Despite injuries limiting the availability of seven-time All-Star center Joel Embiid and nine-time All-Star forward Paul George (Embiid is playing under a minutes restriction, George is recovering from a surgery), the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves on an absolute tear thanks to a surprising source: their youth movement.
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Philadelphia just bested the Washington Wizards in an epic overtime effort, 139-134, Philadelphia just bested the Washington Wizards in an epic overtime effort, 139-134, thanks in large part to the efforts of All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey, reserve combo guard Quentin Grimes, rookie No. 3 draft pick VJ Edgecombe, and even young raw pieces like Adem Bona.
Granted, vets like Embiid and Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in significant offense, too. But it does feel like we’re in the midst of a shift in the team’s balance of power.
A big night for the 76ers’ rising star
Maxey led the way for Philadelphia with 39 points on 11-of-25 shooting from the field (3-of-9 from distance) and 14-of-16 shooting from the foul line, 10 assists, a steal and a block in 47:26. He notched nine of those points in the bonus period.
Embiid chipped in 25 points in just 23 minutes, Grimes logged 23 points, and both Oubre (17 points and 11 rebounds) and Edgecombe (14 points) scored in double digits.
Per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Maxey departed the hardwood as the Philadelphia faithful serenaded him with a chorus of “MVP!” accolades.
Through his first four contests, Maxey is averaging a robust 37.5 points a night, and clearly appears to have graduated to another level of excellence following something of a lost 2024-25 season amid injuries to much of the roster’s then-core.
Last year’s “Big Three” of Embiid, Maxey and George may have to make room for the club’s fresh “Big Two:” Maxey and Edgecombe. Grimes, who failed to reach a long-term agreement in restricted free agency this summer, may or may not be a part of the 76ers’ intended future core — depending on how the season shakes out.
Pompey observes that Philadelphia has now gone 4-0 for the first time since the club’s 2019-20 season, when the team started things off 5-0. That iteration of the roster, anchored by Embiid, All-Star guard (at the time) Ben Simmons, and pricey forward Tobias Harris, ultimately fell short in the first round of the playoffs thanks to a Simmons injury.
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