Philadelphia 76ers Showing Glimpse of the Future

The Philadelphia 76ers aren’t going to the playoffs this year, but the team is showing flashes of what it can be in the near future

If you’re a Philadelphia 76ers fan, it’s been a pretty rough couple of years for you. It seems like the Sixers have been heading south ever since the Andrew Bynum debacle.

Since then, changeover has been immense, as fans have had to say goodbye to fan-favorite Jrue Holiday and former Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams.

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In their place, the Sixers have welcomed three big men, taking Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor. Embiid has yet to play a single game and Noel and Okafor playing together is like oil and water.

General manager Sam Hinkie’s process focuses on putting losses over wins and stockpiling draft picks. Because of his viewpoints, the Sixers have been a bottom-feeding team, as well as the butt of most jokes.

The general consensus is that if you lose to the Sixers, you’re not a very good team. Team’s like the Phoenix Suns have been lampooned for losing to Philadelphia. But the truth is more complex, and the truth is that the Sixers are not as far off from being competitive as people may think.

Philadelphia, at the moment, is a team filled with young, energetic players who love the game of basketball and compete until the final whistle. It’s a team that has a little bit of old school, mixed with the new wave of basketball.

Jahlil Okafor is an old-school, back-to-the basket big man, who is terrific down low. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Jerami Grant is a spark plug, constantly filling up social media with highlights of monster jams or intense blocks, which are usually followed with Grant exclaiming, “Give me that s**t!”

The team’s early February efforts against the World Champion Golden State Warriors offers the best glimpse of the future. The team was down big against the defending World Champions, but they refused to give up. Philadelphia would tie the game on an Ish Smith dunk — no, really. He dunked — but would end up having its hearts broken by Harrison Barnes.

Jan 30, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) reacts to a score against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. 108-105. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Later in February, the Sixers took the visiting Los Angeles Clippers to the wire, ultimately losing the game in overtime.

The team is competitive, although it clearly still lacks the proven veteran playmakers to maintain leads down the stretch. But more talent should be coming soon.

So cast your judgement and make your jokes, but the Sixers are nowhere near as laughable as the general population of social media would suggest.

Our own Bret Stuter forecasted the Sixers are the closest Philadelphia sports team to winning a championship, and he’s not far off. The future may seem terribly far away, but this team is close to being consistently competitive.

It’s like watching the trailer to a movie that most people will hate, but you know you’ll love.

Nov 16, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) dunks on a breakaway against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at Wells Fargo Center. The Mavericks won 92-86. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

This is no longer a team that lacks energy or excitment. It’s not uncommon to see the NBA’s top-10 plays feature a monstrous dunk by Jerami or a lob from Ish to Nerlens. Believe it or not, the future looks very, very bright. The fans know it, too. The Wells Fargo Center, despite the team’s struggles, remains relatively full and energetic.

Chairman of basketball operations Jerry Colangelo said he expects the team to be much better in the foreseeable future.

“I’d like us to be very competitive in three years,” Colangelo said, according to Keith Pompey of Philly.com. “That means not just making the playoffs.”

The best part about Colangelo’s claims is the fact that it’s gotten to a point for the Sixers where talking about success no longer seems lightyears away.

This team has talent, and it now has an incredible basketball mind in the front office to boot. The playoffs aren’t a possibility this year, but the Sixers’ future may be brighter than many think.

Things will continue to develop in Philadelphia. Another potential top-three pick looms on the horizon, as does a large sum of cash to spend in free agency. Oh, and that Joel Embiid guy should be ready to play next season, and he’s going to be special.

Don’t be surprised to see the Sixers escape from the NBA’s basement to establish themselves as a real team in the very near future.