The Philadelphia 76ers have had a busy off-season, perhaps more than any other team in the league. While fans should be happy with the team’s acquisitions, you have to wonder about the team’s chances to contend in the Eastern Conference, which is now stronger than ever.
One problem no one’s really talking about with this group is the age of the team’s core players. Heck, the offseason isn’t over just yet, but here’s why this should be treated as a point of caution for the team as they approach the upcoming campaign.
The 76ers should be cautious about their core players’ age
The 2022-23 MVP, Joel Embiid only played in 39 regular season games during the 2023-24 campaign. Now at 30 years of age, and dealing with injuries throughout his career, keeping him healthy will remain a priority. Should Philadelphia have any shot to reach the NBA Finals, it will require a healthy and dominant Embiid.
This summer, the 76ers brought in a nine-time All-Star to team up with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in the 34-year-old Paul George. George is another player who has been saddled with injuries during his NBA career. However, an encouraging sign for the 76ers is that he played in 74 games with the LA Clippers a season ago. 74 games is his most since the 2018-19 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder when he had 77 regular season appearances, a season in which he finished 3rd in NBA MVP voting.
The reality is that with two of the 76ers’ top three players, there are frequent injury concerns. The 23-year-old Tyrese Maxey, who has seen tremendous year-to-year development, will look to make another jump in his game after winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2024 and be that foundational young piece amid an aging nucleus.
Meanwhile, the other players surrounding those three also lie on the wrong side fo 30. Eric Gordon is a 16-year veteran and will be turning 36 in December. While he has averaged double-digits in scoring in each of his 16 seasons, you have to wonder how much he has left in the tank. His shotmaking and defense have both declined in recent years.
Kyle Lowry agreed to return to Philly on a veteran minimum deal. The 38-year-old Lowry started in 20 of his 23 regular season appearances as a 76er and shot 40 percent from 3-point territory. While still productive in spurts, the expectation is that he will eventually find himself in much lesser role this coming season.
Most recently, the 76ers have reached an agreement with the 34-year-old NBA Veteran, Reggie Jackson after his contract buyout with the Charlotte Hornets. Jackson has played in the NBA for 13 seasons and helped the Denver Nuggets win the 2023 NBA Championship. Although now in his mid-thirties, Jackson will provide some stability to the Sixers' backcourt whether in the starting lineup or providing a spark off the bench.
All things considered, the Philadelphia 76ers organization and their fans should be pleased with the construction of the roster heading into next season. Between star power and quality depth, Nick Nurse has quite a team to work with for the 2024-25 season. They just need to be cautious with the team’s age and pontificate about finding ways to go deeper, if not younger, to cover all bases.