Heading into the season, expectations were soaring for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The team made waves in the offseason by landing All-Star forward Paul George in free agency, forming a highly anticipated “big three” alongside Joel Embiid and rising star Tyrese Maxey.
On paper, the trio promised to be one of the most dynamic forces in the league – a combination of scoring, defense, and leadership that many believed could power the Sixers to serious title contention.
But reality fell far short of the hype.
Philadelphia stumbled out of the gate, losing 12 of its first 14 games, a stretch that set the tone for what would become a dismal 24-58 campaign.
A brutal run of injuries, including prolonged absences from Embiid and other key contributors, left the roster in disarray.
The team never found its footing, and chemistry that was supposed to grow organically never truly materialized.
Reflecting on the disappointing year, Paul George didn’t sugarcoat his experience, describing the challenges as some of the most difficult he’s ever faced as a professional.
“Yeah, it was just, to be honest, one of the toughest seasons for me,” George said on Sunday, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “Just with a lot of adversity on the court, off the court and, then again, the injury stuff was some stuff that I didn’t necessarily know I had going on … which was frustrating.”
George’s comments offered a glimpse into the emotional and physical toll the season took – not just in terms of missed opportunities but also the hidden setbacks and lingering health issues that he hadn’t anticipated dealing with when he signed on to be part of what looked like a championship-caliber squad.
Despite the chaos, the belief in the core remains intact. Both George and Maxey made it clear they still see something special in this group – potential that simply never had a chance to flourish under the circumstances.
“The names on the paper … it looks nice. It does,” Maxey said, speaking candidly about the roster. “And I think we’ve seen where our peaks can be this year. There wasn’t a lot of them. But there was some stretches where we all played and we looked really good. We found the right rotations, we knew who to get the ball to, who we need to get the ball to them, everybody got shots, everybody looked good.”
The flashes of brilliance – brief as they were – have been enough for the young guard to stay optimistic. But he also issued a challenge, emphasizing that talent alone won’t be enough to bring this team to the next level.
“So the sky’s the limit. That’s the thing that I can say,” Maxey continued. “But the work has to be put in from day one, not from in the middle of the season. … Today is our last game. Whenever everybody decides to start working out again, that’s when our season for next year starts, individually and collectively. And it has to be taken serious. And I think we will take it serious and I have the ultimate faith in the organization and the guys up top and my teammates to do that.”
As bleak as the 2024–25 season turned out to be, the Sixers’ stars are already looking ahead.
The focus now shifts to the offseason – one where accountability, health, and preparation will be key if this team hopes to make good on the lofty expectations that once surrounded it.
Sixers Notes: George, Maxey, Lowry, Grimes, Oubre, Drummond https://t.co/Btu0mf0Wem pic.twitter.com/ujVvI6P1bL
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 13, 2025
