The Philadelphia 76ers have some of the best young talent in the NBA.
When ranking the best young cores in the NBA, you would be hard-pressed to place the Philadelphia 76ers anywhere but first. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have emerged as elite talents, while Dario Saric, Markelle Fultz and Zhaire Smith all boast promising traits.
Three of those names cracked The Step Back’s 25-under-25, which ranks the best NBA players under the age of 25. Those names were Joel Embiid (2), Ben Simmons (5) and Dario Saric (24). The Sixers joined the Celtics (Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart) as the only other team with three players included.
It’s rare for teams to compete at the highest level with entire cores under 25. The Sixers have Robert Covington and J.J. Redick putting up strong numbers, but Embiid and Simmons are the focal points. Markelle Fultz might join that elite tier next season.
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The Sixers have an opportunity to win the Eastern Conference with one of the youngest groups in basketball. That highlights just how special their primary pieces are, with Embiid working his way into the MVP conversation before his third season.
Dario Saric is an interesting case. His ceiling doesn’t seem too far away, but he’s already a highly productive player. Even without sizable growth, his post scoring, playmaking, shooting and rebounding are all weapons the Sixers will utilize.
His role has been somewhat capped alongside Embiid and Simmons, but Saric remains a versatile offensive talent who — either in the starting lineup or as a sixth man — projects to be part of the Sixers’ core long term.
Depending on how you view Simmons, you could argue that he’s under-ranked. Aside from Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo (1), Nikola Jokic (3) and Karl-Anthony Towns (4) are the three names ahead of him.
Both Jokic and Towns are special offensive talents, but defense remains a major issue for both. Jokic doesn’t have the athleticism to thrive on that end, while Towns’ awareness and effort have been a constant source of concern since entering the league.
Simmons, on the other hand, is quickly becoming an elite two-way presence. He offers versatility that every team covets, standing 6-foot-10 and guarding all five positions when necessary. Alongside Covington and Embiid, he’s an important part of a top-five defense.
That, combined with his ability to control the pace and create for others, gives Simmons a leg up over Jokic and Towns long term. He isn’t a bad rebounder either, with the potential to build on the 8.1 boards per game he averaged last season.
With that said, until we see tangible evidence of an expanded scoring profile, Towns and Jokic are probably better players. They’ve earned higher spots heading into next season.
Embiid only trails Giannis, which is wholly reasonable. For all JoJo provides as a shot-blocker and offensive workhorse, Antetokounmpo’s unique physical gifts and all-around skill set are hard to replicate. His ceiling is firmly atop this list, with Ben Simmons being his only real challenger when it comes to best-case-scenario outcomes.
Nonetheless, Embiid is one of the 10 best players in the NBA and still has room to grow. You’re splitting hairs at that point, with Antetkounmpo only ranked three spots higher in SI.com’s Top 100.
At just 24 years old, Embiid still has untapped potential on the offensive end. Turnovers have plagued him through two seasons, but reading double teams and becoming a more effective ball handler is something Drew Hanlen emphasized this summer.
Add in a more reliable three-point shot, and Embiid becomes the most dominant offensive big in the league, using his unrivaled combination of size and skill to terrorize those who lack his physical aptitude.
If he can stay healthy — which last season, aside from a freak collision with Markelle Fultz’s shoulder, he did — Embiid is firmly in the top-two on this list. That is, until his teammate catches up.
Next season, if things go well, the Sixers might have four players on this list.
You can read the full 25-under-25 here, with in-depth articles on every player involved. You can read Embiid’s piece here, Simmons’ piece here and Saric’s piece here. All three are very much worth your time.