The one team the Philadelphia 76ers need to be most wary of in 2024-25

Brighter championship hopes await the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2024-25 season. However, to even get in the thunder dome, they will first have to clear the Eastern Conference, home to loaded and talented squads, up-and-comers, and most importantly, the reigning NBA champions.

Until any team manages to unseat them, the Celtics will remain the gold standard, at least in the East. They were pretty dominant last season, and with nearly everyone back for their title defense, the championship is theirs to lose.

The 76ers, however, has to be mindful of another team other than the defending champs and their biggest nemesis.

The 76ers have to be very wary of the Knicks next season

Philly has not made the Conference Finals is what feels like a forever, but even with their talented lineup, clinching a spot in the Final Four is far from a guarantee. One of the reasons why is another team in extreme win-now mode, the New York Knicks.

Aside from the fact that they eliminated the 76ers last season, the Knicks profile as another legitimate threat for the championship due to their lethal lineup on both ends. Already led by Jalen Brunson, another All-Star in Julius Randle, and arguably the best squadron of role players in the NBA, New York went on and added Mikal Bridges this offseason via trade.

Most early projections have the Knicks slightly ahead of the 76ers, and there’s a good reason why. Tom Thibodeau’s squad is filled with tenacious cogs on both ends, and probably touts the best counter to the Celtics’ roster construction.

While other teams like the Bucks, Cavaliers, and Pacers also deserve some credit, the Knicks and 76ers are most likely going to be two of the top teams in the league. If Philadelphia wants to upend Boston, they will probably need to get past New York first.

The Knicks will most certainly have a suffocating defense and a well-rounded offensive repertoire. However, the 76ers do have an advantage with Joel Embiid now healthy in addition to Tyrese Maxey continuing his growth and Paul George supplying much-needed secondary scoring and high-volume pressure from the perimeter.