Ex-NBA star goes off on the 76ers, issues huge dare for 2024-25

Thanks to their very eventful summer, many are now penciling the Philadelphia 76ers in as a legitimate championship contender for the 2024-25 season. Already having Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as the pillars of the team, Paul George now arrives to bolster the franchise’s bid for its first championship in more than four decades.

The 76ers are still far from a spotless squad, but the current roster is arguably the strongest it’s ever been in years. However, there will always be naysayers, especially this former NBA star who seems to imply that the team took a massive risk handing a max contract to the 34-year-old All-Star.

Ex-NBA Star Brandon Jennings issues huge challenge for the 76ers next season

Brandon Jennings, a former star for the MIlwaukee Bucks who spent nine years in the league, recently went to GIlbert Arena’s podcast show, Gil’s Arena, and issued a huge challenge for the 76ers next season.

"Y’all gave him $212 million… to be the third option? Philly better win the championship this year. They better win the championship year. I don’t wanna hear (expletive)."

Taking exception to Jennings’ insinuation that the 76ers did a massive overpay for George, his challenge for the team to seemingly treat the 2024-25 season as a championship-or-bust campaign is reasonable.

Purely off raw talent and skill set compatibility, the 76ers arguably have the best Big Three on the planet, and the role players surrounding their triumvirate are all competent cogs in their own, respective rights. Nick Nurse is also a championship coach with a flair for pushing the right buttons on both ends of the court.

That being said, the Eastern Conference has gotten a lot stronger, and the West has retained its deep pool of competitive squads. Even acing the regular season wouldn’t be a shoo-in for anyone at this juncture, especially with the threat of injuries always lurking, especially for Philadelphia.

For the 76ers to win the championship next season, they will have to gel quickly on both ends while avoiding the injury bug as much as possible. It’s not all within their control, but if there’s a collection of talent that can snap their 42-year title drought, it’s definitely next season’s squad.