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Joel Embiid Pours in 27 Points in Preseason Finale
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid scored a game-high 27 points in Friday's 125-120 overtime preseason loss to the Boston Celtics, adding eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block in 29 minutes. He shot 7-for-13 from the field and 11-for-13 at the line, a sharp bounce-back from his sloppy debut against Brooklyn. Philadelphia made a point of getting Embiid involved early, and he looked comfortable attacking the rim alongside LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey. The upside remains obvious, but after playing only 38 games last season, availability is still the biggest concern heading into Tuesday's opener in New York.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Tyrese Maxey Scores 14 Points in Preseason Debut
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey scored 14 points in Thursday's 114-108 preseason loss to the Brooklyn Nets, adding two rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 19 minutes. He shot 5-for-8 from the field and 2-for-4 from three, with 10 of his points coming in the first quarter. Maxey spent more time working off the ball with LeBron James handling some of the playmaking duties. After averaging 28.3 points and 6.6 assists last season, Maxey may give up some creation responsibilities, but the tradeoff could be more catch-and-shoot looks and easier scoring chances.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
LeBron James Runs Offense in Sixers Preseason Debut
Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James recorded 10 points, four rebounds, five assists, and one steal in 18 minutes during Thursday's 114-108 preseason loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The 41-year-old made his only field-goal attempt and went 8-for-8 at the line, while all five assists came in the first quarter. James averaged 20.9 points and 7.2 assists last season, but Philadelphia has no shortage of scoring alongside Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid. Thursday's pass-first showing offered an early look at how James can maintain strong fantasy value even if his shot volume comes down.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Adem Bona Expected to Miss Two More Preseason Games
Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports that Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (foot) is expected to miss the team's next two preseason contests against Brooklyn and Boston. Bona continues to recover from a left foot injury sustained during FIBA play. Last season, the 23-year-old averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes per game. With Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) sidelined indefinitely, Bona could see additional minutes behind center Joel Embiid once healthy.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Anfernee Simons Sidelined Two More Preseason Games
Philadelphia 76ers guard Anfernee Simons (hamstring) isn't expected to play in the team's next two preseason games due to right hamstring tightness, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. Simons also missed Monday's preseason opener against the Knicks. The 27-year-old's next opportunity to suit up will come on Oct. 16 against the Celtics. He averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 55 games last season. Simons could see an uptick in fantasy value if injuries create additional opportunities in Philadelphia's backcourt.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Dominick Barlow Set to Miss Two More Preseason Contests
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow (back) will miss the next two preseason games. Barlow also missed the Sixers' preseason opener against the Knicks on Monday due to a back issue. Barlow is coming off his best campaign, averaging 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 23.8 minutes per game across 71 contests last season. He next gets a chance to see preseason action on Oct. 16 against the Celtics.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Ariel Hukporti Out for Season with Ruptured Achilles
Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) will miss the 2026-27 season after rupturing his right Achilles in Monday's preseason opener against the Knicks, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 24-year-old suffered the injury less than five minutes into the game and was scheduled for surgery Tuesday. Hukporti also tore his left Achilles in 2022. His absence leaves Adem Bona (foot) in line for the backup center role once healthy. With Joel Embiid appearing in only 57 games over the past two seasons, Bona could get chances to start and provide rebounds and blocks when Embiid sits.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Jaylen Brown Scores 22 Points in Preseason Debut for 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Jaylen Brown scored 22 points in just 17 minutes during Monday's 120-97 preseason win over the New York Knicks, adding two rebounds, two assists, and one block. Brown did all of his scoring in the first half, shooting 8-for-13 from the field and 3-for-5 from deep. He had plenty of room to operate with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and LeBron James sitting out. Brown averaged career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists across 71 games with Boston last season, though sharing the floor with Philadelphia's other stars should cut into the volume he enjoyed there.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Tacko Fall Diagnosed with Left Hip Strain
Philadelphia 76ers center Tacko Fall (hip) will be reevaluated in approximately two weeks after an MRI revealed a left hip strain, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. The 7-foot-6 big man left Wednesday's practice early, putting his push for a roster spot on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal on hold. Fall hasn't appeared in an NBA regular-season game since 2021-22, so his fantasy outlook remains limited. With Adem Bona (foot) also working his way back, Ariel Hukporti should get more backup-center reps behind Joel Embiid while Philadelphia waits for both injured bigs to return.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Joel Embiid to Have Workload Managed this Season
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will have his workload carefully managed as he enters his 11th NBA season. Head coach Nick Nurse said the team had extensive conversations about managing Embiid's and 41-year-old LeBron James' workloads this season, including how they will handle back-to-back nights. Over the last three seasons, Embiid has played 96 of 246 available games, missing time due to knee, ankle, and other injuries. He remains as productive as any center in the league, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in under 32 minutes per game last season. However, with the additions of Jaylen Brown and James, Embiid's per-game production may not match what it was in years past. Along with his health concerns and the possible workload restriction, Embiid is a risky option for the 2026-27 season.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
LeBron James to Have Workload Managed This Season
Philadelphia 76ers small forward LeBron James will have his workload carefully managed as he enters his 24th career season. Head coach Nick Nurse said the team had extensive conversations about managing both James' and Embiid's workloads this season, including how they will handle back-to-back nights. In 2025-26, James played 60 games, averaging over 33 minutes per night, and will turn 42 in late December. He remains as productive as he has been throughout his career, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists while operating as the third option behind guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. In a crowded situation with Philadelphia and a possible workload restriction in 2026-27, James doesn't have the same upside he did in recent seasons.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
Anfernee Simons Expected to Anchor Sixers' Second Unit
Philadelphia 76ers guard Anfernee Simons is expected to come off the bench and is unlikely to start or close games unless injuries hit the ball-handlers ahead of him, according to PhillyVoice's Adam Aaronson. The 27-year-old should spend more time working off the ball alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James after averaging 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 55 games last season. Simons owns a career 38.1 percent mark from three, giving Philadelphia needed shooting after finishing in the bottom third in both three-point volume and accuracy. Points and threes should drive his fantasy value, with added usage possible whenever the Sixers are short-handed.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
Adem Bona Suffers Foot Sprain Ahead of Training Camp
Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (foot) was diagnosed with a sprain after getting hurt while playing for Turkey in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and will be reevaluated at the start of training camp. Bona averaged 8.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks across four qualifiers and is expected to resume on-court workouts within the first two weeks of camp. The 23-year-old posted 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes last season. Ariel Hukporti should get an early opportunity to compete for backup minutes behind Joel Embiid, but Bona's shot-blocking gives him fantasy appeal whenever his role expands.
Source: Derek Bodner
Source: Derek Bodner
Dean Wade Slots Into Sixers' Second Unit
Philadelphia 76ers forward Dean Wade is expected to open the season with the second unit behind LeBron James, according to Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice. Wade originally signed a four-year, nearly $40 million deal with the expectation of starting at power forward, but Philadelphia's summer shakeup pushed him into a bench role. That does not mean his workload will be light, as Aaronson notes Wade could still top last season's career-high 22.3 minutes per game. The 29-year-old averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists with Cleveland while shooting 36.2 percent from three. Nick Nurse can use him as a low-usage defensive matchup piece across several lineup types, but Wade's limited scoring and shaky availability make him more useful to the Sixers than to fantasy managers.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
Joel Embiid's Usage Could Slip Below a Career Low in 2026-27
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) could see his offensive role shrink in 2026-27, according to PhillyVoice's Adam Aaronson. Embiid's usage rate has dropped from 39.6 percent in 2023-24 to 34.2 percent and 33.5 percent over the last two seasons, and Aaronson sees a real chance it falls below his career-low 32.9 percent with LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe alongside him. The former MVP may spend more possessions as a facilitator, decoy, or occasional spot-up option, and the shooting is worth watching after he hit 32.2 percent from deep over the last two seasons. Embiid still averaged 26.9 points in 38 games last season, but that number is harder to bank on in this lineup. A slimmer offseason frame could help his mobility, though availability remains the bigger fantasy concern than usage.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
