The Philadelphia 76ers can talk all they want about superstar chemistry, but that alone won’t be enough to survive a playoff run. If they’re serious about beating teams like the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game series, they’re going to need real punch from the second unit. That’s where Anfernee Simons comes in.
Philadelphia’s bench has been a problem for a while. Last season, the Sixers averaged only 32.4 points per game from their reserves, which left them 27th in the NBA. Quentin Grimes helped keep that number from looking even worse, but the larger issue was obvious: a team with championship aspirations can’t keep asking the starting five to carry everything.
Simons gives them something different. He’s not just a scorer; he’s a scorer who can accept a smaller role and still put points on the board.
His stint with the Boston Celtics during the 2025-26 season showed that clearly. In 49 appearances, he never started, yet he still put up 14.2 points per game in 24.5 minutes.
That kind of production matters because the rest of the bench doesn’t exactly scream reliable offense. The Sixers are deeper and more talented than they’ve been in a long time, with LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey among the names on the roster. But talent and bench scoring aren’t the same thing, and plenty of those reserve pieces are better known for other jobs.
Dean Wade, for instance, brought value to the Cleveland Cavaliers through defense. His numbers - 0.4 blocks and 0.7 steals per game - don’t jump off the page, but he was a tough assignment and helped Cleveland survive stretches when the starters sat. Even so, his offense wasn’t at the level needed to match the league’s best.
Labaron Philon Jr. brings a different issue: inexperience. That kind of learning curve can lead to mistakes and uneven play, and that could be enough for Sixers head coach Nick Nurse to trim his minutes and lean on other options instead.
Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti are there to help cover for Joel Embiid when he’s unavailable or worn down. Their job is to shore things up defensively and keep the rest of the group in position to do damage.
So while Philadelphia’s rotation may look deeper on paper, the bench scoring still feels thin. If the Sixers want this season to end with a real championship push, Simons has to become the kind of reserve who changes games - and puts himself in the mix for Sixth Man of the Year. Without that, the minutes when the stars sit could get ugly fast.
In Other News...
Kevin Durant Just Weighed In On The Sixers' Biggest Gamble
Kevin Durant is already seeing the appeal of the Sixers latest swing, and he is not shy about where he thinks it can lead. In weighing in on LeBron James joining Philadelphia, Durant called the setup a juggernaut, pointing to the mix of star power, experience and leadership as the kind of foundation that can change a teams outlook quickly.
From Durants perspective, the details matter almost as much as the name on the jersey. He noted that LeBron taking a minimum contract gives the Sixers a rare blend of talent and flexibility, while also giving them the benefit of a championship-winning coach and front office behind it. For Philadelphia, the bigger question now is whether all of those pieces can actually turn promise into the kind of season Durant believes is there to be had. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Fans Have One Big Reason To Still Worry About Boston
The Celtics did not exactly stand still this offseason, even after losing Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia in the deal for Paul George. Boston also added Mitchell Robinson to deepen its center rotation, a move that gives the reigning Eastern Conference power a different kind of frontcourt look as it tries to keep pace at the top of the bracket. For the Sixers, the headline move is obvious, but the bigger takeaway may be how Boston has tried to rework its roster around Jayson Tatum without taking a full step back.
The problem for Philadelphia is that Browns scoring volume is not easy to replace, and the Celtics are betting they can spread that responsibility around while leaning on Georges two-way impact. If that works, Boston could still be a major problem for the Sixers in the East, especially if the new rotation finds its footing quickly. Even after the trade, there is enough talent in place to make Philadelphia wonder whether the path past Boston really got any easier. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durant Sees One Big Question In LeBron's Sixers Fit
LeBron James arrival on a veteran minimum deal instantly changes the conversation around the 76ers, because Philadelphia now has another marquee name alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown. Kevin Durant was among those taking a close look at the move, praising LeBrons mindset and his willingness to fit into different roles, the kind of flexibility that can make a loaded roster work instead of just looking good on paper.
Durant went a step further by comparing the Sixers depth to the championship Golden State teams he played on in 2017 and 2018, a reminder that star power alone is not always the hardest part to manage. For Philadelphia, the big question is less about whether the talent is there and more about how all those high-scoring pieces are going to mesh once the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]