The Philadelphia 76ers haven't reached the NBA Finals since Allen Iverson led the team on an iconic run in 2000-01. That alone is a source of agony. What's proven most painful in recent years, however, is that MVP winner Joel Embiid has yet to reach the Conference Finals through nine active and completed seasons.
Though injuries have yet again been an issue for the 76ers in 2025-26, rival NBA executives seem to believe that the door hasn't yet been shut on an elusive Conference Finals run.
The 76ers have been to the second round in five of the past seven postseasons, which is certainly something to applaud. Winning a playoff series, after all, is no small feat. Unfortunately, they've yet to break through and reach the Conference Finals—and they've lost in a Game 7 during the Conference Semifinals three different times.
According to Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, an anonymous Eastern Conference general manager expressed their belief that there are as many as seven teams that believe they're a healthy rotation away from making a deep playoff run.
"I think there's probably six to seven of us who believe all we need is good health at the right time and we can go on a run," one Eastern Conference general manager, whose team is currently in the playoff picture, told ESPN. "All of the teams in the playoffs are going to be flawed and all of them are going to have upside."
A Western Conference executive weighed in later in the article, directly naming the 76ers as a distant fifth contender in the East, but a talented enough team to never truly be ruled out.
"With the firepower they have, they deserve a mention," the West executive said. "Maxey is awesome and I could see in a series he gets hot and Embiid has it going and it presents a big time mismatch. That's a different element than anyone else has, and while they are a distant fifth, it's why I also can't totally rule them out."
It's admittedly a story that 76ers fans have heard before, but the reality remains that Philadelphia has enough talent to win any playoff series it plays.
NBA execs hint at truth: 76ers have the talent to make deep playoff run
The 76ers have played 26 games without Embiid, 32 sans Paul George, and 22 down Kelly Oubre Jr., who has started 32 of his 37 appearances. They even played their first six games without Jared McCain and then spent the better part of the next month reintegrating him into their rotation before ultimately trading him in February.
Despite the injuries that Philadelphia has endured, it's currently 33-26 and sitting at No. 6 in the Eastern Conference with just 3.0 games separating it from home-court advantage.
Though fans have unfortunately witnessed similar developments in the past, the current verison of the 76ers is undoubtedly different. Tyrese Maxey has made a leap toward superstardom, rookie V.J. Edgecombe has provided immense two-way value, and Quentin Grimes is a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.
Furthermore, Dominick Barlow has emerged as a high-level defender and capable offensive player who has started 41 of his 48 appearances.
76ers have the same injury issues, but a vastly different core
In the event that the 76ers are healthy in the playoffs, their depth could very well help the stars lead the team on the type of run fans have spent the past decade waiting for. They're no longer a top-heavy team relying exclusively on stars, but a balanced unit with quality at multiple positions.
At the top of the rotation isn't just Embiid and another All-Star who's productive but not necessarily elite as a scorer—it's a genuine superstar on the rise in Maxey.
Maxey is currently averaging 29.1 points, 6.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 3.4 three-point field goals made per game on .465/.376/.892 shooting. With respect to those who came before him, Maxey is the caliber of scorer and playmaker Embiid hasn't played with.
The obvious counterargument is James Harden, but Harden was a reluctant scorer at 21.0 points per game during his two seasons with the 76ers, as well as 19.4 points per contest in the playoffs.
76ers have the benefit of establishing chemistry between core members
Furthermore, Harden was a mid-season acquisition in 2021-22 who only played one full season in Philadelphia before requesting a trade. Maxey, meanwhile, has spent the past six years developing chemistry with Embiid.
That's a small luxury for a team that's undergone steady changes throughout the Embiid era as it's attempted to overcome injuries, underperformance, and departures.
Clearly, the 76ers will need to get clear of the injury issues that have continued to plague them during the 2025-26 season. If they're able to do so, however, a wide-open Eastern Conference seems to be welcoming their long-awaited ascension to true contender status.
With no true favorite to win the East and a talented roster with surprising depth, the 76ers have realistic dreams of ending a drought that's plagued the Embiid era.