No one is really seriously considering the Philadelphia 76ers as actual championship contenders next season at this point in time. But having said that, it should probably surprise no one that people are not so high on their chances at a breakthrough campaign, especially since they are just coming off a season where they turned in the fifth-worst record in the entire association.
Sure, injuries are the biggest reason as to why they ended up flopping last season, but there are factors that cannot just be set aside under the belief that better luck in the health department is coming. The 76ers saw many of their players decline during the previous campaign, casting a huge cloud on their ability to turn in a big comeback and return to relevance in 2025-26.
Still, the 76ers are well-positioned to re-climb the ranks in the Eastern Conference. After all, their competition will not be as robust as last season thanks to a couple of title contenders from the East already bowing out of the race due to unfortunate injuries of their own, and really, this team could not possibly get any worse, right?
The 76ers get disrespected anew in ESPN’s three-year team outlook rankings
ESPN recently released their list ranking all 30 teams based on their future outlook on a three-year window. And as you might have already guessed by now, the 76ers most certainly received little love from the media outlet.
The 76ers were ranked at No. 19, 15 spots worse than their rating on that end last season. ESPN hinged its argument on the undeniable fact that the team will be relying heavily on colossal question marks in Joel Embiid and Paul George, who are making more than $100 million combined over the next three years, but that is simply way too low for a team this talented.
Setting those valid concerns aside, the 76ers have every reason for people to at least give them the benefit of doubt. Despite not having anything meaningful to show for it, Philadelphia has been among the most consistent winnning ball clubs for almost a decade now.
More importantly, even if Embiid and George keep declining, the 76ere have assets they can build around for the future between Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and VJ Edgecombe.
There are understandably some huge asterisks casted on the 76ers right now, but parading the team as some sort of a sinking ship without any real shot at glory is just being way too disingenuous. Hopefully, the squad can prove their doubters wrong in the upcoming season.