this season:

    • Sunday: NBC/Peacock and ABC/ESPN (beginning midseason)
    • Monday: Peacock
    • Tuesday: NBC/Peacock
    • Wednesday: ESPN
    • Thursday: Prime Video (beginning midseason)
    • Friday: Prime Video and ESPN (beginning midseason)
    • Saturday: Prime Video and ABC/ESPN (beginning midseason)

    After 23 years, NBA returns to NBC

    Hall of Famer Michael Jordan will make his NBC debut Tuesday night.

    Michael Jordan is making the leap to NBA pundit (sort-of) as NBC airs games for the first time since the 2002 season.

    Jordan won’t make his debut Tuesday as a studio analyst. Instead, he’ll appear via a prerecorded interview with Mike Tirico during NBC’s debut. The network hasn’t said how frequently Jordan will contribute, but those taped segments are expected to be scattered throughout the season.

    NBC will start the season broadcasting a Tuesday doubleheader, with the East Coast and West Coast getting different prime-time games during most weeks (both will stream live on Peacock).

    NBC will also debut Sunday Night Basketball beginning Feb. 1, after the end of the NFL season. The network’s NBA coverage will pause after that for the first two weeks in February for the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.

    After practicing with the Sixers and a few other teams last season, Tirico said he’ll call the first couple of Tuesday night games for NBC before focusing on his NFL duties through the playoffs. He’ll also has his duties as the host of the Olympics to contend with.

    The Sixers are scheduled to appear on NBC four times, beginning with their Nov. 11 matchup against the Boston Celtics at the newly-named Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Play-by-play voices: Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle, Terry Gannon, Michael Grady

    Game analysts: Reggie Miller, Grant Hill, Jamal Crawford, Brad Daugherty, Derek Fisher, Austin Rivers, Brian Scalabrine, Robbie Hummel

    Studio analysts: Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady

    Sixers fans will also need Peacock and Amazon’s Prime Video

    NBA games will stream on Peacock Monday and Tuesday nights.

    The streaming wars have finally come for NBA fans.

    With TNT out of the picture, Sixers completists will need to sign up for two streaming services to watch all of Philly’s 82 games.

    The first is Peacock, NBC’s subscription streaming service, which is slated to stream 40 exclusive NBA games, as well as every game airing on NBC.

    As of now, Peacock is scheduled to exclusively stream just one Sixers game — a matchup against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 5.

    A subscription to Peacock’s premium tier runs $10.99 a month, though some Comcast Xfinity subscribers can get a discount.

    Amazon’s Prime Video will stream NBA games two nights a week after the NFL season ends.

    The second streaming service Sixers fans will need is Amazon Prime Video, which will stream 66 regular-season NBA games, including a bulk of the Emirates NBA cup and a new Black Friday game.

    The Sixers are scheduled to play in four games on Prime Video, beginning with their Halloween night matchup against the Celtics in Philly.

    If you’re an NBA League Pass subscriber, one cool feature on Prime Video is the ability to make your own multiview featuring up to four live NBA games.

    Prime Video comes with Amazon Prime, but you can also subscribe to it directly for $9 a month.

    One familiar face will be Sixers veteran Kyle Lowry, who is slated to make “select appearances” on Amazon’s NBA coverage this season. Amazon’s studio show, which will feature Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki, could be a fun watch.

    Charles Barkley and the ‘Inside the NBA’ crew heading to ESPN

    Hall of Famer and former Sixers star Charles Barkley will be seen on ESPN this season.

    TNT lost the NBA but is keeping its studio show. It’s just going to air on another network.

    Inside the NBA, the beloved studio show featuring Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, is jumping to ESPN while still being produced by TNT Sports. They’ll make their debut Wednesday at 6 p.m. as part of ESPN’s season-opening doubleheader.

    ESPN has said there would be no changes to the show, beyond a lopsided schedule. Barkley and company are only scheduled appear three more times before Christmas — Thursday, Oct. 29, and Nov. 12.

    “We always go to 2 in the morning. They said they’re going to give us time,” Barkley said in a recent interview with NBA columnist Steve Bulpett. “We were concerned they’re going to be like, ‘No, you gotta go to SportsCenter or you’ve got to leave when we’re on ABC and go to the local affiliates.’ That’s the only two things we were concerned with.”

    The only remaining TV partner from last season, ESPN will mostly air NBA games on Wednesday nights, with some other nights and holidays thrown into the mix. They’ll also add Friday night games beginning Jan. 16, with most airing on ABC.

    As far as ESPN’s announcers, the only major change is on their top announcing crew, which the network hasn’t been able to get right since laying off Jeff Van Gundy and Marc Jackson in 2023.

    This time, Doris Burke is out, replaced by longtime ESPN analyst and former La Salle standout Tim Legler, who will join Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson. Burke will still call NBA games alongside Dave Pasch.

  • Joel Embiid is embracing his new reality and a potentially new role for the Sixers

    Joel Embiid is embracing his new reality and a potentially new role for the Sixers

    Joel Embiid sat in front of reporters at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday night and shared his new definition of success. And for the 76ers star, that thought process isn’t necessarily measured by offensive output.

    He preached teamwork after earning seven consecutive All-Star berths, two straight scoring titles, and the 2023 Most Valuable Player award. Yet, in true Embiid fashion, the 31-year-old also acknowledged that he’s aware of some narratives about him, about the belief that he is no longer a dominant force.

    “I’m here to help,” Embiid said after he finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in a 126-110 preseason victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. “According to a lot of your peers [in the media], I’m not even a top-100 basketball player in the league. So I guess I’ve just got to fit in and see where I can help the team win basketball games.

    “So, if that’s playing defense and stretching the floor, that’s what I’m going to do.”

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    Embiid was referring to The Ringer excluding him from its top-100 list that was released Wednesday. While that might be a head-scratching omission, he is perceived differently heading into this season because of a nagging left knee injury that limited him to 19 games last season.

    ESPN ranks him 47th in its ranking of the NBA’s top 100 players, which is a significant drop from the previous year’s No. 8 ranking. SI.com ranks him 17th, USA Today 19th, For The Win 21st, Hoopshype 23rd, and Bleacher Report 26th.

    The consensus is that when healthy, Embiid is a top-10 player. However, the rankings reflect concerns about his left knee surgery in April, his second in 14 months and third in nine years, and the fact that he was limited to 58 games over the last two seasons.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid (left) with guard Tyrese Maxey, appears to be content as a facilitator.

    But in September, Embiid said he felt good.

    “I think we made a lot of progress over the last couple of months,” he said. “We got a plan in place. Try to check off all the boxes, so just taking it day by day. This is still kind of like a feel period where we’re just taking it day by day.”

    That approach is the reason that even with his healthy status, the Sixers have yet to determine Embiid’s availability for the season opener Wednesday against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. It’s also tied to the team’s uncertainty about when Embiid will suit up or rest this season.

    “I want to be as honest as possible,” Embiid said. “I think going forward, I’m just going to listen to the body. I’ll be honest and say it’s going to be unpredictable at times, and that’s OK. We’ve got to work with that. We’ve got to take it day by day and go from there. The only thing I’m focused on is that every time we’re on the right path, keep going.

    “If there’s something that happens in that time, it’s OK. Just focus on fixing it and keep going. That’s my mentality.”

    Can Nick Nurse work his magic to overcome the Sixers’ injuries and lack of on-court chemistry?

    The goal is to remain healthy for the postseason, where he’ll need to play at a high level for the Sixers to sustain success.

    Right now, it’s OK for Embiid to be a pass-first big man anchored at the elbow or on the perimeter. As we saw Friday and in an intrasquad scrimmage on Oct. 12, his presence makes things easier for teammates. He routinely finds them on cuts to the basket and delivers open layup opportunities as they streak up the court.

    Embiid also has adapted well to playing power forward in a twin tower lineup with reserve center Adem Bona. The Sixers have high-percentage scoring plays in which Embiid receives the ball at the elbow and dishes to Bona under the basket.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid had 14 points, seven rebounds, a game-high eight assists, and three steals in Friday’s exhibition finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    But as well as Embiid has played, the pace was incredibly different when he wasn’t in the game. The Sixers pushed the ball much harder, and it’s fair to wonder if that’s going to improve while he’s on the floor.

    And unlike in seasons past, the standout center rarely rolled to the basket. Will that change over time when he becomes more comfortable? Or is this his new way of playing after the knee surgeries? Time may provide an answer as we watch Embiid play.

    Sixers takeaways: Joel Embiid’s versatility, VJ Edgecombe’s development, and Tyrese Maxey’s scoring

    But for now, he sounds content with this new role.

    “We got a bunch of athletes,” Embiid said. “We’ve got to release them. … They’ve got to run. My job is to find them and, in a way, that also kind of saves me, because if we get early baskets and easy baskets, I won’t have to run up and down. I can just let those guys push the pace, attack. And if we don’t have anything, I’ve always trailed anyway in my career. Then I can come in and get into the offense.”

  • Sixers’ sights set on season opener against Celtics. And they could have reinforcements.

    Sixers’ sights set on season opener against Celtics. And they could have reinforcements.

    For the 76ers, Monday was all about preparation for their season opener against the Boston Celtics.

    Joel Embiid had a towel wrapped around his waist and his blue practice jersey was drenched in sweat as media members entered the gym. Both courts were occupied by players who stuck around for post-practice shooting drills.

    Every player on the roster practiced, with Jared McCain, who remains sidelined after surgery on his right thumb, being the only exception.

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    “Listen, we’re at the stage now where we’re doing game prep,” coach Nick Nurse said of Wednesday’s contest at TD Garden. “So everybody was involved in all of what we were doing today.

    “So we were just getting ready for Boston, cleaning up some stuff, and one more of those quickies tomorrow before we hit the road and then it’ll be game time.”

    The Sixers are eager to erase memories of last season’s 24-58 record. It marked their first losing campaign since they finished 28-54 in 2016-17. They also want to see how their new fast-paced, free-flowing offense fares in an actual NBA game.

    Coach Nick Nurse and the Sixers are eager to erase memories of last season’s 24-58 record.

    “Listen, like I said this the other day, I think we’re digging ourselves out of a pretty big hole,” Nurse said of last season. “I think that we’ve made a lot of progress, and we’ve worked hard, but you’ve got to go play the games now for real. And then you’re going to really learn about your team and what progress you made, and much of the hard work has paid off, and can it get results.

    “I mean, I think it feels good right now, the changes we’ve made. … I think it’s a tremendous test for this group Wednesday to go on the road and play a team that’s got a bunch of guys playing together for forever. I know they have changes too, but they still have a core group that’s been together forever and we’re looking forward to the test.”

    Can Nick Nurse work his magic to overcome the Sixers’ injuries and lack of on-court chemistry?

    While the Celtics do return several role players, the team will have a different look from the last two seasons. And a lot of the changes are a result of Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury. With Tatum out, the 2024 NBA champions made drastic roster moves and underwent a semi-rebuild to get under the second luxury-tax apron.

    Over the summer the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks. They also didn’t re-sign Al Horford, who accepted a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors.

    Boston isn’t void of talent, though.

    Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) suffered an Achilles tendon injury that altered the team’s direction.

    It received standout shooting guard Anfernee Simons from Portland in exchange for Holiday. And the Celtics’ roster changes haven’t altered their style of play.

    “They’re going to play a lot of guys that can shoot the ball,” Nurse said. “They’re going to try to get you in mismatches, and they’re just really good at playing one-on-one and scoring. And if they don’t score, they find the open man. And that’s usually a three-ball.

    “So it’s the same. Some of the names have changed and the pieces have moved a little bit, for sure. But they’re playing, doing some similar things.”