Can the 76ers Live Up to the Hype This Season?

No story is bigger than the Philadelphia 76ers this season, as the star-studded group will be in the spotlight all year. However, the big question remains: can the 76ers live up to the hype and bring Philly its first title since 1983?

The Stars Align 

The 76ers saw the stars align in the off-season: they landed Jaylen Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, in a blockbuster trade, then, in another rendition of “The Decision” LeBron James chose to sign with Philly.

The 76ers now have four legit stars in their starting five: Brown, King James, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid. The lone starter isn't a star yet but is an emerging one: VJ Edgecombe, who averaged 16 ppg as a rookie last season. Brown and Maxey ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in scoring last season; James dodged Father Time for second-team All-NBA; and when Embiid was on the court, he averaged 26.9 ppg and 7.7 rpg.

While Philly is loaded, two things could derail them: health and chemistry.

The Health Issue 

Health is obviously a big concern for every team, but it is especially true for the 76ers, and even more so for Embiid. Since winning the MVP in 2023, Embiid has missed more than half of the games in each of the last three seasons. He will miss games, but how many, and will he be available when the playoffs come around?

While James has dodged Father Time, the same cannot be said for the injury bug, as he missed 22 games last season due to injury and has played 70 or more games in only two of the past eight seasons. Embiid remains the Wild Card with his health issues, and the three stars and the emerging one will have to learn to win when he is in street clothes.

Injuries have already hit Embiid’s backups at center: Tacko Fall is out for the season opener, Adem Bono is a game-time decision, and Ariel Hukporti is already likely out for the season with a torn Achilles.

Building Chemistry 

It is not just James and Brown who are new to the team; Philly has nine new players. Chemistry will be an issue, especially early on. One big question is who will be the alpha dog? Will King James take over that role, as he has throughout his career? Will Brown do so, which was a main reason he was traded, since he couldn't do that in Boston with Jayson Tatum? Or will Maxey continue to lead like he did with the 76ers last season.

Time Will Tell 

Superteams have come and gone, and some win and some don't. There are some early concerns with the 76ers, but one thing is for sure: it's been a while since a team had this much hype entering the season. Time will tell what happens this season, but Philly fans hope the hype is real and the stars can lead the team to its first title since Dr. J. was on the floor and Dallas was the top-rated TV show.