The Philadelphia 76ers enter the 2025-26 NBA season with immense potential but face a pivotal question: will this be Joel Embiid final season Philadelphia sees from their franchise cornerstone? After a tumultuous 2024-25 campaign marked by injuries and roster uncertainty, the team’s fate now depends heavily on Embiid’s health and the supporting cast’s ability to fill crucial gaps.
The Sixers concluded last season with a disappointing 24-58 record, ranking 13th in the Eastern Conference, prompting leadership changes but maintaining a vision centered around Embiid. Despite having stars like Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, the persistent knee, back, and sinus injuries that have plagued Embiid raise serious doubts about his availability. As the 31-year-old star enters this contract year with $193 million remaining on his deal, pressure mounts on the front office and coaching staff to balance hope and reality.
Projected Starting Five and Their Roles
The anticipated starting lineup includes Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes (contingent on re-signing), Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Joel Embiid, forming a blend of youth and experience. Maxey, fresh off his first All-Star appearance in 2024-25, led the team with 26.3 points and 6.1 assists per game before a finger injury cut his season short in March. Grimes, emerging as a reliable two-way wing, showed promise by averaging 14.6 points and nearly five rebounds per start, complementing Maxey with his efficient shooting and steady defense.
Veteran Paul George, now 35 and recovering from knee surgery, contributed 16.2 points on 43% shooting, but his minutes were carefully managed due to health concerns. Oubre Jr. added valuable scoring and energy, posting 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game; however, his ineffective three-point shooting and defensive inconsistencies continue to raise questions about his fit as a core rotational player.
Embiid himself managed just 19 games last season, producing 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per outing before a second left knee surgery ended his campaign early. This elevates the uncertainty of his ability to sustain high-level performance across a full season and places immense weight on whether he can stay on the court consistently.
Bench Composition and Player Development Challenges
The Sixers’ bench is a patchwork of veteran savvy and young prospects, including Kyle Lowry, Jared McCain, V.J. Edgecombe, Eric Gordon, Justin Edwards, Trendon Watford, Adem Bona, and Andre Drummond. While Lowry, at age 39, only averaged 3.9 points last season, his leadership and court vision remain invaluable to the team‘s cohesion.
McCain, regarded for his potential coming out of Penn State, has faced setbacks with a fractured meniscus and is currently in rehab with an uncertain timeline. Edgecombe brings promising defensive prowess and playmaking from his time at Baylor, where he earned All-Big 12 honors by averaging 15 points and over two steals per game as a freshman. His summer league flashes hinted at his upside as a disruptive guard alongside Maxey and Grimes.
Veteran Eric Gordon, despite wrist surgery sidelining him last season, still provides reliable three-point shooting and floor spacing, averaging 6.8 points on a 40.9% clip from beyond the arc. Young forwards like Edwards and Watford have shown growth, with Edwards posting 10.1 points and good shooting percentages as a rookie, while Watford contributed solid all-around numbers on minimal minutes.
Rising defender Adem Bona impresses with his finishing efficiency, shooting over 70% on limited attempts, and Drummond provides rebounding muscle, averaging 7.8 boards per game despite a reduced role. Although the bench boasts versatility and glimpses of future promise, none can yet reliably fill the void if injuries strike the starters, highlighting a thin margin for error.
Key Strengths Anchored by Star Power and Emerging Talent
Philadelphia’s primary advantage remains its star duo of Maxey and Embiid—when healthy, arguably one of the most formidable in the Eastern Conference. Maxey’s scoring and playmaking improvements establish him as the undeniable engine for the team, demanding constant defensive attention and driving much of the offense.
Complementing this are the valuable contributions from Paul George’s veteran experience and, potentially, Quentin Grimes’ two-way skills if retained. The infusion of youth through first-round pick Edgecombe and promising rookie prospects like Jared McCain and Justin Edwards adds energy and depth, keeping an eye on the future even as the present demands success.
Lowry’s veteran presence serves as the glue that holds the rotation together, facilitating ball movement and stabilizing the bench units. Additional pieces like Gordon, Bona, and Drummond bring specialized skills—floor spacing, rim protection, and rebounding—that round out a roster blending speed, shooting, and defense.
Health Concerns and Roster Limitations Pose Major Risks
Embiid’s injury history remains the largest red flag, with two major knee surgeries limiting him to just 19 games last season and generating questions about his ability to sustain a full campaign. Without Embiid contributing at least 60 games, the team’s offense risks significant decline, as he remains central to Philadelphia’s scoring and defensive schemes.
Paul George is similarly a concern, as his age and recent knee surgeries suggest reduced explosiveness and potential missed time. The absence or diminished capacity of either star would leave the roster thin, heavily reliant on Maxey’s playmaking and scoring, who himself logged heavy minutes last season accounting for 30% of the team’s shot creation.
Kelly Oubre Jr. provides secondary scoring but struggles with three-point consistency and defensive impact, diminishing his value in the absence of veteran stars. Role players like Eric Gordon offer limited relief, but extended minutes from bench contributors could expose the team’s inexperience and lack of dependable alternatives to shoulder playoff-level competition.
Financially, the Sixers face a tight payroll situation, hovering just below the luxury tax apron and constrained in acquiring impactful roster upgrades. Re-signing Quentin Grimes, likely at a raise, and managing existing contract obligations limit the front office’s flexibility. General manager Daryl Morey must navigate the delicate balance between staying under tax penalties and assembling a roster capable of competing at a high level.
Urgency for a Strong Season Start Determines Future Direction
The Eastern Conference landscape offers opportunity, with traditional contenders like the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks undergoing transitions, and teams like the New York Knicks facing coaching adjustments. Still, for the Sixers, beginning the season with momentum is imperative to maintain playoff contention and capitalize on a relatively open field.
With Embiid’s minutes expected to fluctuate and George still easing back from surgery, the burden on reserves early in the schedule will be substantial. Coach Nick Nurse’s ability to establish chemistry and rotations swiftly will be critical, as slow starts risk ceding ground to rival teams battling for limited playoff slots.
A strong start—ideally a winning record before the holiday stretch—may solidify confidence in the team’s core. However, a mediocre or poor start, such as 6-6 or worse prior to Thanksgiving, would likely trigger a reevaluation of the roster’s viability as a championship contender and place pressure on management to pursue deeper changes.
The front office may face a stark choice: either patiently double down on health and incremental improvements or execute a teardown, trading assets to free cap space and rebuild around a new core. There is little room for middling outcomes, as this season may very well dictate Philadelphia’s near-term trajectory in the NBA landscape.
Insider Perspective Signals Imminent Change for Embiid’s Era
“The end is near for Joel Embiid in Philadelphia, given the physical toll and contract situation.” —76ers Insider
This candid assessment from a club insider highlights the growing consensus within the organization and fanbase that 2025-26 could mark Embiid’s final season with the Sixers. The combination of injuries, diminishing returns, and financial constraints places the franchise at a crossroads.
How the team manages Embiid’s minutes, leverages its supporting cast, and positions itself financially will have lasting implications. Should this indeed be the swan song for one of Philadelphia’s great stars, the organization must prepare either to pivot toward a new era or push hard for one final championship run.