The Philadelphia 76ers are establishing an intriguing trend of unearthing hidden gems. It's been the last line of defense between the 76ers and unmitigated disaster as maxed-out superstars Joel Embiid and Paul George have struggled to stay healthy.
Just one game into the 2025-26 regular season, it appears as though the next hidden gem has officially arrived: Dominick Barlow.
Barlow signed with the 76ers in July on a two-way contract that appeared to be more of a flyer than a firm commitment of interest in providing playing time. With George missing time, however, a void in the rotation opened the door for the 22-year-old to make his mark.
It hasn't taken long for the former undrafted free agent to do so, turning heads during the preseason and stepping up with a stellar all-around performance in the regular season opener.
Barlow pulled down 10 rebounds and showed impressive defensive potential during a high-intensity preseason debut with the 76ers. He continued to play well in the coming games, including a 12-point and nine-rebound showing against the Orlando Magic.
That ultimately led to Barlow starting the regular season opener for the 76ers and stuffing the stat sheet as the team managed to eke out a 117-116 win over the Boston Celtics.
Dominick Barlow looks like the 76ers' next hidden gem
Barlow finished the win over Boston with 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists, five offensive boards, and a block. He led all players in offensive rebounds, was second on the 76ers in assists, and finished third behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe on the team in scoring.
Barlow also showed impressive versatility on defense, spending more than 8.0 partial possessions defending Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, and Derrick White respectively.
Barlow's unexpected success points in the direction of Philadelphia finding yet another hidden gem. It's a trend that's become underrated yet common in recent years, as the 76ers have found significant value where most wouldn't think to look.
That includes the fact that Maxey, an All-Star and the 2023-24 Most Improved Player, was selected at No. 21 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft—fairly far beyond the lottery range.
Furthermore, Justin Edwards and Quentin Grimes broke out for Philadelphia in 2024-25. The 76ers signed Edwards as an undrafted free agent and were instantly rewarded by him averaging 10.1 points per game on .455/.363/.696 shooting as a rookie.
Philadelphia added Grimes via a trade that sent Caleb Martin to the Dallas Mavericks, which many called a lateral move—only for the up-and-comer to average 21.9 points per game with the 76ers.
Uncertainty surrounding the health and even quality of Embiid and George continues to overshadow other discussions, but Philadelphia's scouting department deserves immeasurable credit. It's identified high-level talent in uncommon manners and fleshed out the rotation with enough support to give a healthy version of Embiid and George a chance to compete.
With Barlow already looking the part of a versatile two-way player, the 76ers may have found an unlikely path to returning to the ranks of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.