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<title type="text">Liberty Ballers</title>
<subtitle type="text">Your best source for quality Philadelphia 76ers news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective.</subtitle>
<updated>2025-08-22T15:09:36+00:00</updated>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com" />
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<entry>
<author>
<name>Bryan Toporek</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[NBA 2K26 ratings offer healthy dose of Sixers haterade]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-analysis/77883/nba-2k26-ratings-offer-healthy-dose-of-sixers-haterade" />
<id>https://www.libertyballers.com/?p=77883</id>
<updated>2025-08-22T11:09:36-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-22T11:09:36-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.libertyballers.com" term="Sixers Analysis" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[NBA 2K26 is coming out at the beginning of September, which means it’s time for everyone’s favorite annual tradition: getting #MadOnline about where your favorite players are ranked in a video game. 2K has been dropping player ratings in piecemeal fashion throughout the week, but we finally have the full top 100. Spoiler alert: the […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.libertyballers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2025/08/gettyimages-2189795224.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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NBA 2K26 is coming out at the beginning of September, which means it’s time for everyone’s favorite annual tradition: getting #MadOnline about where your favorite players are ranked in a video game.
2K has been dropping player ratings in piecemeal fashion throughout the week, but we finally have <a href="https://nba.2k.com/2k26/ratings/">the full top 100</a>. Spoiler alert: the Sixers are not particularly well represented.
The good news is that Joel Embiid still cracked the top 20 at No. 17 overall. That was a steep drop from his No. 5 ranking last year, but given the season he just had and the uncertainty still surrounding his knee, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he came in far lower. Having him just ahead of Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker surely won’t rub New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns fans the wrong way.
However, the stink of last season did rub off on Tyrese Maxey, who dropped from No. 26 in 2K25 to No. 43 this year. He’s tied with Tyler Herro, Jamal Murray, Franz Wagner, Julius Randle and Zach LaVine (?!) with an 86 overall rating. Maxey <a href="https://stathead.com/basketball/versus-finder.cgi?request=1&seasons_type=forall&year_min=2025&year_max=2025&player_id1=maxeyty01&player_id2=murraja01&player_id3=lavinza01&player_id4=randlju01&player_id5=herroty01&player_id6=wagnefr01">led all six of those players</a> in points (26.3), assists (6.1) and steals (1.8) per game last season, but to each their own. If 2K wants to hold his inability to drag the Sixers out of their injury-ravaged morass while miscast as a No. 1 option against him, more power to them. Maxey could use all the bulletin-board material he can get.
If you thought Maxey’s plunge was bad, wait until you hear about Paul George’s. He went from No. 24 last year to No. 92 (!!!!) this year, right behind Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Anfernee Simons, Draymond Green and Josh Hart. His 81 overall rating is also tied with Jrue Holiday, Herb Jones, Lu Dort, Onyeka Okongwu, Immanuel Quickley, Andrew Nembhard, Jalen Johnson, Alexandre Sarr, Aaron Nesmith, Shaedon Sharpe and Bobby Portis Jr. (On a related note, Johnson’s rank is going to age like spoiled milk.)
I’m not going to sit here and pretend like George had an incredible debut campaign in Philadelphia. He missed 41 games last year due to an assortment of injuries and is fresh off arthroscopic knee surgery after <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/7/14/24467906/paul-george-surgery-knee-injury-2025-nba-offseason-sixers">injuring himself</a> in an offseason workout last month. The chances of him living up to the four-year, $211.6 million contract that he signed with the Sixers last summer are roughly between slim and none. But last I checked, 2K doesn’t take contracts into account when assigning player rankings.
Even though he was gutting through injuries for most of the year, George still averaged a well-rounded 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.3 made three-pointers and 1.8 steals per game last season. He also finished in the 87th percentile of estimated defensive plus/minus and the 79th percentile of overall EPM, according to <a href="https://dunksandthrees.com/epm">Dunks and Threes</a>. Putting him in a tie with Sarr, who shot 39.4 percent overall as a rookie, or Murray, who currently has one functional Achilles tendon, is genuinely insulting.
Embiid, Maxey and George were the only three Sixers to crack the top 100. 2K hasn’t revealed full ratings for the rest of the team yet, although in news that is sure to go over well in Philadelphia, VJ Edgecombe (76 overall) came in one spot behind Ace Bailey (77 overall) <a href="https://x.com/NBA2K/status/1955403931787358228">in the rookie rankings</a>. On the bright side, Adem Bona is <a href="https://x.com/NBA2K/status/1955751223019090266">tied for the sixth-highest block rating</a> in the game (91), trailing only Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Robert Williams III, Donovan Clingan and Walker Kessler.
Those who didn’t preorder 2K26 have to wait until the Sept. 5 global release date to get their hands on it. In the meantime, we can all sit back and enjoy watching the Eagles go #belt2ass on the Cowboys in the NFL season opener on Sept. 4.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Bryan Toporek</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Pacers coach Rick Carlisle hints at Sixers’ roster-construction problem]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-analysis/77866/pacers-coach-rick-carlisle-hints-at-sixers-roster-construction-problem" />
<id>https://www.libertyballers.com/?p=77866</id>
<updated>2025-08-20T10:11:03-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-20T07:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.libertyballers.com" term="Sixers Analysis" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[If the 2025 playoffs taught us anything, it’s that youth and depth may be the way forward in today’s NBA. Just ask Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who brought his team within one game of winning this year’s championship. In a recent conversation with Caitlin Cooper of Basketball She Wrote, Carlisle explained that the […]]]></summary>
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If the 2025 playoffs taught us anything, it’s that youth and depth may be the way forward in today’s NBA. Just ask Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who brought his team within one game of winning this year’s championship.
In a recent conversation with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTkNAb3Bvd0">Caitlin Cooper</a> of Basketball She Wrote, Carlisle explained that the Pacers played “a lot of guys” to “try to keep our minutes reasonable and try to get into the legs of our opponent.” He added that it’s a “hard style to play,” but things are changing across the NBA, in part due to the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-bluesky-social wp-block-embed-bluesky-social"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:e7n6cs5ayz4tuab43rr5lh3m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvnpuc2lr22b" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiclzwgl5ntdqj25rcael3oo2pqrlei2zz74bjsrl3qo4kquy7ao7a">Hey guys, I talked to Rick Carlisle about the Pacers playing random- drawing influence from jazz- implementing this style in 2025 vs 2011 – why the NBA is running less PnR- do all teams play the same? – siakam, always adaptingthis is meaningful youtu.be/zTkNAb3Bvd0— <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:e7n6cs5ayz4tuab43rr5lh3m?ref_src=embed">Caitlin Cooper (@caitlinmaycooper.bsky.social)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:e7n6cs5ayz4tuab43rr5lh3m/post/3lvnpuc2lr22b?ref_src=embed">2025-08-05T12:35:10.732Z</a></blockquote>
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“The NBA game has now become a play-hard league,” Carlisle said. “It’s not just being top-heavy with stars. Roster construction is changing. It’s become more important to have more good players than be top-heavy with two or three great players that get all the touches.”
If only the Sixers had gotten that memo ahead of last offseason. Instead of spreading their $60-plus million of salary-cap space to build <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/2/21/24369100/2024-nba-free-agency-paul-george-joel-embiid-tyrese-maxey-daryl-morey-sixers">a two-stars-and-depth model</a> behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, they spent a majority of it on Paul George. The 34-year-old proceeded to miss 41 games during his debut campaign with the Sixers and underwent <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2025/7/14/24467906/paul-george-surgery-knee-injury-2025-nba-offseason-sixers">an arthroscopic procedure</a> on his left knee last month.
The Sixers doubled down on their Big Three model last September when they signed Embiid to a three-year max extension that’s worth a projected $187.6 million. Embiid played only 19 games, largely due to his balky left knee, and it’s <a href="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/08/sixers-unsure-about-joel-embiids-status-for-start-of-training-camp.html">currently unclear</a> whether he’ll be cleared to participate by the start of training camp.
To the Sixers’ credit, they’ve done an admirable job pivoting toward the younger-and-deeper model that the Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder rode to the 2025 NBA Finals. They landed an athletic marvel in VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, signed 24-year-old forward Trendon Watford to a two-year, veteran-minimum deal and added young forwards Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow on two-way contracts.
Even if Embiid and George are in and out of the lineup for the second straight season, the Sixers’ young guards could be the foundation of the team, especially if (when?) they re-sign Quentin Grimes. They wouldn’t be a championship contender by any means, but Maxey, Edgecombe, Grimes, Jared McCain, Watford, Walker, Barlow, Justin Edwards and Adem Bona should at least be able to fly up and down the floor.
The problem is that the Sixers also might have $105-plus million in contractual dead weight hanging around their necks. Unless Embiid and/or George can stay healthy and return to their All-Star form, they’ll be among <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25224415-ranking-8-worst-nba-contracts-books-next-season">the worst contracts</a> in the NBA. Even if they do, it’s fair to wonder how long they’ll hold up playing this way throughout the regular season.
At his peak, Embiid was one of the most dominant scorers in NBA history. His combination of size and touch made him nearly unstoppable, particularly at the elbow. However, he’s never been the most fleet of foot, especially in recent years. He’s often trailing the play as he lumbers up and down the floor. Opponents routinely took advantage of that even before his latest knee injury.
The solution—assuming there even is one—might be something that Embiid has long been loathe to embrace.
Typically, Embiid prefers to play for the entire first and third quarter, catch a breather at the beginning of the second and fourth quarters, then come back for closing time. However, he’s often running on empty toward the end of those 12-minute stretches. If more teams embrace the OKC/Indiana strategy of rotating more players to keep fresh legs on the floor, that could put Embiid at an even greater disadvantage toward the end of his shifts.
The Sixers’ medical team will assuredly work closely with Embiid and George this year to prevent the chronic injury issues that besieged them last year. Whenever they’re cleared to play, one would think they’ll ramp up slowly, particularly early in the season. Bona and Edwards can’t fully replicate the impact of Embiid and George, but even 20-25 minutes from those two is better than zero minutes.
This will require an adjustment from Nick Nurse, too. During his final few seasons with the Toronto Raptors, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet were all among the league leaders in minutes per game. Nurse also fell into that trap with Maxey early last season with Embiid and George sidelined. Maxey averaged 39.7 minutes per game over his first seven games before suffering a hamstring strain that sidelined him for two weeks.
The Sixers likely aren’t getting out of Embiid and George’s contracts before the start of the season. They’re pot-committed to the Big Three model for the time being, for better or worse. While they won’t have the more egalitarian salary structure of a team like the 2024-25 Pacers or Thunder, they could at least emulate that style of minutes distribution.
If they don’t, history may be doomed to repeat itself.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Sean Kennedy</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Report: Ariana Andonian named Delaware Blue Coats GM]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-news/77861/report-ariana-andonian-named-delaware-blue-coats-gm" />
<id>https://www.libertyballers.com/?p=77861</id>
<updated>2025-08-19T11:49:27-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-19T11:49:27-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.libertyballers.com" term="Sixers News" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Around this time last year, the Philadelphia 76ers hired Ariana Andonian from the Memphis Grizzlies to be Vice President of Player Personnel. Clearly, they have been pleased with her work over the last year, as reporting today from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype states she will now also be the new General Manager for the Delaware […]]]></summary>
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<a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/2024/9/4/24236198/sixers-hire-ariana-andonian-vp-of-player-personnel-grizzlies-rockets">Around this time last year</a>, the Philadelphia 76ers hired Ariana Andonian from the Memphis Grizzlies to be Vice President of Player Personnel. Clearly, they have been pleased with her work over the last year, as reporting today from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype states she will now also be the new General Manager for the Delaware Blue Coats.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Sources: The Philadelphia 76ers will name Ariana Andonian Delaware Blue Coats G League GM in addition to her Sixers Vice President of Player Personnel role. Prior, Andonian was Grizzlies Director of Player Personnel and Rockets Scouting Coordinator. She also worked for Duke. <a href="https://t.co/xICkaVwLWG">pic.twitter.com/xICkaVwLWG</a>— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeAScotto/status/1957804863468786006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Before arriving in Philadelphia, Andonian previously spent four years in the Memphis Grizzlies’ front office. Prior to that NBA experience, she was a member of the Houston Rockets’ scouting department during Daryl Morey’s tenure there. In between those two gigs, she earned her MBA from Duke, so I’m sure she and Elton Brand have plenty of Blue Devil-related discussions. Andonian is still only 30 years old and was <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5399937/2024/08/21/nba-40-under-40-top-coaches-executives-directors/">included in The Athletic’s 2024 NBA 40 under 40 list</a>. The blurb there states, “those who worked with her rave about her attention to detail and scouting acumen.”
She will have big shoes to fill at the G League affiliate. Jameer Nelson previously held the role of Blue Coats General Manager, but was <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=liberty+ballers+assistant+general+manager&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS1025US1025&oq=liberty+ballers+assistant+g&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBECEYoAEyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRirAjIHCAQQIRirAtIBCDU1MDVqMGo0qAIAsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">promoted to Sixers Assistant General Manager</a> back in May. Delaware finished 13th in the East at 14-20 last season. At 21.2 points per game, Judah Mintz was the team’s leading scorer among players who appeared in more than a handful of games.
While the Sixers have missed on some big-money contracts, they’ve done decently well recently unearthing talents along the margins, with Justin Edwards being the latest example. Hopefully, Andonian can help that tradition continue in her dual role with Sixers Player Personnel and Blue Coats General Manager.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Greg Frank</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[How high would Jared McCain go in a 2024 NBA redraft?]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-analysis/77848/how-high-would-jared-mccain-go-in-a-2024-nba-redraft" />
<id>https://www.libertyballers.com/?p=77848</id>
<updated>2025-08-16T17:08:47-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-16T17:03:17-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.libertyballers.com" term="Sixers Analysis" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[August is always a slow month in the NBA. There’s a flurry of transactions across the league in July, particularly the early part of July. Then, there’s the Summer League action which allows all of us to fawn over whoever our crush is from the June draft. Now, we’re left with certain restricted free agency […]]]></summary>
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August is always a slow month in the NBA. There’s a flurry of transactions across the league in July, particularly the early part of July. Then, there’s the Summer League action which allows all of us to fawn over whoever our crush is from the June draft. Now, we’re left with certain restricted free agency standoffs that seemingly could drag on close to training camp, which is sort of the spot the Sixers are in with <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-analysis/77777/sixers-quentin-grimes-2025-nba-free-agency-qualifying-offer-sign-and-trade">Quentin Grimes</a>.
So, naturally it’s probably a good time to look back on some previous transactions and grade them. That’s exactly at Sam Vecenie did <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6547791/2025/08/14/nba-draft-2024-stephon-castle-zaccharie-risacher/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twhq&source=twitterhq">recently</a> in redrafting last year’s NBA Draft. Despite only appearing in 23 games as a rookie, Jared McCain looked like a steal for the Sixers at 16th overall. Vecenie redrafted the first 20 picks of the 2024 draft and we’re going to break them down in quarters.
Redraft picks 1-5 (actual pick in parentheses)
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stefon Castle (4 by SA) </li>
<li>Zaccharie Risacher (1 by ATL)</li>
<li>Jared McCain (16 by PHI)</li>
<li>Reed Sheppard (3 by HOU)</li>
<li>Donovan Clingan (7 by POR)</li>
</ol>
Analysis: Outside of McCain’s jump, there’s not a lot of major revelations here. Castle ended up winning the Rookie of the Year and looks poised to form a formidable backcourt in San Antonio with De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper. The other three players in this quarter of Vecenie’s re-draft that aren’t McCain are all slotted within one or two picks of where they were actually selected.
Vecenie wrote multiple paragraphs of analysis on each pick in his re-draft and specifically stated that no player showed more offensive upside last season than McCain. Last year was viewed as a bad draft so perhaps that’s not as glowing of a statement as it would be with other rookie classes, but it’s certainly high praise nonetheless.
Vecenie also brought up a point that I’m sure Daryl Morey, Nick Nurse and the rest of Sixers management have talked about plenty this summer. Vecenie highlighted the fact that McCain looked very comfortable handling the ball and attacking the basket in games Tyrese Maxey did not play. The ability to create for himself and get to the rim is what could truly make McCain an elite offensive player as his career unfolds and he hopefully stays healthy. He was already billed as a high-level three-point shooter and perhaps one could make the argument his outside shooting was even better than expected as a rookie, but if he’s able to score off the dribble and at all three levels pretty consistently, the Sixers might have themselves a superstar in a few years’ time. But, how much of that scoring off the bounce for McCain will be hampered in games both he and Maxey are playing in? We all know Maxey thrives off quickness and athleticism which makes him someone that needs the ball in his hands to be the best player he can be. Figuring out how Maxey and McCain can coexist is undoubtedly the most important task for Philadelphia in 2025-26. In a worst case scenario in which Joel Embiid and Paul George are both frequently unavailable again and the Sixers miss the playoffs again, you’d like to at least feel good about Maxey and McCain’s ability to share the floor together moving forward.
Redraft picks 6-10
6. Matas Buzelis (11 by CHI)
7. Ron Holland II (5 by DET)
8. Zach Edey (9 by MEM)
9. Jaylen Wells (39 by MEM)
10. Kel’el Ware (15 by MIA)
Analysis: If you thought the Sixers got good value in selecting McCain at 16th overall, well how about Memphis getting Jaylen Wells at 39? That’s obviously the big takeaway from these five picks in Vecenie’s redraft. McCain still goes six picks higher than Wells and I think almost every NBA media member would rather have McCain on their team than Wells, but Wells came right in and was a Rooke of the Year finalist as a second-round pick and played a lot of minutes on a Memphis team that made the playoffs and posted decent shooting percentages.
Most people would rather have McCain than Wells, but would you rather be Memphis or Philadelphia right now? In the first-round last year, the Grizzlies surprised some people and took Zach Edey with the ninth overall pick. Edey nearly averaged a double-double as a rookie despite only playing 22 minutes per game. Vecenie noted that Edey graded out well from an analytical standpoint as the Grizzlies were rated very highly offensively in the minutes Edey played with Ja Morant and were also rated highly defensively in the minutes Edey played with Jaren Jackson Jr. To bring us back to the question we asked, it sure seems like the pieces are fitting together a little bit better right now for the Grizzlies. The Sixers are clinging to what might end up being a false hope that Embiid and George can bounce back and if they can’t, questions about how Philly’s young guards fit together need to be answered this season just for Philadelphia’s future to even be mildly exciting. It looks like the pieces are starting to fit together in Memphis and if the Grizzlies can build off of last year’s 48-win campaign and playoff berth, they’ll have a chance to make some more noise in the spring of 2026.
Redraft picks 11-16
11. Alex Sarr (2 by WSH)
12. Ajay Mitchell (38 by OKC)
13. Kyshawn George (24 by WSH)
14. Nikola Topic (12 by OKC)
15. Kyle Filipowski (32 by UTAH)
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li></li>
</ol>
Analysis: There are a few Sixers angles to take away from this group of five players. First off, let’s hope that V.J. Edgecombe is not ranked outside the top 10 in a 2025 redraft at this time next year the way Alex Sarr is here. It seems like Vecenie’s big knock on Sarr is a lack of strength that had him getting bullied a lot inside against the bigs he was matching up with last season. If there’s any solace to be taken from this quarter for Wizards fans, Kyshawn George looks like another one of the steals of the first round.
The Thunder and Sixers have been connected in the draft dating back to 2020 when the Oklahoma City first-round pick conveyed to Philadelphia and became Tyrese Maxey for the Sixers. Oklahoma City has hit home runs all over the draft and Mitchell appears to be another one of the better second-rounders from last year along with Wells. If Philadelphia has another bad season in 2025-26, it’s likely its first-rounder will go to the Thunder and the rich will get richer.
 Redraft picks 16-20
16. Bub Carrington (14 by WSH)
17. Terrence Shannon Jr. (17 by MIN)
18. Tristan Da Silva (18 by ORL)
19. Isaiah Collier (29 by UTAH)
20. Ryan Dunn (28 by PHX)
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li></li>
</ol>
Analysis: This is an interesting final quarter of Vecenie’s mock draft because it’s the area of the draft that the Sixers picked McCain in. Interestingly enough, Vecenie noes that Carrington played more minutes than any other player in the draft class last year. Carrington was also one of the younger players in the draft so there might be some hope for him to stick around for a while in the NBA, but he’s the only guy that even had a big enough role as a rookie to have merited being selected where Philadelphia was picking and surely would have been a worse pick than McCain anyway.
The other thing worth noting here is Dalton Knecht is not mentioned at all in the redraft. Many Sixers fans debated Knecht versus McCain leading up to the draft and when Philly was on the clock with both players available. Knecht had lots of defensive problems as a rookie and the Lakers tried to trade him in a deal that eventually fell through with Charlotte. The big selling point on Knecht was his college experience and he seemed like someone that appeared to be more NBA ready than McCain. Let this exercise serve as a reminder that NBA readiness should not be all that high on any team’s priority list when drafting. The draft is about getting long-term building blocks and McCain sure looks like one for the Sixers.
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Paul Hudrick</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Editor-in-chief mailbag: Season expectations, tanking thoughts, more]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-discussion-threads/77836/editor-in-chief-mailbag-sixers-season-expectations-tanking-thoughts-more" />
<id>https://www.libertyballers.com/?p=77836</id>
<updated>2025-08-15T14:27:47-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-15T14:27:47-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.libertyballers.com" term="Sixers Discussion Threads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I appreciate everyone who offered candid feedback on the new site design and The Feed. We’re all continuing to get used to everything and your feedback is genuinely taken into consideration. With all that said, let’s get right into your questions. Note: I’ll be on vacation next week so no mailbag. I’ve been having a […]]]></summary>
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I appreciate everyone who offered candid feedback on the new site design and The Feed. We’re all continuing to get used to everything and your feedback is genuinely taken into consideration.
With all that said, let’s get right into your questions.
Note: I’ll be on vacation next week so no mailbag.
<img src="https://platform.libertyballers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-15-at-10.09.55%E2%80%AFAM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
I’ve been having a hard time convincing folks that three-guard lineups will work. But I’m down for a four-guard look. Get what could very well be your best four players on the court at the same time. Let’s get weird! The biggest issues will be the team guarding a pure 4 and rebounding, but those issues are going to exist no matter which lineup they use (unless they use the two-way guys a bunch). Unless an opponent goes very small, I doubt Nick Nurse would go to this look, but it sure would be fun!
If you’re meaning this more holistically, like the four-guard rotation, I think each guy just needs to be who they are. Let Tyrese Maxey use his speed to get downhill and find his shooting stroke again. Let Quentin Grimes take the playmaking burden off Maxey with the starting group. Let Jared McCain cook off the bench and explore more of his playmaking ability. Let VJ Edgecombe be an athletic freak who flys all over the court.
As I’ve said several times, I want to see three-guard lineups used a ton. Let’s see Grimes and Edgecombe guard up and how that looks. You need to see how it all works for future team building. Plus, it might be your best path for winning right now.
<img src="https://platform.libertyballers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-15-at-10.11.58%E2%80%AFAM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
I’m likely going to be in the minority here, but the former.
Postseason experience is invaluable. Let’s see what McCain, Edgecombe, Adem Bona, Justin Edwards, Johni Broome, etc. all look like in a playoff scenario. Will they make some sort of shocking run to the Finals? Extremely unlikely. But imagine the Xfinity Mobile Arena (that’s official now) packed for a play-in game while cheering on the team’s quartet of young guards. I get the goal is to win a championship, but that would be an enjoyable experience for fans. Remember joy? Maybe you could allow yourself to feel it about your basketball team.
I was not in favor of tanking last season until things truly went to shit (more on that below). I can’t go into a season, knowing the East is going to be awful (more on that below) with the talent this team should have, and think about a 42% chance to land a pick. I’m not anti-tank by any stretch. If things go the same as they did last season, I’d consider it. But I’d also want to be sure guys like McCain and Edgecombe are getting proper time and runway to develop — and those guys will not be trying to lose with they way they’re wired.
<img src="https://platform.libertyballers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-15-at-10.13.24%E2%80%AFAM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
I get why Daryl Morey waited to tank, though I do think Joel Embiid and Paul George should’ve been shut down much sooner. I was basically on board with a tank once they lost that buzzer-beater to the Nets. That wound up being Embiid’s last game of the season — though we had to wait for that announcement to come.
It’s a tricky question. Yes, if things go off the rails earlier, it might be worth exploring tanking, but the flattened odds make things difficult. The teams that owned the top three picks in 2025 — Mavericks, Spurs, Sixers — didn’t start tanking until later in the season when their stars went down. As you mentioned, the pick is top-four protected. It’s basically designed to make sure it conveys to the Thunder for 2026 (that Sam Presti is pretty good at his job!).
The other element that makes tanking trickier is you have a bunch of young, hungry players who want and need development time. As mentioned, if all the young guys are healthy, they’re going to want to play and they’re all going to play to win. The Sixers have (seemingly purposely) acquired young players who are also winners. With that, those guys are going to play hard every single night. They might just have enough talent to keep the team in a bunch of games.
As for jobs, I’m not positive Morey and Nurse would survive another 24-win season. Going to keep using the word “tricky” here though. If you fire Morey and Nurse, you’re leaving the next VP of basketball ops and head coach quite the mess. If you recall, Morey inherited a pretty sizeable mess himself, forcing him to attach a first-round pick to dump Al Horford’s contract. He also inherited Doc Rivers and a teetering Ben Simmons. 
These aren’t excuses. Morey did well to clean those things up. But after he cleaned them up, he signed George to a huge contract and gave Embiid a massive extension. Those are the moves that will define his tenure despite acquiring guys like Maxey, Grimes, McCain and Edgecombe. So, does Josh Harris let Morey see it through or find yet another executive to clean up yet another mess? It would be a tough spot, but again, I can’t be positive he’d survive another season like 2024-25.
<img src="https://platform.libertyballers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-15-at-10.15.40%E2%80%AFAM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
Man, I know this is a worst-case scenario, but many of you are in a grim place. I get it. This franchise hasn’t instilled much confidence over the last decade or so. And this scenario is plenty feasible, sadly.
Since you asked for my best-case scenario (within reason), I’ll hit on that.
Before his recent surgery, I was expecting a decent bounce-back season from George. He was never healthy at any point last year. I think his performance was mostly due to health issues, though surely there’s some decline for a 35-year-old. I think if George is reasonably healthy, he could have a much better season. Keep in mind that despite the injuries, George was still above average on the defensive end of the floor. If he can just be an overpaid 3-and-D guy who supplies some secondary playmaking for 50ish games, it improves the team’s chances immensely.
I have zero clue what Embiid is going to look like when he does play. Similar to George, I don’t think you need him to be an MVP candidate to help this team win. If he’s healthy and allows the young guards to sort of take over the offense, it could go a long way to preserving him this season — and possibly for the rest of his career. If he plays 40ish games at an All-Star level and is healthy for the postseason, the sky is the limit for this team.
Those best-case scenarios are lofty. It’s more realistic those two players will miss more time and struggle to be effective when playing.
Where I draw a lot more optimism is the youth movement. I think Maxey has a bounce-back season, Grimes shows there is more to his game (though I don’t think his March production is replicable), McCain reminds people he would’ve run away with Rookie of the Year, Edgecombe proves every bit worthy of the No. 3 pick, Bona and Edwards reaffirm they are NBA rotation players — those are best-case scenarios and I think they happen. Guys like Broome, Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow making an impact also seems possible.
The absolute best-case scenario is Embiid and George are as healthy and effective as they can be and this team could take advantage of a depleted Eastern Conference. The more realistic best-case scenario is those two aren’t major factors and the young guys lead the team to the play-in/playoffs and give the franchise hope for the future.
<img src="https://platform.libertyballers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-15-at-10.16.35%E2%80%AFAM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
I’ll start be answering your question — yes, they can make the playoffs. Have you seen the Eastern Conference? There is enough talent with the rest of this group to at worst be a play-in team.
Your point is fair. It definitely hurt the team last season when both guys were in and out of the lineup and there was so much uncertainty. I don’t think it goes down like that this season. Maxey admitted he let the situation get to him to start the year. It was reflected in his poor start to the season. His best stretch came mostly with Embiid and George out of the lineup in January. I expect to see more of that player this season.
Beyond Embiid and George, I think people are forgetting just how banged up the rest of the roster was. Yes, Morey deserves plenty of blame for assembling an old roster, but he course corrected starting at the deadline and going into the offseason. Yes, Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon are back, but they’re basically going to be the 13th and 14th guys on the roster.
It appears Morey misread the market under the new CBA in signing George to a max deal. Again, that will be the defining move of his tenure. But at least he didn’t compound that mistake by making even more all-in moves. The Sixers will in fact be younger and more dynamic. That’s why I think they can snag a playoff spot in a depleted East.

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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Erin Grugan</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Sixers full 2025-26 regular season schedule released]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-news/77817/sixers-philadelphia-2025-26-regular-season-schedule-nick-nurse-joel-embiid" />
<id>https://www.libertyballers.com/?p=77817</id>
<updated>2025-08-14T15:50:53-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-14T15:46:03-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.libertyballers.com" term="Sixers News" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Mark your calendars! The schedule of all 82 games of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 2025-26 regular season has been revealed. The NBA has been slowly releasing its schedule for 2025-26 throughout the week. Over the last few days, we learned that the Sixers were (rightfully) left off the league’s Christmas Day schedule as well as omitted […]]]></summary>
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Mark your calendars! The schedule of all 82 games of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 2025-26 regular season has been revealed. 
The NBA has been slowly releasing its schedule for 2025-26 throughout the week. Over the last few days, we learned that the Sixers were (rightfully) <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-schedule/77790/sixers-2025-26-nba-schedule-opening-night-week-christmas-day-games" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-schedule/77790/sixers-2025-26-nba-schedule-opening-night-week-christmas-day-games">left off the league’s Christmas Day schedule</a> as well as omitted from other special national broadcasts. The team also revealed <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-news/77774/sixers-first-games-of-2025-26-season-announced-in-form-of-nba-cup-games" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-news/77774/sixers-first-games-of-2025-26-season-announced-in-form-of-nba-cup-games">their Emirates NBA Cup schedule</a> for Group Play (East B).
But now we have the full picture as the league released the entire regular season schedule on Thursday. The Sixers will begin their 2025-26 campaign on the road in an Eastern Conference matchup against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 22. Here’s the full schedule:
<img src="https://platform.libertyballers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2025/08/image_from_ios.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,1.8987341772152,100,96.20253164557" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
Just to name a few things that stick out initially…
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Sixers’ west coast trip will be February 2-9, 2026. </li>
<li>Former 76er Guerschon Yabusele will return to the Wells Farg—I mean, the Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026, for the first time as New York Knick. The Sixers play the Knicks twice before then, but both on the road. </li>
<li>Philadelphia will play in 16 back-to-backs.</li>
<li>The Sixers are slated for 14 nationally-televised games (including streaming). </li>
<li>January and March will be busy months for the Sixers, featuring 17 and 16 games, respectfully.</li>
</ul>
The truth is, regular season NBA schedule releases are never exactly the most exciting thing, but this one feels especially empty for the Sixers. There is just so much up in the air for the franchise as we continue through the offseason. The squad currently has two unused roster spots on top of the completely uncertain statuses of <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-news/77814/nick-nurse-embiids-availability-for-camp-still-up-in-the-air" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-news/77814/nick-nurse-embiids-availability-for-camp-still-up-in-the-air">Joel Embiid</a> and Paul George, both recovering from surgeries. It’s simply hard to analyze anything right now when we aren’t even sure who will be on the floor for coach Nick Nurse come October.
So let’s just end here putting it simply, with a breakdown of each month for the Sixers’ upcoming campaign… no matter who is playing by then.
OCTOBER: 5 games (3 home, 2 away)
NOVEMBER: 14 games (8 home, 6 away)
DECEMBER: 10 games (5 home, 5 away, *2 to be scheduled)
JANUARY: 17 games (11 home, 6 away)
FEBRUARY: 11 games (3 home, 8 away)
MARCH: 16 games (7 home, 9 away)
APRIL: 7 games (3 home, 4 away)
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Harrison Grimm</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Nick Nurse: Embiid’s availability for camp still up in the air]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-news/77814/nick-nurse-embiids-availability-for-camp-still-up-in-the-air" />
<id>https://www.libertyballers.com/?p=77814</id>
<updated>2025-08-14T14:54:04-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-14T14:54:04-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.libertyballers.com" term="Sixers News" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[It’s been more than a dozen weeks since Joel Embiid underwent surgery on his troublesome knee. Aside from brief post-draft remarks from President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and an on-the-record interview Embiid gave to ESPN, there’s been little concrete information about the big man’s rehab. Head coach Nick Nurse recently sat down with Top […]]]></summary>
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It’s been more than a dozen weeks since Joel Embiid underwent surgery on his troublesome knee. Aside from brief post-draft remarks from President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and an on-the-record interview Embiid gave to ESPN, there’s been little concrete information about the big man’s rehab. 
Head coach Nick Nurse recently sat down with <a href="https://talksport.com/basketball/3469133/nick-nurse-joel-embiid-philadelphia-76ers-injury-update-status/">Top Sport’s Brian T. Smith</a>, where he discussed a range of topics, including an update on Joel Embiid.
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“All the news is positive,” Nurse exclusively told talkSPORT on Tuesday at the NBA’s <a href="https://talksport.com/basketball/3449156/nba-basketball-without-borders-manchester-historic-lakers-76ers-clippers/">Basketball Without Borders Europe camp</a> in Manchester.
“I know he’s working very, very hard and I think things look good. 
“Whether he’s ready for training camp or not, I think there’s maybe a lot more decisions than that to make before we get there.
“But our main thing is that he’s healthy to play and play to his nearest capabilities, because he’s awesome, no doubt about that.”
</blockquote>
While Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and other young players have been spotted putting in work at the practice facility, Embiid has been notably absent — presumably rehabbing his knee and working his way back into game shape. Multiple reports indicate he’s remained in the Philadelphia area this offseason, a departure from his usual routine in past summers.
Nurse’s comments hint there’s a chance Embiid could miss the start of the season. Last year, the Sixers fell into a frustrating cycle: Embiid would play, experience knee issues, sit out for a stretch, then return — only for the problem to flare up again. The approach failed, limiting him to just 19 games before he was ultimately shut down in late February. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on April 11. This time, it appears the Sixers, and Embiid himself, are taking a far more cautious approach, aiming to give him the time he needs to fully heal and get his knee back to where it needs to be.
Nurse noted that all the updates on Joel so far have been “positive,” offering some hope that Embiid could be available for sustained stretches this season.
Looking back on a season marked by injuries, endless roster shuffling, a parade of 10-day contracts, and plenty of losses, Nurse acknowledged just how turbulent the year was, and how much the team is determined to avoid a repeat.
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“We had a really unfortunate season last year,” Nurse said.
“We just could not get away from the injury bug at all. Not only was <a href="https://talksport.com/who/joel-embiid/">Joel Embiid</a>, our former MVP from just a couple of years ago — I think he played (19) games. That was one thing.
“But it was almost four, five, six guys every night. We just never could get any continuity. We used an incredible 40 different players last year.
“So let’s put that in the rearview mirror a little bit. Listen, those guys get healthy. They’re great players, and we get some better health this year. We’ll be right back in the mix and that’s what we’re looking to do.”
</blockquote>
Everything hinges on Joel Embiid, who at his peak is arguably the most talented player in the league. That fact often overshadows just how many other key Sixers missed significant time last season. Paul George, signed to a max deal over the summer, suited up for only half the season. Tyrese Maxey played just 52 of 82 games, and standout rookie Jared McCain logged a little over 20. And that’s without even accounting for the time lost by other rotation players.
We’ll see soon enough whether the Sixers, and Embiid, can truly put last season’s disappointment behind them. For now, the arrow seems to be pointing up. Then again, with this team, the only certainty is uncertainty. 
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Josh Grieb</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Sixers’ first games of 2025-26 season announced in form of NBA Cup games]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-news/77774/sixers-first-games-of-2025-26-season-announced-in-form-of-nba-cup-games" />
<id>https://www.libertyballers.com/?p=77774</id>
<updated>2025-08-13T14:39:39-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-13T14:39:39-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.libertyballers.com" term="Sixers News" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The NBA has dropped the first tidbits of the 2025-26 season as Good Morning America and The Today Show released a sneak peek of some nationally televised this season on ABC, ESPN, NBC, and Peacock. RIP officially to the NBA on TNT. The Sixers did not feature in any of those games, so their first […]]]></summary>
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The NBA has dropped the first tidbits of the 2025-26 season as Good Morning America and The Today Show released a sneak peek of some nationally televised this season on ABC, ESPN, NBC, and Peacock. RIP officially to the NBA on TNT.
The Sixers did not feature in any of those games, so their first games announced were their four matchups of group play in the NBA Cup. Their opponents were announced about a month ago, but now the order has been revealed as well. They’ll kick things off on Halloween when they host the Boston Celtics at 7:00 p.m. ET. That will be nationally televised, or perhaps nationally streamed is the correct phrasing because that game will take place on Amazon Prime. Their next game of group play will be on Nov. 14 when they travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Their second home game of group play will also be nationally televised when they take on the Orlando Magic at 7:00 p.m. ET on NBC. Group play will wrap up for the Sixers on Nov. 28 when they head up to Brooklyn to take on the Nets at 7.30 p.m. ET. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">we're locked in. NBA Cup schedule ⤵️ <a href="https://t.co/AlUOpfquqr">pic.twitter.com/AlUOpfquqr</a>— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) <a href="https://twitter.com/sixers/status/1955692179176738831?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
So it won’t be long for Sixers fans to get a new look at the new stations that will be broadcasting the NBA nationally going forward. The only question now is what blindingly bright color will the Sixers’ Cup court be this season? After going through red and blue in their first two years, they are quickly running out of new options.
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Paul Hudrick</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Editor-in-chief mailbag: Let’s try this again (again)]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-discussion-threads/77800/editor-in-chief-mailbag-lets-try-this-again-again" />
<id>https://www.libertyballers.com/?p=77800</id>
<updated>2025-08-12T14:30:34-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-12T14:30:34-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.libertyballers.com" term="Sixers Discussion Threads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[So, I’ve been posting mailbags over on The Feed for the new site design. Nobody has been leaving questions so I assume that’s folks adjusting to the new site. I know it’s also August and not a whole lot is happening. My goal for The Feed is to make it a space for Sixers fans […]]]></summary>
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So, I’ve been posting mailbags over on The Feed for the new site design. Nobody has been leaving questions so I assume that’s folks adjusting to the new site. I know it’s also August and not a whole lot is happening.
My goal for The Feed is to make it a space for Sixers fans to talk without the nonsense social media brings. You can post something and start a discussion. Our writers can try to spark some conversation and you can all hop in. I want this to feel like a true community where you have access to myself and the other super talented people at LB.
So, definitely feel free to drop your Sixers questions in the comments and I’ll happily answer them. Also feel free to let me know your thoughts on The Feed and how you’d like it used or if you’re having any issues with it.

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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Paul Hudrick</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Sixers (unsurprisingly) left off opening night, Christmas Day slates]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-schedule/77790/sixers-2025-26-nba-schedule-opening-night-week-christmas-day-games" />
<id>https://www.libertyballers.com/?p=77790</id>
<updated>2025-08-12T10:30:45-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-12T10:30:45-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.libertyballers.com" term="Sixers Schedule" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The days of the Sixers being a fixture on the NBA’s biggest stages — opening night and Christmas Day — appear to be over. We’ve gotten leaks on slates for both of the tentpole days and your Sixers (unsurprisingly) have been left off. Again, none of this comes as a surprise. Joel Embiid had another […]]]></summary>
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The days of the Sixers being a fixture on the NBA’s biggest stages — opening night and Christmas Day — appear to be over.
We’ve gotten leaks on slates for both of the tentpole days and your Sixers (unsurprisingly) have been left off.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">The 2025-26 regular season will tip off with a doubleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 21 as the NBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock. 🏀 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the <a href="https://twitter.com/okcthunder?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@okcthunder</a> receive their championship rings and raise their championship banner before hosting the <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HoustonRockets</a>… <a href="https://t.co/TRuUEgH3zP">pic.twitter.com/TRuUEgH3zP</a>— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1955236594278977812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">ESPN will begin its 2025-26 regular-season game coverage with opening-week doubleheaders on Wednesday, Oct. 22 and Thursday, Oct. 23. <a href="https://t.co/g7B7apbAeQ">pic.twitter.com/g7B7apbAeQ</a>— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1955237468464153060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">The NBA will feature five games on Christmas Day (Thursday, Dec. 25) for the 18th consecutive year, with ABC and ESPN both televising each matchup. <a href="https://t.co/GjmfyljacD">pic.twitter.com/GjmfyljacD</a>— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1955239039176487366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Again, none of this comes as a surprise.
Joel Embiid had another arthroscopic procedure done on his knee and there’s nothing resembling a clear timeline for his return. Same goes for Paul George, who underwent an arthroscopic procedure last month. We’re expected to get some form of update by training camp, but that obviously leaves the door open for both former All-Stars to miss camp and possibly the beginning of the season.
Oh, and the team won 24 games last season.
The rose-colored glasses way to look at things is there are little expectations for the Sixers this season. Guys like Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and VJ Edgecombe can simply play free every night. We know that trio and the other young players on the Sixers will compete every night and there is talent there. Who knows how good they’ll be with Embiid and George likely missing time, but there is potential for them to be fun.
The NBA is expected to announce the complete 2025-26 schedule on Thursday.
The matchups that will occur on opening night should be intriguing. It will also be interesting to see the NBC and Peacock broadcasts. Are we looking at a hot-take fest like ESPN or will the folks at NBC actually talk about the game of basketball? How does Michael Jordan, who’s stayed out of the analyst game in his post-career, factor into everything?
Play some Roundball Rock and let’s toss it up.
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