Maxey Shines, But Sixers Still Searching for a Clear Direction
The Sixers took care of business Tuesday night, cruising to a 121-102 win over the Wizards at Xfinity Mobile Arena. It was the kind of game you expect a solid team to win - and win comfortably - against a rebuilding opponent.
Philadelphia jumped out early, led by double digits at halftime, and stretched the lead to 24 by the end of the third. The result was never really in doubt.
But beyond the scoreboard, the win gave Philly something just as valuable: rest. Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe, the team's dynamic young backcourt, logged just 29 and 24 minutes, respectively.
That’s a big deal in an 82-game grind. Jared McCain looked more confident off the bench in his 25 minutes, and Jabari Walker chipped in a double-double in a reserve role - exactly the kind of bench production the Sixers need to stay afloat in a deep Eastern Conference.
With the win, Philadelphia moves to 11-9 on the year - right at the quarter mark of the season. And if we’re being honest, the first 20 games have told us what we already suspected: this team has some exciting young pieces, but still feels like it’s stuck somewhere between a rebuild and a retool.
Maxey Ascending, Edgecombe Impressing
Tyrese Maxey has been everything the Sixers could’ve hoped for - and more. He’s not just leading this team; he’s carrying it.
The 25-year-old looks like an MVP candidate through the first stretch of the season, and his development into a true No. 1 option has been one of the most compelling storylines in the league. If he stays healthy - and that’s a big if, considering he missed 30 games last season - the Sixers have a fighting chance to stay competitive.
Edgecombe, the third overall pick in this past summer’s draft, has hit a bit of a speed bump recently, in part due to a nagging calf injury. But even with the dip in production, he’s looked like the right pick.
His energy, athleticism, and willingness to compete have made him a fan favorite already. He might not be ready to be Maxey’s full-time running mate just yet, but the long-term potential is hard to ignore.
The Veterans: Blending In, Not Standing Out
Then there’s the other side of the roster - the max-contract veterans. Joel Embiid and Paul George are still here, still drawing the biggest checks, but so far, they’ve been more background than spotlight. Neither has consistently looked like the All-NBA force their resumes suggest, and with both carrying significant injury histories, the Sixers seem content managing their minutes and expectations.
That might be the smart play long-term, but it puts a lot of pressure on the young core in the short term. Without Embiid and George playing at an elite level, the Sixers are relying heavily on Maxey to do the heavy lifting. And while he’s been up to the task so far, it’s a tall order to carry a team through an entire season - especially one with playoff aspirations.
McCain, Walker, and the Youth Movement
Jared McCain is still working his way back from a major knee injury, and it shows. He has flashes - like Tuesday night - where he looks comfortable and assertive, but consistency is still a work in progress.
It’s easy to forget he’s adjusting not just to the NBA, but to the physical and mental toll of a full season. That’s no small task for a rookie coming off a long layoff.
Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow have had their moments, and Adem Bona continues to develop in his second year. Collectively, the youth movement has injected some freshness into the Sixers’ rotation.
There’s more energy, more unpredictability, and more upside than we saw in last year’s version of this team. But upside doesn’t always translate to wins - at least not right away.
So, Where Does This Season Go?
That’s the question Sixers fans have been asking for years: where is this going?
Since 2001, Philadelphia hasn’t made it past the second round of the playoffs. Multiple front offices, coaching staffs, and roster constructions have tried to solve the Embiid puzzle, but none have cracked it. And while Maxey’s emergence offers a new path forward, it’s hard to see how this group - as currently constructed - makes a deep run.
Even with Maxey playing at an All-NBA level, the Sixers are just two games over .500 nearly two months into the season. That’s not exactly the profile of a contender. And unless Embiid and George suddenly flip the switch, it’s hard to envision this team climbing much higher in the standings.
Could Edgecombe take a leap and become a legitimate No. 2 option by the end of the year? Maybe.
Could McCain round into form and give the Sixers another shot-creator off the bench? Possibly.
But neither scenario feels like a sure thing - and both require a level of growth that usually takes more than a few months to materialize.
A Team in the Middle
Right now, the Sixers look like a team that’s going to hover around .500, maybe sneak into the play-in tournament, and hope for a favorable matchup. They’ve got talent, no doubt.
They’ve got youth, energy, and one of the most electric guards in the league in Maxey. But they’re also weighed down by two aging stars on max contracts who aren’t playing like max players.
That’s the balancing act this front office is dealing with - trying to build around Maxey without the financial flexibility to make a major move. Until that changes, the Sixers are likely to remain in this in-between space: not bad enough to bottom out, but not quite good enough to break through.
The Road Ahead
There’s still time for things to click. Maybe Edgecombe finds another gear.
Maybe McCain gets his legs under him. Maybe Embiid or George gives us a vintage stretch that reminds everyone what they’re capable of.
But right now, this looks like a 45-win team. That’s respectable.
It’s competitive. But it’s not the kind of season that’s going to get fans dreaming about June.
The Sixers are younger, more intriguing, and more fun than they were a year ago. But they’re still searching for answers - and for a ceiling that feels higher than what we’ve seen so far.