After a playoff defeat last season by the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers hoped to hit the ground running for the 2024-25 NBA season. 

But as of Week 7, they have only managed to squeeze out a 5-15 record, the second worst in the Eastern conference, only better than the 2-17 Washington Wizards.

Over the offseason, the 76ers acquired star shooting guard Paul George. Many fans were hopeful for the upcoming season, with other star players like Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and 2024-25 Rookie of The Year candidate Jared McCain. 

All of the hype that was built up over the offseason was quickly extinguished when the season started. 

The 76ers have yet to win more than two games in a row, and fans aren’t happy with how the team is performing either. 

Knowing how fans of Philadelphia teams get when they lose, the players know they must perform. Joel Embiid however, isn’t up to his MVP-contending form. Embiid only averages 19.8 PTS per game, and he’s only played in four games.
According to ESPN.com, Maxey was quoted as saying that Embiid was “late for everything”. 

Fans took this quote further, alleging that Embiid doesn’t want to play anymore, or that he wants to be traded. 

This whole ordeal is similar to what happened with former 76ers player James Harden, who had felt he wasn’t appreciated in the 76ers organization, and decided to do anything he could to get traded, eventually ending up in Los Angeles with the Clippers. 

Overall, the 76ers can still make the NBA playoffs, but it will almost certainly take divine intervention if they continue performing as they have lately. 

The Indiana Pacers travel to Philadelphia to play on Friday December 13. Philadelphia hopes to improve on their 8-15 record, even with big names on the IR, like the aforementioned Paul George and Joel Embiid.