It’s finally close to game action for the Philadelphia 76ers, and Monday night’s preseason opener against the New York Knicks will offer the first real look at a roster that’s been getting plenty of attention in camp.
The Sixers may or may not lean on their core players, but the bigger spotlight in preseason usually lands on the rest of the group. These are the minutes that matter for the guys trying to carve out roles, prove they belong, or simply force their way into the conversation.
One of the biggest names to watch is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The veteran has drawn a lot of buzz throughout training camp, and the reviews have been strong.
He brings championship experience, and there’s already been plenty of talk about what he can still give this team. The tricky part is that the Sixers are expected to be without several players who help shape the way they’ll play during the season, so this game won’t show the full picture of KCP’s role.
Even so, after hearing all the talk about him being “washed,” it’s worth seeing what he looks like now. If he’s as good as advertised, Caldwell-Pope could end up being a major bench piece for the Sixers in 2026-2027.
Jabari Walker is another player with real pressure attached to these preseason minutes. A scrimmage doesn’t tell you everything, but he did enough there to earn a closer look.
For Walker, this isn’t just about getting reps. His contract situation makes every outing matter, since he doesn’t have much guaranteed money right now.
If the Sixers cut him before January 10, only $250,000 of his $2.5 million is guaranteed. That doesn’t mean one good preseason locks anything in, but it does make his path a lot more urgent.
Then there’s Labaron Philon Jr., who is set for his debut. The rookie from Alabama has already been generating plenty of hype from both his head coach and teammates, and his showing in the scrimmage only added to that momentum. Monday night will be the first chance to see how that buzz translates into actual preseason minutes.
In Other News...
Joel Embiid Got Pulled Into A Strange LeBron Rumor Fast
Even in the middle of a preseason opener, the chatter around Joel Embiid can travel fast. During the 76ers first exhibition game, broadcaster Mike Breen relayed a strange bit of gossip he had heard about Embiid being a few minutes late to a recent practice and then being confronted by LeBron James, a story that immediately gave the moment a life of its own.
LeBron quickly pushed back on social media, saying Embiid had not been late, which only added to the oddness of the whole episode. For Philadelphia, it was a reminder that even as the team turns its attention to the rest of the preseason and the run toward the 2026-27 regular season, Embiid remains at the center of whatever noise follows the 76ers around. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Opening Dominick Barlow Cant Waste
Dominick Barlows latest setback comes at an awkward time for the 76ers, who are already trying to sort through a shaky frontcourt picture before the season really gets rolling. Barlow has been sidelined by a back injury and has missed recent preseason activities, but his standing on the roster has changed quickly because Philadelphias center depth has been thinned by injuries to Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti.
With Joel Embiid still anchoring the middle, the opening behind him is the one worth watching, and Barlow has at least a chance to enter that conversation if he gets healthy in time. He already showed last season that he can be a usable rotation piece, appearing in 71 games and averaging 7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds, and the Sixers would clearly like to find a way to capitalize on that kind of depth rather than keep patching the spot together. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Simmons Is Reopening A Debate Sixers Fans Thought Was Over
Ben Simmons is back in the NBA after more than a year away, signing a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings and immediately becoming one of the more curious comeback stories of the fall. For a player whose name still carries plenty of weight in Philadelphia, the early word out of Sacramento is encouraging, with reports from Andscapes Marc J. Spears saying Simmons has been excellent in training camp and is doing enough to put himself in the conversation for a starting role.
For Sixers fans, the reaction is likely less about the Kings and more about the old debate Simmons has reopened by simply looking like himself again. Sacramento is taking a careful approach as he gets ready for his 10th NBA season, but any sign of stability or production from Simmons invites the same familiar question in Philadelphia: what might have been, and how much different could the story have looked if this version had arrived earlier? [Read more 🡒]