The 76ers have barely gotten through the opening stretch of the 2026-27 NBA season, but they’re already carrying the kind of buzz that follows a team built to be watched every night. Philadelphia opened with a road win over the defending-champion New York Knicks, then followed it with an historic comeback at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
That’s the good news. The part that has one NBA scout uneasy is what comes next, especially when it comes to Joel Embiid.
An anonymous scout told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that he sees a problem developing in Philadelphia, and he doesn’t think it will stay quiet for long.
"I think it's going to be a problem, and that could railroad them," the scout said, per MacMahon. "I just don't buy it right now.
He's going to want the ball more. He's going to get pissed.
He's going to stop playing defense. He's going to stop running."
The issue centers on how Embiid fits into a roster that also includes LeBron James, former longtime Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey and second-year guard VJ Edgecombe. The scout’s concern comes with the Sixers already managing minutes for Embiid and James, at least in theory. On Tuesday, hours before Philadelphia beat New York, it was reported that both stars would have their minutes restricted to begin the season.
So far, that hasn’t really been the case with Embiid. The Cameroonian big man logged 33 minutes against the Knicks and then 34 more against Cleveland.
Against the Cavs, Embiid battled through a rough first half before settling in after the break and finishing with 24 points, second on the team behind Maxey. In the opener, he had 13 points, but he also filled out the box score with 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.
It’s still early, but the Sixers already look like one of the league’s most compelling teams. Whether that stays a smooth ride is another question entirely.
In Other News...
Sixers Home Opener Just Put VJ Edgecombe And LeBron To The Test
The Sixers home opener against Cleveland carried the usual early-season buzz, but one of the nights most memorable moments came in the third quarter when VJ Edgecombe ran into LeBron James and came away with a bloody nose. Edgecombe stayed on the floor, and the game kept its edge as Philadelphia tried to settle in at home against a Cavaliers team that brought plenty of star power with it.
By the fourth quarter, the margin was still tight, with Philadelphia holding a slim lead as both James and Edgecombe had already made their presence felt. It was the kind of opener that felt physical from the start, and for the Sixers it also served as an early test of how their young pieces handle a matchup that can turn chippy in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron And The Sixers Just Reopened A Painful Cavaliers What-If
A painful old thread resurfaced Tuesday night in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers watched a 29-point lead vanish in a 114-106 loss to the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey powered Philadelphia with 32 points, while LeBron James finished with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, another reminder of how quickly a game can swing when the margins tighten and a familiar star is on the floor.
Kenny Atkinsons offseason disappointment over missing out on LeBron adds another layer to the result for a Cavaliers team still chasing the kind of stability and star power that can prevent collapses like this one. For the Sixers, it was a useful road win and a sharp response after trailing big, but for Cleveland it also reopened a familiar what-if that never seems to go away. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron Just Revealed How Close The Sixers Came To Losing Him
LeBron James added a little more context to one of the offseasons biggest moves, saying he sat down with the Cavaliers front office as he weighed his options before ultimately landing with the 76ers on a two-year deal. Clevelands championship hopes were part of what made the conversation worthwhile, which underscores just how wide open his decision really was before Philadelphia secured him.
For the 76ers, the revelation is another reminder that their summer swing came with real competition and real risk. James has already started paying it off on the floor, helping Philadelphia rally for a comeback win over Cleveland, and the early returns suggest the Sixers were as close to losing him as they were to landing a major piece for their push forward. [Read more 🡒]