Following a disastrous year that resulted in a 24-58 record, plus injuries to key starters like Paul George and Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers are looking ahead to the 2025-26 NBA season. The 76ers finished 2025 with the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference, losing 14 of their final 15 games.
To call it rock bottom is an understatement. Expectations are always high for professional sports teams in Philadelphia, especially with a starting lineup that includes multiple players with an All-Star pedigree.
76ers head coach Nick Nurse won an NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Despite a down year, he remains in this role going into the 2025-26 NBA season.
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Due to their poor play down the stretch, Philadelphia wound up with the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 76ers’ front office opted to select Baylor SF VJ Edgecombe, injecting a talented two-way player with elite athleticism into their starting lineup.
Then, with the 35th overall draft pick, the 76ers turned right around and selected Auburn C Johni Broome. Broome won the SEC Player of the Year award while averaging 18.6 points and 10.8 rebounds for the Tigers en route to an appearance in the Final Four.
Edgecombe and Broome offer a young nucleus of talent on a 76ers roster with aging veterans. The question now becomes whether stars like George and Embiid can stay healthy for a full season.
In their absence, PG Tyrese Maxey was burdened with being the primary scorer for Philadelphia’s short-handed offense. He averaged 26.3 points and 6.1 assists, but it wasn’t enough to make the 76ers competitive.
Oddsmakers currently have Philadelphia favored to make the playoffs at -220 odds. They are bullish on the 76ers avoiding big injuries during the 2025-26 NBA season, while likely also factoring in the addition of Edgecombe and Broome.
Drafting two of the best players in college basketball adds much-needed depth to Philadelphia’s roster. Quentin Grimes averaged over 20 points per game, albeit in limited starts, showing promise for his upside moving forward.
There’s also a veteran presence baked into this current roster, which should help the 76ers close out tightly contested games this season. It’s evidenced by the recent re-signing of G Kyle Lowry, while stars like George and Embiid will be leaned on heavily.
Anything short of making the playoffs is a major disappointment for the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid’s injury history is concerning. However, Broome’s talent and experience in college should help alleviate some pressure on the organization, despite acclimating during his rookie campaign.
Rolling out a starting five that will likely feature Embiid, George, and Maxey is a tough matchup for any opponent. Edgecombe and Broome, combined with the ascension of Grimes and Jared McCain, should have 76ers fans feeling optimistic about their team’s outlook for the 2025-26 NBA season.
