Monday, October 19, 2026
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The Sixers enter the 2026-27 NBA season with arguably their highest expectations since acquiring Moses Malone ahead of the 1982-83 championship season.
After finishing 45-37 last season, Philadelphia rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Boston Celtics in the first round, only to be swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Sixers responded by overhauling both their front office and roster. Daryl Morey was replaced by Mike Gansey, several front office figures took on larger roles and, most notably, Philadelphia added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.
Now, with one of the most star-studded rosters in franchise history, the Sixers have no shortage of talent. The question is how quickly they can make it all work.
With the regular season set to tip off Tuesday night against the defending champion Knicks, here's what to expect from Philadelphia as it begins its pursuit of another NBA title.
For all the talent now featured in the Sixers' starting lineup, developing chemistry won't happen overnight, especially after adding multiple players accustomed to carrying significant offensive responsibilities.
The Sixers' desire to push the pace in transition should simplify some of those challenges, allowing their athletic players to attack before opposing defenses get set. There's still plenty to iron out in the half-court.
Regardless of who brings the ball up, Philadelphia's offense will most often run through James, whose passing ability and basketball IQ produced multiple highlight-worthy assists in his two preseason appearances.
James taking on more facilitating responsibilities should create opportunities for Maxey to play off the ball, where he's more comfortable. After three seasons of heavy minutes and offensive responsibility, Maxey has increasingly faced defensive blitzes and physical pressure. Playing alongside James should give him cleaner opportunities to attack, potentially improving his efficiency even if his scoring numbers decline.
How Embiid fits into this offensive equation remains less certain, but the preseason indicates that the team is searching for ways to give every starter opportunities to play to their natural strengths.
Embiid will continue receiving touches at the nail, where he has operated effectively for years, but he won't need to shoulder the same offensive burden. His ability to draw defensive attention, find open teammates and establish himself inside should create additional opportunities throughout the lineup.
Brown and Edgecombe round out the starting five and will largely lead the defensive effort on the perimeter in addition to their offensive contributions. Brown has spent some time this preseason leading units featuring multiple bench players, giving him the opportunity to create his own offense, while Edgecombe continues to do whatever is asked of him, serving as a stellar complementary piece for the team.
For all the talent the Sixers added this offseason, their championship hopes still hinge heavily on something that has plagued them for years: staying healthy.
That starts with Embiid. The former MVP has battled injuries in recent seasons, and while Philadelphia now has enough offensive firepower to get by without him on that end of the floor, replacing what he brings defensively is a different story.
Embiid gave the Sixers plenty of reason for optimism in Friday's preseason finale against Boston, finishing with 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists. But it wasn't just the numbers. The 32-year-old moved well, was active defensively and attacked the glass, showing the kind of effort Philadelphia will need from him throughout the season.
Then there's James, who enters his 24th NBA season at 41 years old. He's still capable of making a major impact, but the Sixers will have to be smart about managing his minutes over an 82-game schedule.
Fortunately, Philadelphia has enough star power to avoid asking any one player to carry the team every night. Nurse should have some flexibility to manage workloads, but ultimately, the Sixers need their stars healthy when the playoffs arrive.
The Sixers' starting five will get most of the attention, but what happens when those players head to the bench?
Anfernee Simons gives Philadelphia another scoring threat and ball handler when Maxey or James sits, while Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope bring outside shooting and defensive versatility.
The bigger concern is at center.
Ariel Hukporti suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during Philadelphia's preseason opener, leaving the Sixers without one of their leading candidates to back up Embiid.
Adem Bona, who has been recovering from a left foot sprain, figures to take on a significant role once healthy. Nurse could also experiment with smaller lineups when Embiid is off the floor.
With the Sixers likely to be cautious about Embiid's workload, they'll need to find a reliable answer behind him.
The Sixers have their sights set on a championship, but getting through the Eastern Conference won't be easy.
The Knicks are coming off a championship, while Boston and Cleveland remain serious threats. Miami, Toronto and Indiana could also take steps forward this season, making an already competitive conference even tougher.
Philadelphia certainly has enough talent to compete for a top seed in the East. But talent alone won't get the Sixers where they want to go.
They'll need time to develop chemistry, figure out how to make the most of their new-look lineup and establish themselves defensively. Most importantly, they'll need to stay healthy.
The Sixers have assembled the talent. Now comes the challenge of making it work when the games matter most.
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