If healthy, the Philadelphia 76ers should be able to boast one of the stronger starting lineups in the league. The trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey should be enough to lift the Sixers back into the playoffs after a brief detour into the woods in 2024-25.
The big question is based on that *if* part. Embiid is recovering from another left knee surgery while George underwent a procedure on his left knee in the offseason putting his status for training camp into question. The Sixers will be leaning on both players returning to the floor healthy in the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Advertisement
Bleacher Report ranked every team’s starting lineup and the Sixers came in ranked No. 14 with Jared McCain and Kelly Oubre Jr. flanking the Big 3:
Their projected starting five registered just 23 total possessions last season as injuries affected nearly every key player on the roster. Even in the 619 possessions with the Big 3 of Embiid, Maxey and George, Philly’s net rating was just minus-0.9.
There’s no good power forward option on the roster, forcing either George or the 203-pound Oubre to man the position. Even when he’s not 100 percent, Embiid is an elite center in the league, although he played just 19 games this past season.
There’s too much talent on the roster to prevent the Sixers falling much further down our list, although moving them any higher feels wrong as well.
The Sixers are one of the tougher teams to project for the upcoming season. The talent is, obviously, there, but there are a lot of health questions regarding Embiid and George. If they’re healthy, then Philadelphia should be among the contenders in the East. If not, then it will likely be another tough season and the Sixers will begin looking at their younger pieces to develop.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Projected Sixers starting lineup receives middle of the league ranking