It's almost time for the Philadelphia 76ers to put their new-look squad to the test. But first, preseason hoops.
It's not exactly the same, but at least the Sixers will get a first look at some of their new additions on Monday night with some preseason action against the New York Knicks.
The team's plan for playing core players is currently unclear, but the preseason is where the depth guys have to shine. In a way, what they put on tape will be more important than the LeBrons and the Maxeys of the team.
3 players to watch during the Sixers' preseason opener against NYK
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G
A lot has been made about Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's training camp with the 76ers so far. There's been a lot of praise for the veteran role player, who has plenty of championship experience that he's bringing to the table.
We won't get an exact look at what KCP's role will be, since the 76ers will miss a handful of players, who are key to what they will run throughout the season, but I've heard enough "washed" takes for Caldwell-Pope to become curious about what he looks like at this stage of his career.
Assuming he's truly been as good as advertised, KCP should be in line to play a very key role for the 76ers, coming off their bench in 2026-2027.
Jabari Walker, F
You can't take too much stock in a team vs. team scrimmage, but Walker put a performance on display that was intriguing enough to want to put a spotlight on him for the upcoming preseason.
Preseason is low stakes for most guys. Not this one. Walker doesn't have a ton of guaranteed money right now. If the Sixers cut him before January 10, only $250,000 of his $2.5 million is guaranteed. I don't know if a strong preseason prevents him from securing his full salary, but it certainly adds plenty of urgency to his upcoming run.
Labaron Philon Jr., G
It's debut day for Labaron Philon. The rookie out of Alabama has had a training camp full of hype from his head coach and peers. What he put on display at the scrimmage just added more hype to the equation.
We don't have to apply too much pressure on Philon this early in the process, but if he looks ready for an instant role--even if it's just a small one--then that's incredible news for the new front office, who made Philon their first pick of the post-Morey era.
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