What could go wrong (but hopefully won’t) for the Sixers in 2026-27?

By no means are we trying to be fatalistic as we trudge along through the middle of August and wait for Sixers training camp to open in late September. However, it’s at least worth pondering what MIGHT not work for Philly in a season that’s probably got more hype than any season we’ve seen for the franchise in over two decades. So, where do we begin?

The most obvious concern that comes with the Sixers this season is one that gets paraded out rather frequently whenever LeBron James changes teams. Will the “LeBron Show” get in the way of the team actually winning games? Could there be too much emphasis on playing through James? At 41, set to turn 42 at the end of the calendar year, James being a team’s top option is certainly not a strategy conducive to winning a championship.

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The “LeBron Show” concerns extend beyond the on-court X’s and O’s. James is (reportedly, though it’s been refuted) going to have a film crew with him throughout his time in Philadelphia as his end-of-career documentary gets captured. How much of a distraction could that and James not even living in the Philadelphia area (again, reportedly) pose for the rest of the roster?

Despite the countless pictures that have been breaking social media lately, Joel Embiid’s health will always be a question mark on Philadelphia’s ceiling. Is Ariel Hukporti finally a viable backup to Embiid in order to weather the storm when the inevitable absences arise for the former MVP? This has been a problem for most of Embiid’s career. The Sixers do not win enough of the minutes he’s not on the floor and as Embiid continues to age, it’s even harder to count on him being available.

The 2026 postseason is a good example of the “Jekyll & Hyde” nature Embiid performs with in his 30s. In the first round series against Boston, Embiid did not play in the first three games. He then went on to become the first player in NBA history to score 100 total points in a playoff series without playing in the first three games and the Sixers pulled off the crowning postseason achievement of Embiid’s career, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Celtics. However,…

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Publish date : 2026-08-19 14:39:00

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