The Philadelphia 76ers have started the 2025-26 season phenomenally, winning five of their opening six fixtures -- most of which in dramatic fashion. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are establishing themselves as one of the devastating backcourt partnerships in the entire league. Yet, it is another area that is allowing the Sixers to thrive offensively -- their outstanding production from the secondary unit.
One thing that Philadelphia has struggled with for several years is its ability to prevent the opposition from stealing momentum while its star players sit on the bench. Seemingly, this is no longer an issue for the franchise as the roster is now steeped with talent that can be effective in various roles.
Quentin Grimes starring as the sixth man
With the long-winded offseason saga of Quentin Grimes firmly in the rear-view mirror, the former Dallas Mavericks guard has commenced the season in the same scintillating form that he finished the previous one -- despite featuring in a slightly different capacity.
Philadelphia was plagued by a never-ending list of injuries, which was the catalyst for one of the most embarrassing campaigns in its recent history. However, Grimes benefited from the chaos and showcased his attributes as a primary scoring option. The 25-year-old averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over 28 games after his trade from the Mavericks.
Naturally, questions were raised about whether Grimes could have the same deadly impact when sitting behind Maxey, Joel Embiid, and eventually, Paul George in the pecking order. If anything, Grimes has become a more dangerous weapon in the 76ers' arsenal and has cemented himself as an early front-runner for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Throughout the 2025-26 season, Grimes has averaged 18.2 points and 5.2 assists, even though he has yet to be named in the starting lineup. The Houston graduate is still recording around 32 minutes during each appearance, meaning he is still playing a prominent role in the rotation.
Andre Drummond is making his presence known
When Andre Drummond put pen to paper on a reported two-year, $10 million contract in 2024, it was expected that he would become a dominant force on the glass throughout the non-Embiid minutes. Although due to the frustrating knee problem that hindered Embiid's availability for selection, Drummond played a higher percentage of minutes than anyone could have anticipated, much to the detriment of the roster.
Nonetheless, the veteran center is finally playing at the capacity that was always intended, and the 76ers are accruing dividends for this. Drummond's physicality and presence in the paint have not only provided the Sixers with a sense of stability when he is on the floor, but it has also aided the team with its quick transition offense.
The 32-year-old has snatched 6.7 rebounds in around 15 minutes per game. Most impressively, 2.5 of these boards have come on the offensive end of the court, supplying the Sixers with second-chance opportunities during victories against the Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic that have required the franchise to mount mammoth comebacks.
On paper, the depth of the Philadelphia 76ers' backcourt is mouthwatering, but no one could have predicted the effectiveness that this secondary unit would have when they are on the floor.