Joel Embiid and Paul George struggled with availability last season, combining for only 60 appearances, and that pattern has continued this fall. Embiid has played six games and George three, with the two still yet to take the floor together.
But as Tim Bontemps of ESPN explains, the impact of their absences hasn’t been as damaging this time thanks to Philadelphia’s revitalized backcourt.
The team drafted VJ Edgecombe third overall to join Tyrese Maxey, who has taken a major leap. One Western Conference executive said, “These guys give them the ability to move on from the Embiid and George era.”
Another exec from the East added, “It just looks like there is more energy. They may not be good enough, but it’s not just waiting around for Paul and Joel [to get healthy] like it’s been in the past.”
Bontemps notes that Nick Nurse and the Sixers aimed to avoid being overly dependent on Embiid offensively, and Maxey has stepped into that role brilliantly. Through 17 games, he’s averaging 32.2 points and 7.5 assists on improved shooting splits.
As one Eastern Conference scout put it, “He’s a legitimate first- or second-team All-NBA player now. Even with Embiid’s injury issues, they could still be in the conversation for a top-six spot in the East, because Maxey is really that good.”
ICYMI: Tyrese Maxey is thriving as Philadelphia's offensive engine, plus more notes on the Sixers. https://t.co/2mHOB7iKLx
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 29, 2025
