76ers officially accept that it's championship or bust with Joel Embiid extension

The Philadelphia 76ers have left no room for deliberation. The Big Three of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey will define how the franchise functions for at least the next four years, with lucrative contracts, injury concerns, and All-Star talent fueling the end result.

76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has gone all-in on that vision by extending the player whose talent and availability will play the biggest part in determining how far the 76ers will ultimately go.

Philadelphia has been among the most active franchises in the Association this offseason. It added Jared McCain and Adem Bona at the 2024 NBA Draft, parted ways with Tobias Harris after six seasons of regular postseason appearances, and signed George to a four-year, $211,584,940 contract.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the 76ers have put a bow on an offseason of balancing risk and reward by signing Embiid to a three-year, $193 million extension.

Bobby Marks of ESPN quickly put it all into perspective, sharing an infographic that illustrates how much money is now tied up in the 76ers' Big Three.

It was true before, but it's never been more evident than after Embiid inked a deal to join the elusive $60 million per year club: The 76ers are a championship-or-bust team.

Joel Embiid signs an extension through 2028-29 season

Embiid will make $51,415,938 in 2024-25 and $55,224,526 in 2025-26 before the extension kicks in for the 2026-27 campaign. He'll make upwards of $60 million during each season, which is a shocking, if not deserved, figure unto itself.

During that window, Maxey will make upwards of $40 million per season and George will have the final two years and more than $110 million remaining on his contract.

Despite the risk, it's undeniable how promising the Big Three in Philadelphia is. Embiid is an MVP and two-time scoring champion who can assert his will against virtually any defense or individual defender in the NBA, all the while playing at a high level on defense.

George and Maxey, meanwhile, are two of the smoothest shot-creators in the NBA, with the former also earning a reputation as a top-tier perimeter defender.

Stylistically, the Embiid, George, and Maxey trio complement one another to perfection. They can each play without the ball, are all willing passers, and both Embiid and George are capable of playing a lockdown brand of defense down the stretch.

Compounded by the addition of Caleb Martin and the depth provided by a cast of quality veterans, the 76ers look like genuine contenders.

The reality is: They'll need to be after spending more than $715 million on their Big Three. The franchise has made seven consecutive postseason appearances, but hasn't yet made it beyond the second round during the Embiid era.

After going all-in on Embiid, George, and Maxey, the 76ers' star trio is not only facing the standard of reaching the Conference Finals, but winning at least one championship during their time together.