The Sixer Sense
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Three Sixers listed in ESPN’s Top 25 under 25

By Tyler King

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 2: Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates with Joel Embiid #21 and Ben Simmons #25 after making a basket and getting fouled in the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 2: Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates with Joel Embiid #21 and Ben Simmons #25 after making a basket and getting fouled in the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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ESPN insiders think three players have the Philadelphia 76ers well set up for the future.

ESPN updated its rankings of the top 25 players in the NBA under the age of 25 earlier this week. The NBA insiders in charge of the list base their rankings off future potential.

When ESPN released its new rankings, the Philadelphia 76ers were one of the most well-represented teams in the entire league.

The Sixers were one of just three teams that had three players listed, but the only one to have two players in the top 10.

Here’s the full list.

Joel Embiid came in at No. 3 on ESPN’s list, right behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis, who turns 25 on March 11 and will not be featured on the next updated version of the list.

In just his second season, Embiid is a leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and was named to his first All-Star Game, for which he was also named a starter.

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This is pretty clear in indicating the three players that will emerge as the league’s future in the next three to four years are Antetokounmpo, Davis and Embiid.

Ben Simmons wasn’t too far behind Embiid on the list, however, checking in at No. 6, where he was tied with the Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis for that spot.

In his rookie season, Simmons has already emerged as one of the league’s best young players and is still the favorite to win Rookie of the Year.

The Australia native is averaging 16.5 points, 7.6 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game while helping the Sixers to an impressive 35-28 record at this point in the season.

Rounding out the list for both the Sixers and ESPN is Dario Saric.

The 23-year-old from Croatia is having an excellent second season and finds himself tied with the Pacers’ Myles Turner for the final spot on the list.

Saric has adjusted well to his new role starting alongside Ben Simmons and was named to the Rising Stars Challenge for the second-straight year.

The biggest improvement from year one to year two for Saric has been his 3-point shooting.

He started off slow, but since the calendar turned to 2018, he has shot over 42 percent from beyond the arc.

The other two teams with three players on the list are the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.

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The three Nuggets listed are Nikola Jokic (5), Gary Harris (11) and Jamal Murray (20). The three Lakers listed are Brandon Ingram (16), Lonzo Ball (18) and Kyle Kuzma (23).