The Philadelphia 76ers recorded their most disastrous season in several years during the 2024-25 NBA season -- winning just 24 games. However, the former vice president of the Memphis Grizzlies, John Hollinger, declared that "he's kind of interested" in what the Philadelphia 76ers' season will look like this year when appearing on The Zach Lowe Show.
It has been an underwhelming offseason for the Sixers fan base as Philadelphia's general manager, Daryl Morey, has persisted in heading into the new campaign with a roster that is nearly identical to the one that was plagued by injuries and poor performances last year.
Much of the perception surrounding the 76ers suggests that their hopes of a championship rely heavily on star players Joel Embiid and Paul George staying healthy for a significant portion of the season. A statement that is difficult to disagree with; nevertheless, Hollinger has stated otherwise.
Philadelphia is more than a two-man team
When George originally signed a four-year, $212 million contract, he was supposed to create the league's newest 'big three' alongside the 2023 MVP Joel Embiid and the electric Tyrese Maxey, but injuries and struggles to adapt to a new role prevented him from doing so.
With this being the case, it is understandable why there is a level of skepticism when predicting how the 76ers will perform this year. Yet, Hollinger's comments highlight that the talented young core that this roster possesses could be ready to provide the Xfinity Mobile Arena with a brand of basketball to get excited about.
Highly regarded rookie VJ Edgecombe has already shown glimpses of his potential during the Sixers' preseason matchups with the New York Knicks in Abu Dhabi. The 20-year-old athletic guard displayed an impressive array of playmaking in his debut game, which included a brilliant alley-oop pass to an energetic Adem Bona, who finished the opportunity with a plomb.
In addition, Quentin Grimes eventually accepted Philadelphia's $8.7 million qualifying offer to bolster the franchise's already stacked backcourt -- confirming head coach Nick Nurse's comments that the team will look to field a guard-heavy lineup this season.
Due to the absences of Embiid and George for much of the 2024-25 season, Maxey was burdened with an increased role on offense -- something he struggled to cope with during certain periods. Although, as the season progressed, Maxey appeared to become accustomed to his new leadership role, establishing himself as one of Philadelphia's leading lights. Now, he will expect to take another leap in his development this year.
There is no doubt that this roster has been constructed in the hope of elevating the performances of Joel Embiid and Paul George; however, John Hollinger's comments highlight that even without their star players on the floor, this roster could still have a positive campaign.