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Tag: VJ Edgecombe

  • Sixers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey makes history, Paul George brings stability and more from win over Bucks

    Sixers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey makes history, Paul George brings stability and more from win over Bucks

    MILWAUKEE — Tyrese Maxey showed how elite he is when he plays aggressively.

    Paul George is a stabilizing force for the 76ers.

    Justin Edwards will get increased playing time if he continues to play solid defense.

    And the ramifications of the NBA’s condensed, 82-game schedule and increased pace were felt inside Fiserv Forum.

    Those things stood out in the Sixers’ 123-114 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

    Aggressive Maxey

    Maxey showed why he’s a legitimate candidate for MVP, scoring a career-high 54 points on 18-for-30 shooting to go with nine assists, five rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. His 54 points tied Hall of Famer Allen Iverson for the ninth-most points scored in a regular-season game in team history. Iverson did it twice, in December 2004 and January 2001.

    Maxey joins Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain (March 18, 1968) as the only two players in franchise history to produce at least 50 points and nine assists in a single game.

    “Great. We won. That’s what matters most,” Maxey said of tying Chamberlain.

    But how does he feel about being in that company?

    “Blessed,” Maxey said. “I thank God for it. Anytime you are in a conversation with Wilt, who scored 100 points, you can’t complain.”

    Maxey didn’t have a repeat of Wednesday night when he attempted one fourth-quarter shot attempt — a miss — in a 121-112 loss to the Toronto Raptors. On Wednesday, he passed out of double teams and made what would typically be the correct play in the fourth quarter. In the game, Maxey attempted only 14 shots, which is 9.4 shots below his average of 23.4.

    However, the Sixers aren’t good enough for him to serve as a decoy or a secondary player at this moment.

    Sixers’ Joel Embiid will miss his sixth straight game with knee injury

    Against the Bucks, with the Sixers down 85-82 with 10 minutes, 10 seconds remaining, Maxey came up with three clutch plays in a short span.

    He drained a 20-foot jumper to pull the Sixers within one point. After grabbing the defensive rebound on the ensuing possession, Maxey drained a three-pointer to put the Sixers up, 87-85, with 9:26 to play.

    He scored 22 in the fourth quarter and overtime session on 6-for-9 shooting. He made four clutch foul shots in overtime.

    The Sixers need Maxey to remain aggressive throughout games to win.

    Coach Nick Nurse said after Wednesday’s loss that Maxey needed to shoot the ball more.

    “It was a different game last night,” Maxey said of Wednesday. “I definitely was not as aggressive as I should have been. I got hit in the head, and I also got hit in the quad. So it was a little tough for me. Kind of like pop up and get the ball and be extremely aggressive, as I probably need to be. And we were making some shots. I made some plays and got guys open. So I was trying to feel the game out.

    “But [Nurse is] definitely right. I got to be aggressive. Joel [Embiid] definitely got on me as soon as I got in the locker room. He pulled out the stat sheet, showed me the 14 shots, and said, ‘This ain’t going to cut it.’ And Joel is normally right.”

    The Sixers’ Paul George played a major role on both sides of the ball.

    George’s presence

    George’s presence has been noticeable in the two games he’s played in this season. The 35-year-old, who made his season debut on Monday, provided early offense and made a defensive impact in Monday’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers and in Thursday’s win against the Bucks.

    He finished with 21 points, five rebounds, and two steals while playing 24 minutes, 42 seconds against Milwaukee. This comes after George had nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks vs. the Clippers.

    George had an excellent start for the second consecutive game.

    After scoring the game’s first five points in Monday’s debut, he scored the Sixers’ first 11 points while making his first four shots.

    How good is Tyrese Maxey? He’s now in a class with Sixers great Allen Iverson and other NBA elites.

    He scored the game’s first basket by driving through the lane and muscling his way to a basket. Then he added three-pointers on the Sixers’ next three possessions.

    “That was kind of the mindset,” George said of attacking Thursday’s game from the start after sitting out Wednesday’s loss. “I know these guys played last night.. So I’m fresh. I tried to come in, get the boost, just morale on both ends. I tried to impose my will on the defense, and then come out with a burst offensively.”

    The Sixers’ following points came when he assisted on an alley-oop dunk by VJ Edgecombe to make the Sixers’ lead 13-4 with 7:11 left in the quarter. George came out with 6:16 left in the quarter before returning at the start of the second.

    While he missed his lone shot and committed a turnover, George made a pair of foul shots and had an assist to go with a steal in his short stint.

    George did a solid job running the Sixers’ offense in the half-court and provided solid defense. One of his highlights was stealing the ball on Kyle Kuzma’s layup attempt at the 8:30 mark of the third quarter.

    “Listen, whatever it is, to make the game easy for No. 0,” George said of running the offense. “I’ve been saying he’s been doing a lot for us. He might not want to say it, but I know he’s tired. He’s got to be tired. So, you know, I’m just trying to make the game easy for him within the offense, play my game.

    “But also, you know, I do feel like I can see plays ahead and kind of see where guys should be and balancing the floor and just trying to give us the best possibility of getting a good shot each possession.”

    If there was a negative to his performance, it was that he appeared to run out of gas. He missed five of his next six shots after starting the game 4-for-4. He even missed a third-quarter layup.

    Edwards’ defense

    With Kelly Oubre Jr. out (sprained left knee), Edwards made his second consecutive start at small forward. There was no drop-off defensively with him in the lineup. While Maxey and George provided the offensive scoring, the former Imhotep Charter standout provided stiff defense. Edwards finished with a season-high two steals, both coming in the opening quarter. The most he had in a game before Thursday was one. And he did that three times in his first 12 games.

    “I take pride in it,” Edwards said of his defense. “You know that’s what the coaches expect from me every game. So, you know, I go out there and try to guard everybody’s best ballhandler and put them to the test, honestly.”

    While he struggled shooting (seven points, 3-for-10 shooting), Edwards kept making the right plays on the offensive end. On one occasion, he drove the lane and wrapped a pass around a defender and into the arms of Andre Drummond, who scored an easy layup. Edwards had three assists and four rebounds.

    But Edwards made two huge baskets in overtime. He opened the extra session with a three-pointer to give the Sixers a 109-106 advantage. Then, with 2:23 left, his 14-foot pull-up jumper gave them a five-point cushion.

    He mentioned what the three-pointer meant to him after struggling from the field most of the game.

    “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “But it does bother me. I ain’t even going to lie. I was about to try to do my media-training stuff, but it does bother me. I just got to have short-term memory, because I feel like I’ve made a lot of growth. Last year, maybe college, I probably would not have shot that. I probably would have driven it. But that just shows the confidence in myself. I put the work in. I shot that shot a million times.”

    Sixers forward Justin Edwards was one of the players charged with guarding breakout star Ryan Rollins.

    Battered teams

    The Sixers were without Embiid (right knee injury management), Oubre, and Adem Bona (sprained right ankle). Maxey (right quadriceps contusion) was cleared to play right before the game.

    Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (left adductor strain) could be out for up to two weeks. The Bucks were also missing Taurean Prince (neck surgery) and Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee meniscus surgery).

    But long injury lists aren’t isolated only to the Sixers and Bucks. Injuries have been up around the league this season.

    Sacramento Kings standout center Domantas Sabonis (partially torn meniscus in left knee) will miss three to four weeks. Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal (fractured hip) is expected to have season-ending surgery. And the Dallas Mavericks’ Anthony Davis, Portland Trail Blazers’ Jrue Holiday, San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper, and Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant and Ty Jerome are out with calf strains.

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

    So why the leaguewide uptick in injuries?

    “Anybody can speculate about what they think it is, right?” Nurse said. “I think nutrition plays a big part of it. I think that the preseason plays a part of it, too. I think we are not getting a lot of gamelike reps [in the preseason], and then all of a sudden we’re going 100 miles an hour [in the regular season.]

    “And like I said … on our way over here, this is our third road back-to-back, and it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet. The games early in the season have been coming out of the chute. It’s a heavy, heavy load.”

    It was the Sixers’ fourth back-to-back overall through their 17 games. And the Sixers have been dealing with injuries all season, as George (left knee injury management), Jared McCain (right thumb surgery), and Trendon Watford (hamstring) have also missed time.

    Embiid has missed the last six games. Thursday was the fifth straight game he missed due to his right knee.

  • Sixers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey carries the team, Paul George is rusty, and more from win vs. Clippers

    Sixers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey carries the team, Paul George is rusty, and more from win vs. Clippers

    Paul George’s debut was OK, yet better than expected.

    The 76ers are going to have to live with the Andre Drummond factor for the time being. The center is a rebounding machine but struggles on defense.

    Tyrese Maxey must continue to log 40-plus minutes and carry the Sixers.

    And the team will cherish all victories, even the controversial ones.

    Those four things stood out in their 110-108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Maxey carrying the load

    Sixers coach Nick Nurse acknowledged before Monday’s game that the minutes for Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are piling up, and they are expected to carry the scoring load.

    Nurse thinks things may settle down for the duo when George gets up to speed, as they do when Joel Embiid is playing.

    The coach actually spoke to both of them on Sunday. He asked them four questions: Are you OK? Are you playing too many minutes? You sure? Are you looking for some help?

    Maxey and Edgecombe responded “yes” to the first question and “no” to the other three.

    “I said, ‘Because we don’t know when it’s going to come,” Nurse said. “’Get ready to go out there and do whatever is necessary.’

    “And they’re both on board. I said, ‘Whenever these guys come back to help, we’re going to welcome them with open arms. But until that point, let’s stay focused on doing what needs to be done.”

    On Monday, the Sixers (8-5) needed Maxey to take over while playing the entire second half.

    That’s when he scored 27 of his game-high 39 points. It was the fifth time this season that the sixth-year guard scored at least 35 points. He also finished with three rebounds, six assists, one steal, and four turnovers while logging a game-high 40 minutes, 57 seconds.

    Maxey scored 13 points in the third quarter before tallying 14 in the final quarter. But he must do a better job handling the ball in clutch situations. All four of his turnovers came after the intermission.

    Sixers mailbag: Paul George and Joel Embiid’s trade value, need for backup point guard, and more

    There’s no denying that he’s having a special season, though.

    Maxey’s 39 points were the most by an NBA player on Monday night.

    He ranks second in the league in scoring at 32.5 points per game, fourth in made three-pointers (50), and first in minutes (40.4).

    What is Nurse looking at in the big picture with the kind of season Maxey is putting together?

    “I don’t know if I think about that at this particular time,” Nurse said. “I think that you know what I talked about before … that was pretty evident tonight. You’ve got to go, and the minutes are going to be 40. And you are going to have to carry a bunch of the load. And you are going to have to figure it out.”

    Sixers forward Paul George (center) scored nine points in his season debut.

    PG’s debut

    George hadn’t played in a game since March 4. Yet he’s been a full participant at practice since Oct. 19. As a result, it was hard to predict how the 35-year-old would perform against the Clippers (4-10).

    He moved well. He got his shots. He bulked up. And, as expected, he was rusty.

    George finished with nine points on 2-for-9 shooting along with seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 21:06 of playing time. He also made 4 of 7 free throws.

    “It felt great to finally play basketball again,” he said. “It’s been like eight months since I played. So it was a long journey, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of hiccups. But it felt good to finally get out there. I felt good. Just rusty, but I felt good.”

    Sixers need to be ‘mentally tougher’ against physical play while improving third quarters

    He played in only 41 games last season — his first as a Sixer — while hampered by various injuries. George was ruled out for the remainder of that season on March 17, the day he received injections in the left adductor muscle in his groin and left knee.

    He was expected to return in time for training camp. However, the nine-time All-Star had arthroscopic left knee surgery in July, which caused him to miss additional time.

    On Monday, George scored a three-pointer on his first shot attempt 34 seconds into the game. On the next possession, the 6-foot-8, 220-pounder was fouled while attempting a three. He made two of three foul shots to give the Sixers a 5-0 advantage.

    Paul George played 21 minutes in his season debut for the Sixers.

    George missed his subsequent five attempts before turning the ball over and later scoring on a three-foot driving floater.

    He missed three shot attempts after intermission. But George stepped up his game in other areas in the second half with three rebounds and a block.

    Sixers mailbag: Paul George and Joel Embiid’s trade value, need for backup point guard, and more

    Defensively, he looked comfortable and appeared to have lateral quickness.

    “Yeah, it was definitely a trusting — it was definitely a trust factor,“ George said. ”When I first went out there to see what all I could do, and right away, ‘I’m ready for this.’ You know, ‘I can move, I can react, I can play physical, I can beat the guy to a spot. I can rebound.’ So that was, I think, a huge checklist for me personally, that I was able to slide my feet, stay in front of guys, and just fly around. Be reactive.”

    It’s too early to know if he can be the dominant wing of the past. However, his basketball IQ, defense, rebounding, and leadership could help the Sixers once he gets in basketball shape.

    Drummond’s play

    Drummond is the Sixers’ lone healthy center.

    Embiid missed his fourth consecutive game on Monday. It will be the third game he has missed due to right knee injury management. The 2023 MVP also sat out the Nov. 8 home loss to the Detroit Pistons to rest his surgically repaired left knee.

    Sixers center Andre Drummond had 14 points and 18 rebounds against the Clippers.

    And reserve center Adem Bona missed the first of at least three games with a sprained right ankle.

    The 6-11, 279-pound Drummond held his own against Clippers center Ivica Zubac with 14 points and a game-high 18 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double and fifth of the season.

    Zubac, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds, was outplayed by Drummond in the fourth quarter. That’s when the Sixer tallied seven points and five rebounds.

    Drummond even made a pair of clutch foul shots to give the Sixers a 110-106 cushion with 1:08 remaining. Then he grabbed his 18th rebound on the ensuing possession.

    Controversial ending

    The Sixers will tell you a win is a win. And they probably couldn’t care less if people speak negatively about the controversial ones.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey and Trendon Watford celebrate their 110-108 victory over the Clippers on Monday.

    And that’s what they escaped with against the Clippers.

    With the Clippers down two points, video footage showed James Harden being fouled on a three-point attempt by Quentin Grimes with 6.3 seconds remaining. Crew chief Curtis Blair was asked after the game why the foul wasn’t called on the play.

    “During live play, it was deemed that Grimes legally contested Harden’s three-point shot,” Blair said.

    Based on the wording “during live play,” one has to believe there’s a great chance we’ll see a different answer Tuesday on the L2M report.

    But the Sixers still celebrated this victory. Maxey and Trendon Watford even sprinted down the court after time expired on the final possession.

  • Sixers takeaways: Exciting backcourt, Quentin Grimes’ thriving role, and more from win over the Magic

    Sixers takeaways: Exciting backcourt, Quentin Grimes’ thriving role, and more from win over the Magic

    The 76ers are both fortunate and exciting.

    Adem Bona is a defensive force when he’s not in foul trouble. And the Sixers need to keep Quentin Grimes as the sixth or seventh man.

    Those three things stood out Monday night in the Sixers’ 136-124 victory over the Orlando Magic at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Tyrese Maxey’s 43 points leads Sixers past Magic, 136-124, for first 3-0 start since 2019

    Excitement

    Fortunate and exciting are the best ways to describe the Sixers. They know it. So do their first three opponents.

    Yet that shouldn’t take away from the unexpected excitement surrounding the team.

    After beating the Magic on Monday night, the Sixers are 3-0. It’s their best start since opening 5-0 during the 2019-20 season.

    The Sixers are fortunate because they’ve had a favorable schedule to start the season, facing the Magic (1-3), Charlotte Hornets (2-1), and Boston Celtics (1-3). And they’ll travel to the 1-2 Washington Wizards on Tuesday to complete their first back-to-back of the season.

    Yet, the undermanned squad is fun to watch thanks to having one of the league’s best young backcourts in Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe.

    According to ESPN, the duo’s combined 186 points are the most by any team’s starting backcourt through the first three games of a season since starters were first tracked during the 1970-71 season.

    “That’s a long time ago,” Maxey said with a chuckle when asked his thoughts. “Nineteen-seventy that was like … a long time ago. All I have to say is that was a long time ago.

    “But I mean, listen, we are just trying to go out there and be aggressive to help us win. As long as we are doing that, then we are doing a good job. VJ is doing great.”

    Several gritty, athletic, defensive-minded role players surround the duo.

    As a result, this team has shown more heart than all of last season when they finished with a disheartening 24-58 record. And things should only get better once the team gets healthy.

    Joel Embiid missed Monday’s game due to left knee injury management. Dominick Barlow was also sidelined while having a procedure for a left elbow laceration. Paul George (left knee surgery recovery), Jared McCain (right thumb surgery recovery), and Trendon Watford (left hamstring injury management) have yet to play this season.

    Sixers guard Eric Gordon scored eight points off the bench on Monday night.

    On Monday, Jabari Walker (four points, five rebounds, one block) got his first start of the season. Eric Gordon (eight points, 2-for-3 on three-pointers) and Hunter Sallis made their season debuts.

    “Last year, I think lineups changed a lot. Guys in and out,” Kelly Oubre Jr. said of the team’s ability to bring it together so quickly. “But this year, I think Tyrese has been hitting it on the head. It’s like no matter who’s out there, we have this constant that we won’t waiver from. That goes into our culture and the things that we do on a daily basis.

    “It’s still early. But at the end of the day, man, if we can have the next man step up, or anybody come in there and be an impact to winning, I think that we’ll be better off than we were last year.”

    But like they’ve done in their first two games, the Sixers came up with big fourth-quarter plays to pull out the victory.

    On this night, Maxey scored 13 of his season-high 43 points in the final quarter to give the Sixers breathing room. He also finished with a game-high eight assists and four rebounds. The 2023 All-Star is averaging 37 points.

    He received MVP chants during the game.

    ”I’m just trying to close games out,” said Maxey, who is in his sixth season. “Joel has been on me recently about that, probably since my fourth year, about how I can help close games out and have the ball in my hand and make decisions whether I’m shooting or whether I’m passing.”

    Meanwhile, Edgecombe finished with 26 points, seven assists, four rebounds, one block, and a steal. He’s averaging 25 points. And the Sixers’ backcourt is a problem for teams to defend.

    Jared McCain puts on a shooting display, Joel Embiid sits out against the Magic, and more

    The team will be tough to beat if Oubre can duplicate Monday’s performance, finishing with 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting, along with 10 rebounds and two blocks.

    The Magic didn’t help their case by taking too many poor shots and only playing hard in spurts. That’s where the Sixers were fortunate in this game.

    But this team is exciting and has a refuse-to-lose attitude that could benefit them once the schedule toughens.

    Sixers center Adem Bona shown blocking one of his three total blocked shots on Monday night against the Magic.

    Bona’s impact, excessive fouling

    Bona got the start at center for Embiid. The 6-foot-8, 235-pounder was flying around on the defensive end. That enabled him to sandwich two highlight blocks around one by Oubre on consecutive defensive possessions.

    However, as Bona tends to do, he got caught for reaching and jumping into players he’s defending. Bona picked up his first foul with 8 minutes, 18 seconds left in the first quarter. Then the second-year player picked up his second foul 30 seconds later and was immediately subbed out by Andre Drummond.

    VJ Edgecombe enjoyed every bit of his historic NBA debut. But he hopes it becomes a footnote to a long career.

    “Like we all know that, like even from last year, try to avoid the early fouls to avoid going to the bench, you know?” Bona said. “Sometimes it happens. Sometimes, I just got to let some stuff go. It’s just not part of my mentality. My mentality is like no one scores on me, no one scores on the team while I’m on the floor.

    “Sometimes I got to know when to switch it on, switch it off. … For me, I think that’s like the next step to know when to attack everybody and when to slow down.”

    Bona returned to the game early in the second quarter.

    The former UCLA standout was back to his aggressive self in the third quarter. He scored on two acrobatic alley-oop dunks, grabbed three rebounds, and blocked Desmond Bane’s layup before being subbed out with 5:50 left in the third.

    “That’s huge, not just for me, but the whole team,” Bona said of highlight plays. “Not just for the whole team, but for the fans. It brings excitement. It brings juice.

    “When you get the fans going, the fans are behind you and bring excitement to the team. We want to play harder. We want to play faster. So that’s really big, and that’s what I do, just bring that for the team and the fans.”

    He finished with seven points and four rebounds to go with his three blocks.

    Bona is a considerable asset for the Sixers. He brings unmatched energy, excitement, and rim protection. He needs to cut down on committing early fouls.

    Quentin Grimes continues to thrive as a scoring threat off the bench for the Sixers.

    Grimes is thriving in a reserve role

    After being acquired in a trade from the Dallas Mavericks in February, Grimes proved that he’s capable of starting for the Sixers.

    The 6-5, 207-pounder with elite three-point shooting and solid defense would be a great compliment to Maxey in the backcourt. He would also stretch the floor to create space for Embiid and George.

    But coming off the bench has enabled him to play more as a playmaker and less as a stander in the corner, waiting for catch-and-shoot opportunities.

    Joel Embiid likes what he sees in Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe

    It’s also better for him and the team in that role. There’s less competition if he’s playing for the second unit. And his impact has been felt in each of the last two games.

    Grimes finished with 14 points on Monday while making 3-of-4 three-pointers, to go with five rebounds and three assists before fouling out. He made an impact shortly after checking into the game with 6:53 left in the first quarter.

    He also buried three foul shots to give the Sixers an 118-113 lead with 4:52 remaining.

    This comes after Grimes finished with 24 points in Saturday’s 125-121 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. In that win, Grimes gave the Sixers the lead for good on a three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining.

    “I know I’m going to get starters minutes and everything [despite coming off the bench],” Grimes said. “I’m going to do my thing. I just get the opportunity to go out there and play my game … go out there and help the team win.

    “We got a lot of good guys on the team, a lot of versatility. So it’s all going to play itself out. It’s going to work out for sure.”

  • As Joel Embiid adapts to his new reality, can he help the Sixers be competitive?

    As Joel Embiid adapts to his new reality, can he help the Sixers be competitive?

    The most significant uncertainty surrounding the 76ers is how Joel Embiid continues to adapt.

    He could be a major X factor in the Sixers’ hopes for a successful season. Embiid was far from his usual dominant self in Wednesday’s season opener against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. But he bounced back in a big way in Saturday’s 125-121 home-opening victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Sixers takeaways: A will to win, Joel Embiid’s bounce-back game, poor defense, and more

    Two distinctly different regular-season results aren’t a large enough sample size to determine how good Embiid will be this season.

    In the 117-116 victory over the Celtics, he had the look of someone who had lost his quickness and explosion. But on Saturday, he frustrated Ryan Kalkbrenner and just about everyone else who guarded him.

    He finished with 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including making 3 of 6 three-pointers, to go with two rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 20 minutes, 7 seconds. He scored five of the Sixers’ first seven points and nine of their first 18.

    Embiid played only five minutes after intermission because he had reached his minutes limit.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid returned to the team bench late in the fourth quarter against Charlotte after an evaluation following his minutes restriction.

    He said he was trying to work his way back in his first regular-season game since February on Wednesday and figure out how to maneuver the minute restriction.

    “The first game, it was more like getting in the game slowly,” he said.

    But he was more aggressive while being on the court for longer stretches against the Hornets (1-1).

    “Longer stints, you’ll actually be able to let the game come to you,” he said. “But then again, longer stints also mean you might be done by halftime.

    “But I can’t sit for too long… being in shape is one thing, but being in basketball shape is another thing. You need to play, and you need to play a lot.”

    The question is, can Embiid repeat Sunday’s performance against elite competition? If not, can the 2023 MVP and seven-time All-Star adapt his game like many great players have late in their careers?

    VJ Edgecombe enjoyed every bit of his historic NBA debut. But he hopes it becomes a footnote to a long career.

    Adapt to survive

    Hall of Famers like Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd, and David Robinson adapted the way they played their game after losing athleticism and/or a skill set.

    On the other hand, Sixers Hall of Famer Allen Iverson never really adapted after losing his quickness, which contributed to his decline.

    Embiid was a shell of his former self in Wednesday’s 117-116 victory over the Celtics. He finished with four points and six rebounds in a little over 20 minutes. Embiid missed his first four shots en route to shooting just 1-for-9.

    The 31-year-old also didn’t show a lot of lateral movement on defense and rarely jumped to contest shots or go after rebounds.

    Despite that, Embiid’s teammates praised him for just being on the court with them. He had arthroscopic surgery in his left knee on April 11, marking his second left knee surgery in 14 months and third in nine seasons. He played in only 58 games over the last two seasons.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid struggled through 1-for-9 shooting against the Boston Celtics.

    “Having Joel on the court is extremely important for us,” said guard Tyrese Maxey. “We appreciate him. He has done a lot for this organization … his family, and everything. So shoutout for him, man. He played good tonight, and he’ll always play better. We know that.”

    But not everyone gave Embiid credit for just being out there.

    The Sixers center spent most of his time on the perimeter instead of down low, where his size advantage would have been a matchup problem.

    Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett wasn’t impressed with that tactic and felt Embiid should have been able to do more.

    “We just had a summer,“ Garnett said on the Ticket and the Truth podcast with Paul Pierce. “What’d you do in the summer, bro? What’d you do in the summer? Bro had enough time to recover and just develop. Come on, bro.

    “Real talk. If you get [from] April to September, that should be enough time. … He’s supposed to be ready for [the] season.”

    We’ll find out in time whether Embiid’s lackluster season-opening performance is the result of a perceived lack of offseason preparation, of being cautious with banging down, or of him not being able to do it with the same impact as past seasons.

    But his playing mostly from the elbow isn’t surprising. Embiid did that in the team’s intrasquad scrimmage and in the exhibition game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    And to his credit, Embiid, a two-time league scoring champion, has embraced his new reality and a potentially new role for the Sixers. He sounds content to serve as a supporting actor who uplifts his teammates.

    But he was the first one off the bench to celebrate his teammate’s accomplishment. And with him on the bench, Embiid watched the Sixers battle back from a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit to win both of this season’s games.

    Winning a game without Embiid on the floor was a major problem last season.

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

    “It’s been 12 years,” Embiid said, correcting a reporter. “I’d take it. Keep it going. Obviously, the most important games are the best teams and the playoffs. That’s the effort we are going to have when I’m not on the floor, Amen. It’s been a long time.”

    In addition to being a great teammate, Embiid is focused on being a versatile player until he returns to form.

    “There’s still so much more I can contribute to other than scoring,” Embiid said. “So just using myself as a decoy to allow all these guys to do whatever they have to do to win.”

    But what if Embiid doesn’t return to his old form? How could he make an impact while Maxey and VJ Edgecombe provide the scoring?

    Embiid can do that by being a defensive anchor, playing a more power-oriented game, and becoming a great three-point shooter. That shouldn’t be a problem for Embiid, who has always had a good touch with the elbow jumper and shot a career-best 38.8% on three-pointers two seasons ago.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid had four points and was a minus-16 in Wednesday’s season-opener against the Boston Celtics.

    He may not be able to beat guys off the dribble with his quickness like he used to. But with his knowledge of the game, he may be able to help the team.

    It’s a two-way street. It’s not only how he adapts his game, but also how his teammates and coaches adapt to him. It’s still too soon to gauge his level of play. Even though he made more shots on Saturday, he still settled for a lot of jumpers.

    We’ll have to wait a couple of games to see how he does. And if nothing gets better, pay close attention to his ability to alter his game.

  • Sixers takeaways: A will to win, Joel Embiid’s bounce-back game, poor defense, and more

    Sixers takeaways: A will to win, Joel Embiid’s bounce-back game, poor defense, and more

    The 76ers might have a better will to win than we thought.

    Joel Embiid showed he can still dominate when he plays aggressively. The Sixers still need to do a better job of keeping teams out of the paint.

    And former Villanova coach Kyle Neptune has found a great landing spot with the Charlotte Hornets, where he’s a welcome addition.

    Those four things stood out Saturday night in the Sixers’ 125-121 home-opening victory over the Hornets at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Will to win

    Embiid didn’t play the final 19 minutes, 2 seconds of the game because he is on a minutes restriction. Dominick Barlow missed the second half with a right elbow laceration. And the Sixers had their share of defensive woes.

    But like in Wednesday’s season opener, they battled back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to win the game.

    This time they trailed by 112-102 with 5:42 remaining.

    The Sixers (2-0) took the lead for good when Quentin Grimes’ three-pointer gave them a 122-119 lead with 15 seconds remaining.

    As Joel Embiid adapts to his new reality, can he help the Sixers be competitive?

    “I was kind of reminding them, it was 10 or 11 [down], I was kind of reminding them, this is right where we were the other night. We got it,” coach Nick Nurse said of battling back from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit Wednesday to beat the Boston Celtics, 117-116. “We are going to have to make a few stops, and some of you guys are going to have to get up the floor and start pulling the trigger on some plays on offense.”

    Sixers guard Quentin Grimes reacts with VJ Edgecombe on Saturday after making a three-point basket with 15 seconds left in the game.

    And that’s what happened.

    These two victories are great confidence builders for a team with a young corps. The Sixers know they’re capable of pulling out victories regardless of the circumstances.

    “I think everybody is playing hard,” Embiid said of the Sixers’ resilience. “This year, we wanted to make sure that when everybody shows up, we’ve got a job to do. We play hard, win or lose.

    “Even tonight, if we would have lost, I still would have been proud of the guys.”

    Embiid’s aggressiveness

    It didn’t take long for the 2023 NBA MVP and seven-time All-Star to erase memories of Wednesday’s season-opening performance against the Celtics. On that night, Embiid scored four points on 1-for-9 shooting. Against the Hornets, Embiid finished with 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting, along with two rebounds, four assists, and two steals. He played just 20:07.

    The elevated play had a lot to do with Embiid being more aggressive than in the season opener.

    The Sixers made a conscious effort to get him involved early on. After VJ Edgecombe missed a jumper, Dominick Barlow grabbed the offensive rebound and passed the ball to Tyrese Maxey. Maxey, in turn, dished the ball to Embiid, who buried a three-pointer 45 seconds into the game.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid gets fouled by Charlotte guard Collin Sexton (right) with forward Moussa Diabate looking on during the third quarter.

    “I came in the first game, obviously, the first game in a couple of months,” Embiid said of Wednesday. “I know I played in the preseason, but it’s not the same. It’s not even close. [In the first game], I tried to work my way back and try to figure it out. First game in months, obviously. It’s easier when you make shots like I did tonight. It looks better, but I think it was just the same.

    “And the first game, it was slowly trying to figure it out. Tonight, it was more like, ‘Well, I only got 20 minutes.’”

    With that, he decided to make the most of those minutes.

    VJ Edgecombe enjoyed every bit of his historic NBA debut. But he hopes it becomes a footnote to a long career.

    The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder had nine points as the Sixers took an 18-9 lead with 7:52 left in the first quarter. Ryan Kalkbrenner, a rookie center out of Creighton, picked up two quick fouls and had to head to the bench while guarding Embiid.

    Embiid did a better job of balancing looking for his shot and finding teammates.

    If he can continue to play this way, and the Sixers can create more scoring opportunities for Maxey and Edgecombe, then this team has a potent offense early on.

    Sixers must stop the ball

    The Sixers struggled to stop the Hornets’ dribble penetration. Charlotte routinely drove the lane with ease.

    Realizing the Sixers couldn’t stop it, the Hornets prioritized the dribble drive on almost every possession for long stretches.

    Charlotte led, 48-40, in points in the paint and had a 16-15 advantage in second-chance points. However, the Hornets’ margin appeared wider because it was so easy for them to get into the paint, as Sixers guards struggled with on-ball defense.

    They’re going to have to correct this if they expect to be competitive. This is a copycat league, and teams watching this game film will attack the rim until the Sixers stop them.

    “It really has become a lot of point-of-attack offense,” Nurse said. “It’s almost the same as the other night. It’s almost like they bring it across, and the guy who’s bringing it across is putting their head down and trying to just get by or force a foul or force a rotation.

    “So a couple of things, we’ve got to close. We got to square up and play physical. We also have to be in our gaps a little better, so the driving lanes don’t look so inviting.”

    They played a little better in the fourth quarter.

    Kyle Neptune, the former Villanova men’s head basketball coach and now Charlotte Hornets assistant, looks on during a break on Saturday.

    Great landing spot

    Some might say that Kyle Neptune had the misfortune of replacing Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright at Villanova. He coached the Wildcats to a 54-47 record over three seasons, with zero NCAA Tournament appearances, before being fired on March 15.

    But Neptune has been a welcome addition to the Hornets after being hired on Aug. 29.

    “I’ve actually admired Kyle’s coaching career ever since he was at ’Nova,” said Hornets coach Charles Lee, who played at Bucknell. “I knew him back in the day when he played at Lehigh. So there was a ton of Bucknell-Lehigh rivalry matchups and stuff like that. And so it started there, but then I’ve always kind of followed his career.”

    Quentin Grimes’ clutch three lifts 76ers to victory over Charlotte in home opener

    Even though Neptune didn’t get the results Villanova wanted, Lee loved everything Neptune did during his time with the Wildcats. He said his new assistant recruited “really good players,” some of whom Lee got the opportunity to coach in the NBA.

    “The first person that they would usually bring up is Kyle Neptune,” he said.

    Lee also likes how Neptune went 16-16 in his lone season as Fordham’s coach. That came one season after the Rams went 2-12.

    “He’s been a great value add to our group,” Lee said. “He fits the type of person we want in our organization. He’s a culture enhancer. Then, on top of it, he knows how to teach the game. He’s a great motivator, and works really well and builds really good relationships with players.”

  • VJ Edgecombe enjoyed every bit of his historic NBA debut. But he hopes it becomes a footnote to a long career.

    VJ Edgecombe enjoyed every bit of his historic NBA debut. But he hopes it becomes a footnote to a long career.

    BOSTON — VJ Edgecombe was unflappable 10 hours before making his NBA debut.

    There were no jitters, butterflies, or even a restless night before he faced the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Garden.

    “I slept great,” Edgecombe said Wednesday morning. “I ain’t going to lie. Yeah, I got more than eight hours of sleep. I ain’t antsy or nothing. I’m just looking at it as a regular game.

    “Obviously, the environment won’t be the same. But it’s still basketball, at the end of the day.”

    It turns out that the 76ers rookie’s quiet confidence was warranted.

    Sixers takeaways: VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey dominate, Joel Embiid struggles and more

    The 6-foot-4 combo guard poured in 34 points to help lead the Sixers (1-0) to a 117-116 season-opening victory over their archrivals. The performance placed him in the same rarified air as Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain and future Hall of Famer LeBron James.

    It was the third-highest scoring debut in NBA history behind Chamberlain’s 43 points on Oct. 24, 1959, and Frank Selvy’s 35 on Nov. 30, 1954. Edgecombe’s 14 first-quarter points set a record for the most in the opening period of an NBA debut, surpassing James’ 12 points on Oct. 29, 2003.

    “From a team standpoint, we got the win, which matters the most,” a smiling Edgecombe said of his performance. “Like I said, it’s going to come. It’s basketball at the end of the day, like I’ve been saying. Just trying not to overthink it.

    “I’ve been putting in the reps, been putting in the work. My teammates trust me. I trust my teammates. I was blessed to be in this position on this big stage. Blessed to perform.”

    Yeah, it’s great to have a high-scoring night that enabled the Sixers to start a season 1-0 for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign. But how does he process being mentioned in the same breath as Chamberlain and James, two of the greatest to play the game?

    “It’s amazing,” Edgecombe said, smiling again. “I must say, it’s amazing. But, I mean, hopefully I have a long career ahead of me. That’s what matters most. Longevity. Knowing ’Bron, who’s been here 20-plus years, I’m hoping I can do that one day. But just putting in work … it’s great having my name mentioned with LeBron’s name, but credit to ’Bron and credit to my teammates for passing me the ball.”

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

    The 20-year-old began to put his imprint on the game midway through the first quarter, scoring 10 consecutive points.

    His first basket from the floor came on a cutting dunk with 6 minutes, 22 seconds left in the quarter. Then he drained a 25-foot three-pointer before scoring on a driving layup. He capped the run with another 25-foot three-pointer to knot the score at 20 with 4:09 remaining in the quarter.

    Then, after Jabari Walker’s putback layup, Edgecombe drained his third three-pointer to knot the score, 25-25, at the 1:14 mark. He scored 13 of the Sixers’ final 16 points in the opening quarter.

    “I was just having fun, to be honest,” Edgecombe said of the first-quarter stretch. “The ball was moving. I was getting good looks, capitalizing on them. That was the main thing, just capitalizing on the looks we had. And I was able to knock down some shots, get to the rim, finish, and my teammates were creating for me.

    “That’s why I got those wide-open catch-and-shoot [three-point] shots because my teammates were creating for me.”

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe (77) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4).

    After Edgecombe’s stellar debut, several of his teammates recalled their first NBA games.

    “My debut, I played 10 minutes,” said Dominick Barlow of his debut, a 119-97 loss by his San Antonio Spurs to the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 19, 2022. “I was tired as hell. I was like 1-for-3 [shooting]. I didn’t do nothing. He is just so composed, so calm. You don’t see that. That was special. I’ve been around two No. 1 picks [Victor Wembanyama in 2023 with the Spurs and Zaccharie Risacher in 2024 with the Atlanta Hawks], and to see how he carries himself and how good he was in clutch situations and how aggressive he was with All-Star-level guards playing against him [in Jaylen Brown], it’s special.”

    Notable numbers and reactions to VJ Edgecombe’s stellar NBA debut

    Tyrese Maxey, who scored a game-high 40 points on Wednesday, also rolled down memory lane.

    The All-Star in 2023-24 finished with six points in 10:51 off the bench in a 113-107 win over the Washington Wizards on Dec. 23, 2020.

    “I remember from my debut. I was confident,” Maxey said. “I remember the first thing I did was step out of bounds, and [coach] Doc [Rivers] said, ‘If you do that again, you are coming out.’

    “But this guy, I’m proud of him. He played well.”

    Maxey raved about Edgecombe’s composure and the shots he took without batting an eye. Not known as a three-point shooter, Edgecombe was left open on catch-and-shoot attempts by the Celtics (0-1). He responded by burying 5 of 13 three-pointers.

    “Seventy-seven definitely got scared at the free-throw line, though,” Maxey said jokingly of Edgecombe missing a pair of foul shots with 8.5 seconds remaining.

    The Sixers’ Vj Edgecombe helped the Sixers secure a 117-116 win to kick off their season.

    But Maxey’s good-natured ribbing ended there, as he switched back to explaining how proud he was of his backcourt mate.

    “He was comfortable,” Maxey said of Edgecombe hoisting up the double-digit three-point attempts. “… They tried to close out to him a couple of times, and he shot it. We know what he does when he gets downhill and what he does on defense. But that’s what I was most proud of, man. He shot those threes and shot them with confidence and made them, too.”

    Kelly Oubre Jr. wasn’t shocked by Edgecombe’s historic night. When he asked the rookie how he felt before the game, “He was like, ‘Chillin’ bro,’” Oubre said.

    “Right then, I’m like, ‘All right, you’re not nervous,’” Oubre said. “No jitters for a very even-keeled individual. And he puts the work in. So that was just a testament to the work he puts in.”

  • Tyrese Maxey scores 40 points as Sixers rally to beat Boston Celtics, 117-116

    Tyrese Maxey scores 40 points as Sixers rally to beat Boston Celtics, 117-116

    BOSTON — Tyrese Maxey scored 40 points and VJ Edgecombe added 34 in his NBA debut to help the 76ers rally to beat the Boston Celtics 117-116 in their season-opener Wednesday night.

    Edgecombe scored the most points in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain had 43 on Oct. 24, 1959.

    The Sixers led by four with 22 seconds left, but it was down to one when Edgecombe missed a pair of foul shots with 9.1 seconds to play. Payton Pritchard missed two potential game-winning shots.

    Sixers takeaways: VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey dominate, Joel Embiid struggles and more

    Joel Embiid played for the first time since February, scoring four points on 1-of-9 shooting. The 2023 NBA MVP and a two-time league scoring champion had six rebounds in 20 minutes in his return being limited to 19 games during the 2024-25 season because of a sprained left foot, a sinus fracture, and arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe (left) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown during the second quarter of Wednesday’s game.

    Jaylen Brown returned from a hamstring injury in the preseason finale to score 25 points. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP is expected to carry a heavier load this year with fellow All-Star Jayson Tatum, who watched the game from the bench in street clothes, recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

    Derrick White scored 13 points of his 25 points in the third quarter, when the Celtics scored 16 straight points to turn a five-point deficit into an 11-point lead. The Celtics led 94-84 with nine minutes remaining before the Sixers scored eight straight points to make it close.

    Up next

    The Sixers will host the Charlotte Hornets for their home opener on Saturday (7:30 p.m., NBCSP). The Celtics will travel to New York to face the Knicks on Friday night.

  • Sixers takeaways: VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey dominate, Joel Embiid struggles and more

    Sixers takeaways: VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey dominate, Joel Embiid struggles and more

    BOSTON — The 76ers’ backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe has the potential to be a special tandem for seasons to come.

    Joel Embiid still has a ways to go to get back to his dominant self.

    And, for the time being, the Sixers will rely heavily on two-way power forwards Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker.

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

    Those three things stood out in the Sixers’ 117-116 season-opening victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday at TD Garden.

    Dominant duo

    Maxey and Edgecombe were fun to watch.

    Maxey had 40 points on 13-for-25 shooting from the field and 7-for-9 from the three-point line to go with six assists. Edgecombe, the third pick in June’s draft, added 34 points on 13-for-26 shooting to go with six rebounds. He is the first Sixers rookie to have at least 30 points in his debut since Hall of Famer Allen Iverson did so on Nov. 1, 1996.

    It was also the third-highest scoring debut in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 43 points on Oct. 24, 1959, and Frank Selvy’s 35 points on Nov. 30, 1954.

    Sixers fans have to love the duo’s pace. The two guards put a lot of pressure on the Celtics. They also took over the game during stretches.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey (left) scored 40 points against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

    Edgecombe scored 10 straight and 13 of the Sixers’ final 16 points in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Maxey took over where Edgecombe left off, scoring 19 second-quarter points on 7-for-10 shooting.

    The Sixers will have one of the league’s most explosive backcourts if the duo can keep this up. Their athleticism, speed, and ability to take over are unmatched on many teams.

    “I feel like we both [play] really well in the open court,” Edgecombe said. “Playing fast is something that we want to do. Ain’t [many who] can keep up. Joel was out there here and there. But when Joel is fully back, it’s going to be a different game. It’s going to be better if you ask me, because he requires so much attention.

    “You go one-on-one all night, that’s not night and day for whoever’s guarding him. And one on one for Tyrese, it’s night and day for whoever’s guarding him too.”

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

    Rough start for Embiid

    In Friday’s preseason finale, Embiid flirted with a triple-double in a little over 18 minutes of action. However, that performance came against a Minnesota Timberwolves team composed mainly of NBA G-League talent.

    So his first actual test came in Wednesday’s contest against the Celtics.

    Embiid failed to have the same impact against Boston centers Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman. He finished with four points and six rebounds in 20 minutes. The performance paled in comparison to his night against Minnesota, when he scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out eight assists, and blocked three shots.

    Embiid missed his first four shots en route to shooting 1-for-9 on Wednesday.

    “I’m super happy that he was out there,” coach Nick Nurse said. “I think that he played good. I know that’s going to sound silly, 1-for-9. He just didn’t shoot it very good.

    “I thought he transferred the ball good. I thought he made some good decisions. I thought he took good shots. I thought he protected the rim. So, again, he hasn’t done much. He’s kind of played in a scrimmage and a preseason game. I think there’s some rust there, but I thought he moving good and made good decisions.”

    Sixers center Joel Embiid (center) is still working his way back into form after a long layoff because of knee injuries.

    While Nurse raved about Embiid, the 7-foot-2, 280-pounder didn’t show a lot of lateral movement on defense. He also rarely jumped to contest shots or go after rebounds.

    Embiid is resorting to using his massive frame to overpower opponents in the post. The 2023 MVP is also clogging everything up on offense. He has to either roll hard or launch three pointers from the top of the key. When he doesn’t, the offense stalls and the Sixers came away with bad possessions.

    They actually played better without Embiid in the fourth quarter. He sat out the final 9 minutes, 17 seconds due to a minute restriction.

    We’ll find out shortly whether this is the player he’s become or if he’s getting back into the groove after being sidelined since February.

    “I’m good,” Embiid said. “You know, it’s going to take a while, you know, obviously, being on a minutes restriction, playing shorter stints, it’s harder to kind of get into a rhythm. But I got to figure it out. That’s the way they got it set up.

    “It’s annoying, but if I want to play, I don’t really have a choice. But I want to be out there as much as possible.”

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

    Embiid said there’s a lot he can do until returning to his old form. He wants to use his “gravity” to get teammates open.

    “There’s still so much more I can contribute to other than scoring,” Embiid said. “So just using myself as a decoy to allow all these guys to do whatever they have to do to win.”

    The two-way impact

    With multiple seasons of NBA experience, Barlow and Walker weren’t your typical two-way players when they signed deals in July. At the time, the thought was that one of them — if not both — would garner a standard contract several months into the season.

    What we didn’t know was that the Sixers would have to rely heavily on the duo, with Paul George (left knee) and Trendon Watford (left hamstring) both sidelined.

    Sixers forward Dominick Barlow (left) had 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds on Wednesday.

    The big question was whether Barlow could duplicate the energy he displayed in the preseason. Based on Wednesday’s game, the answer appears to be yes.

    Barlow attacked the glass, ran the floor, and was a solid role player. He had three points, three rebounds, and an assist before being subbed out for Walker with 3:14 left in the first quarter. Walker also provided solid energy while setting picks and hustling for loose balls and rebounds.

    The Sixers are searching for a new identity, one without Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey dominating the ball

    Barlow finished with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds while Walker had six points and four boards.

    They are both making the most of their opportunities and will make the Sixers a deeper team once George and Watford return.

    “This is my fourth year in the NBA,” Barlow said. “You can say I’m a two-way or whatever the case may be. But I know how to play basketball. I know what this team needs me to do. It’s just my job to play with energy and pick us up when we are down, or we are on those runs, get into actions and crash [the boards] and guard.”

  • 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.