Given the current outlook of the Eastern Conference — one that is already down two title contenders — many are penciling the Philadelphia 76ers in for a huge comeback. After posting the league’s fifth-worst record last season, the team is a near-guarantee to better that record, especially with the franchise still parading one of the most loaded roster talent-wise, at least on paper.
Between All-Stars in Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, and standout up-and-comers in Jared McCain and VJ Edgecombe (and also Quentin Grimes, when he is eventually re-signed), the 76ers have one of the more impressive collection of talents in the association. But as we all know, talent is far from the biggest concern with this squad.
The 76ers are perennially afflicted with injuries — hardly, at that. Given their tough injury luck, there is really no telling if things will finally minimize to normalcy next season, or if the scales of normalcy had already moved past conventional levels, meaning that what could be normal for the squad could lie near what they have been dreading health-wise.
As a result, fans would probably best-served tempering their expectations for the team in the next campaign.
76ers fans must accept this bitter truth ahead of the 2025-26 season
With both Embiid and George already dealing with significant injury concerns of their own well before training camp, suffice to say that the 76ers are already in a dangling position as they lay their cards for next season.
Embiid, in all likelihood, will not even be close to getting to 100 percent playing capacity this season. Heck, he still couldn’t do much on the court after a minor surgery three months ago, which is pretty telling of how much it would take for him to be in playing shape after basically missing a year.
Meanwhile, George had just gone through a knee procedure at 35 years old. That is far from ideal in and of itself, and given his recurring knee issues from last season, this is probably something that the team will have to deal with moving forward in the next three years.
Given these conditions, it would be vry difficult for the 76ers to carve out an identity and foster chemistry. The coaching staff, led by Nick Nurse, would have to adjust on a nightly basis and be more resourceful when it comes to trotting out lineups, especially with those two already a safe bet to miss a huge chunk of the games.
Lack of chemistry due to players going in and out of the active rotation was the team’s biggest issue last season, and in all honesty, there is little to suggest that the worm will turn next season. This is something 76ers fans should wholeheartedly come to terms with, to the point where if those players come to surprise everyone and turn in a cleaner bill of health, they can viably start dreaming again.
But for now, calling them a championship contender is too much, isn’t it?