Philadelphia 76ers 2026-27 NBA Preseason Preview

The Sixers’ Best-Case Scenario

This might be the most interesting part of the entire season: Maxey is coming off an All-NBA season in which he averaged 28.3 points per game, and he has spent the last several years establishing himself as one of Philadelphia’s central pieces.

Now, he has LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joining him.

That does not necessarily mean Maxey’s role becomes smaller. It could mean it becomes more efficient.

Maxey has the speed to attack the defense before it is set, and playing alongside James could give him more opportunities to work off the ball rather than constantly creating from scratch. James has spent his career making stars around him better by drawing defensive attention and creating opportunities.

Edgecombe’s situation is even more fascinating.

The Sixers drafted him as a player who could eventually become one of the faces of the franchise. He showed flashes of that potential immediately, starting as a rookie and finishing third in the Rookie of the year voting.

Now he has four established stars around him.

The Sixers still need to develop Edgecombe, but they do not necessarily need him to become a 25-point scorer immediately. He can focus on defense, transition, cutting and making quick decisions while learning from players who have already been through the process.

That could be especially valuable long term.

If Edgecombe continues his rapid ascent, James manages his workload effectively, and Nurse gets all five primary creators operating in sync, Philadelphia’s ceiling extends far beyond a strong regular season. They become a legitimate threat to secure a top-two seed in the East and make a deep run to the NBA finals.

The Sixers’ Worst-Case Scenario

There is one question hanging over Philadelphia that has nothing to do with basketball chemistry.

Can Embiid stay on the floor?

The Sixers’ biggest problem last season was not a lack of talent. It was availability. Embiid played in only 45 of a possible 94 games, and he has appeared in just 96 regular-season games over the last three seasons.

That makes the additions of Hukporti and the continued development of Adem Bona much more important than they might appear on paper.

If Embiid is healthy, the Sixers can build an offense around one of the most dominant players in the sport.

If he is unavailable, the team suddenly looks very different.

Bona also entered camp dealing with a foot sprain, making the center depth even more important early in the season.

James’ age creates another variable. At 41, Philadelphia cannot reasonably expect him to carry a massive workload every game.

The Sixers have enough talent to manage the regular season differently than they have in the past. The challenge will be making sure the roster is healthy when the games matter most.

If Embiid misses extended time and age finally catches up with James, all of Philadelphia’s top-heavy talent won’t be enough to prevent a disappointing slide into the Play-In tournament or another premature postseason exit.

The Sixers’ Biggest Question Heading Into 2026-2027: Can Nick Nurse Make It Work?

This is where coaching staff becomes critical to the success of the team.

Nick Nurse has never had this much offensive talent available to him in Philadelphia. His job will have to include establishing an offensive hierarchy without making the other starts feel like secondary pieces.

In order for the team to be successful, sacrifices will have to happen. Brown may need to isolate less. Maxey will have to spend more time off the ball. Embiid may need to work more inside instead of relying so heavily on his midrange game.

That sounds simple until five players who are accustomed to controlling the ball are actually sharing the floor.

Defense could become an even bigger issue.

Philadelphia has plenty of offensive answers, but putting together lineups that can defend consistently while keeping enough shooting and playmaking on the floor will be one of Nurse’s biggest challenges.

The front office will also be under a microscope.

Daryl Morey is gone after six seasons, with Mike Gansey taking over as president of basketball operations and Jameer Nelson being promoted to executive vice president of basketball operations.

This roster is the first major statement from Philadelphia’s new-look basketball leadership.

So, What Should We Expect?

The Sixers are entering the season with arguably the highest ceiling they have had around Embiid.

They also have more questions than most teams with this much talent.

Can James, Brown, Embiid and Maxey share offensive responsibilities? Can Edgecombe continue developing without getting lost in the shuffle? Can Simons and the other role players provide enough spacing? Can Nurse find combinations that make sense? Most importantly, can Embiid and James stay healthy enough for all of it to matter?

Philadelphia does not need every player to have the same role they had before.

The Sixers enter the season with plenty of star power, but success will require individual sacrifice as five primary options share one ball.

With talent no longer an issue, the question is how this star-studded roster will complement each other when it comes down to the success of the team.