It’s been about a month since opening night, and the Philadelphia 76ers have as many victories (two) as the lowly Washington Wizards And Toronto Raptors.
The 76ers may be the most disappointing team in history N.B.A from the start of the 2024-2025 campaign. Despite adding nine-time All-Star winger Paul George this summer to form basketball’s best “Big 3” along with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, they have struggled mightily. Philadelphia was expected to be on the short list of Eastern Conference title contenders, although that has been far from the case thus far.
While many of Philly’s shortcomings can be attributed to poor health, some are merely a lack of execution or attention to detail. There are several factors at stake, and many people are to blame for their dismal start to the year, headlined by the trio of people below.
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As previously mentioned, the Sixers acquired George this offseason. Not only this, but they paid a nice price for it: they signed him to a four-year contract worth up to $212. Even though the sample size was small, the beginning of his tenure in Philadelphia was nothing like the monetary value invested in him.
Offensively, George did not shoot the ball well. He is averaging 16.5 points per game while posting 39.8 and 31.1 percent clips from the field and 3-point range, respectively. Those would represent his lowest numbers in any category in more than a decade. Furthermore, the 34-year-old’s 3.5 times overnight turnover would be the second highest for him.
Of course, the continued missing presence of superstar Joel Embiid and reigning Most Improved Player of the Year Tyrese Maxey’s hamstring injury complicates matters. George’s progress from a hyperextended left knee suffered in preseason that forced him to miss time doesn’t help either. Either way, his salary and track record don’t match what we’ve seen from him.
George’s saving grace that keeps him from being higher on this list is his playmaking and defensive efforts. He posts a strong 5.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game, demonstrating his ability to impact victory even when scoring efficiency is low.
Veteran Andre Drummond is the only Sixer with a better defensive rating than George (110). The latter’s patented two-way game has yet to take shape, but at least he’s holding up his end of the bargain on one end of the floor.
76ers head coach Nick Nurse has gotten the short end of the stick this season. He expected there to be an elite starting five, plus a serviceable set of role players. Unfortunately, that’s not how the cookie broke for the sideline chef, putting his job security in doubt.
Nurse and the Sixers have undoubtedly faced adversity this season and find themselves in an unenviable, precarious situation. Yet he has not done himself or his team any favours, failing to put them in positions where they could achieve success.
Philadelphia isn’t rebounding the ball or shooting well while ranking near the bottom of the league in pace. Amid their issues with fundamental aspects of the game, Nurse has not pushed the group to play with more pace and a sense of urgency. Trying to pick up easy, quick baskets feels like a reasonable adjustment to being without your top scorer(s). But even with Embiid in and out of the lineup, they continue their slow, methodical offense.
Last but certainly not least, the entire Sixers operation is built to revolve around Embiid. Yet he was horrible and unhealthy. Since everything starts and ends with him in Philadelphia, everything falls apart at the seams.
Embiid has not looked good since tearing his left lateral meniscus in January 2023 and seemingly declining. He has been particularly slow this season and is a far cry from the dominant, MVP-caliber seven-footer we are used to seeing. To make matters worse, “The Process” only covers two of Philly’s first twelve games.
If Embiid is available, he has done more harm than good for the Sixers. His net rating of -14.7 (the second lowest on the team) illustrates how ineffective he has been. It was so tough that retired NBA veteran Chandler Parsons suggested Philadelphia shut it down for a year.
With averages of 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 blocks on paltry .269/.100/.1000 shooting splits, this version of Embiid is sinking the 76ers. And honestly, there’s no end in sight, which makes the three-year, $193 million extension he signed in September eerily scary.