The Philadelphia 76ers were supposed to contend for a title in the 2024-25 season after being named the overwhelming winners of the offseason. They added Paul George on a 4-year deal worth $212 million and formed a formidable Big 3 with George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey.
Unfortunately, the Sixers could never get off the ground. Embiid and George were hampered by injuries and the trio played together in only 18 games–finishing 15 of those games leading to a 7-8 record. As the Sixers move forward, the health of both Embiid and George will be at the forefront of any conversation regarding contention.
ESPN had this to say about Philadelphia’s chances of going from the lottery back to contention in the East:
Again, this goes back to Embiid’s health. With him on the court, Philadelphia will be a force this season. But if he’s again sidelined for the vast majority of the season, given he’s under contract for another three years for more than $180 million, it could set off a chain reaction that will have Philadelphia in the wilderness for quite some time. The 76ers also still owe a top-4 protected pick in the 2026 draft to the Oklahoma City Thunder after keeping their pick this past season.
They’re not wrong. This all comes down to Embiid. There is a bit of a shift in playing style towards Maxey as Philadelphia is beginning to get more guard-centric, but the big fella is the straw that stirs the drink in the City of Brotherly Love. The Sixers will need him to be the one to lead the way and get Philadelphia back on track. While George and Maxey are just as important, it won’t work unless Embiid is healthy.