For the first time since 2017, the Philadelphia 76ers will enter a season having not made the playoffs the previous season. Even though the Sixers never advanced past the conference semifinals in seven straight playoff appearances, getting to the postseason gave them a chance. Following an abysmal 24-58 campaign last season, the Sixers are starting from the bottom and trying to work their way back to the playoffs and compete among the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Needless to say, there are plenty of questions and areas of uncertainty heading into the season, and here are the biggest questions the 76ers will have to answer.
If healthy, the Sixers would surely have the talent to make some noise in the Eastern Conference. But the team isn’t even close to healthy. It starts with Joel Embiid, who has never been able to escape the injuries that have plagued his entire career. He was limited to just 19 games last season and 39 games the previous season. While optimistic, there is no timeline for Embiid’s return to the court. The 76ers might have to be patient with him and shouldn’t expect anything close to a full season out of him.
To make matters worse, Paul George recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee. George has had three left knee injuries over the past year, as age and injuries could be catching up with the 35-year-old. Similar to Embiid, it’s unclear when he’ll be back and if the 76ers will get anything close to a full season from him. The worst part is that he averaged just 16.2 points per game. Between his age and the injuries, the 76ers may not be getting an all-star caliber player even when George returns to the court.
Odds are both Embiid and George will only play a fraction of the upcoming season. There are also serious doubts that either player will be anything close to their best when they’re healthy enough to play. If that ends up being the case, that erases much of the star power that could potentially carry the Sixers and make them a contending team this season.
On top of the concern with Embiid and George, don’t forget that Tyrese Maxey, Jared McClain, Kelly Oubre, and Eric Gordon all had their 2024-25 seasons end early because of injuries. While there is no reason to believe those injuries will linger into the 2025-26 season, it only adds to the injury concerns for the Sixers heading into training camp.
If the 76ers hope to improve from last season and make up for the injury concerns with Embiid and George, they could lean on Edgecombe, whom they drafted third overall in this year’s draft. The question is whether he’s ready to be a difference-maker as a rookie and elevate a Philadelphia backcourt that’s already stacked and will be asked to carry the team.
Obviously, the 76ers are high on Edgecombe after using the third-overall pick on him. He also received glowing reviews during the NBA Summer League, especially after scoring 28 points in his first Summer League game. Despite not shooting well from the perimeter, Edgecombe’s play during Summer League helped to answer some of the pre-draft questions about his game.
However, competing for minutes and shots with the likes of Maxey, McClain, Quentin Grimes, and others won’t be easy for the rookie. Edgecombe will have to be able to play alongside those more established players and likely play a complementary role. But if he can’t make a positive impact in that role, Edgecombe won’t move the needle much in terms of helping Philadelphia’s chances for the upcoming season.
There’s no denying that the 76ers are underdogs heading into the 2025-26 season. Whether you are betting on mobile apps or visiting brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, there are at least 10 teams with shorter odds than the Sixers to win the 2026 NBA title. Coming off a disastrous season and with lingering questions about the health of their stars, the Sixers are an easy team to overlook.
However, could the 76ers find a way to use that to their advantage? Could teams overlook them, allowing the Sixers to sneak up on opponents? That’s not out of the question, especially if Embiid and George are sidelined at the start of the season. But it also means not taking anything for granted and playing every game like it’ll be the difference between making the playoffs and not making the playoffs. The margin could truly be that thin for the Sixers during the 2025-26 campaign.
