When healthy, the Philadelphia 76ers have one of the best rosters in the NBA—a truth that their inability to avoid injuries has revealed. Unfortunately, that double-edged sword has Philadelphia in an endless loop that effectively equates to basketball limbo.
The 76ers' injury woes have revealed unexpected depth, but their future remains uncertain due to the unresolved nature of their widespread lack of availability.
Philadelphia was widely regarded as a top-heavy team entering the 2024-25 regular season. Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey were a perfect fit on paper, with all three providing on and off-ball value and complementary skill sets at different positions.
With three All-Stars, including a former MVP, the 76ers appeared to have the top-end talent to compete with the Boston Celtics.
Depth unexpectedly emerged when Jared McCain proved NBA-ready by averaging 15.3 points on .460/.383/.875 shooting. Quentin Grimes later turned heads by averaging 21.9 points per game after joining the 76ers in February. Justin Edwards even proved to be an undrafted gem at 10.1.
Unfortunately, few of those success stories managed to cross paths in 2024-25, as injuries ruled Philadelphia once again—and 2025-26 isn't looking any better.
76ers have too much talent to give up on, but lack stability
Embiid appeared in just 19 games during the 2024-25 season, while George played 41 and Maxey was available for 52. Beyond the star trio, Edwards played 44 games for the 76ers, Grimes appeared in 28, and McCain was active for 23.
Ricky Council IV, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Guerschon Yabusele were the only 76ers players who appeared in at least 60 games this past season—and only Oubre is due to return for the 2025-26 campaign.
Philadelphia has retooled with young talent, including top-five pick VJ Edgecombe and versatile forwards Jabari Walker and Trenton Watford. It also selected reigning SEC Player of the Year Johnni Broome in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft and expects a leap forward from Adem Bona.
If everything goes to plan, and veterans such as Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry can provide stability to the second unit, the 76ers should be contenders in a depleted Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately, hoping for a healthy season isn't the same experience in Philadelphia as it often is elsewhere. George is 35 and has missed at least 26 games in three of the past four seasons, including 41-plus in two.
Embiid, meanwhile, has appeared in just 58 games since winning MVP in 2022-23—after missing at least 20 in each of the previous two campaigns. For that matter, the 76ers haven't yet re-signed Grimes.
In other words: The breakout performer of the second half of Philadelphia's season may be lost before his talent can support the stars.
Gordon, 36, and Lowry, 39, will be fighting their own battles as they look to defeat Father Time and play meaningful minutes. It's yet another example of the harsh reality facing the 76ers that has them stuck in limbo despite their upside.
No matter how much talent Daryl Morey assembles, Philadelphia remains at the mercy of well-documented injury woes disappearing for long enough for the team to contend.