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Sixers’ Silver Linings Clear After Season Finale

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Philadelphia 76ers logo on home court

Lady Luck and Father Fortune weren’t really on the Philadelphia 76ers side in the 2024-25 NBA regular season.

Face of the franchise, Joel Embiid, played in just 19 games before eventually opting to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery. Super-sidekick Paul George, the team’s splash signing last summer, was only able to play in 41 games after myriad lower body injuries. Tyrese Maxey. who could dethrone Embiid as the team’s most important player, had his season end prematurely. 2024 No. 16 pick Jared McCain, an early favorite for Rookie of the Year, even had his season cut short.

Largely as a result of their misfortune, the Sixers wound up with a 24-58 record; 13th in the East. It was the team’s worst season since 2016-17, when they went 28-54.

Ironically, their record in 2016-17 was impacted by the absence of Embiid as well, the big man suiting up for just 31 games after sitting out all of the previous two seasons with a broken foot. 13-18 in the games Embiid played, they would’ve been on pace for a 34-win season had he been healthy throughout their 2016-17 campaign. In 2024-25, Philly managed an 8-11 record with Embiid. That win percentage (.421) would’ve been enough for a 34-win season as well.

Sixers’ Silver Linings Clear After Season Finale

Despite their dismal season, there were a few silver linings for the Sixers.

Guerschon Yabusele

From the outset, Guerschon Yabusele proved that he wasn’t just a one-hit wonder thriving on the Olympic stage.

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A uniquely sized frontcourt player at 6-foot-8 and 265 pounds, he played both power forward and center for Philadelphia. In that role, his combination of energy, shooting and playmaking allowed him to punch above his weight. Playing a team-high 70 games, Yabusele averaged 14.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 38.0 percent from 3.

Lonnie Walker IV

Like Yabusele, Lonnie Walker IV was once on the outside looking in at the NBA.

However, the Sixers decided to sign the Miami product to a two-year contract at the final hour. After he knocked off the cobwebs, Walker made Philadelphia look as smart as any team. In his last 17 games of the season (out of 20 total), he averaged 14.1 points and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 38.3 percent from 3. He capped off his 2024-25 campaign with 31 points against the Chicago Bulls, tying his career-high.

While more than half (59.9 percent) of his attempts came from beyond the arc, Walker wasn’t afraid to attack off the dribble.

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Kelly Oubre Jr. was one of the only Sixers’ players whose effort wasn’t constantly questioned this season. Though his 3-point stroke left a lot to be desired, he was still able to score 15.3 points per game on 47.0 percent shooting from the field. He was also one of Philadelphia’s most underrated perimeter defenders.

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With that being said, Oubre didn’t play in the Sixers’ last 17 games. This gave players like Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards the opportunity to step up. And step up they did.

Quentin Grimes

Grimes was sensational. Averaging 21.9 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 37.3 percent from 3, his two-way impact has Philadelphia hoping to re-sign him. If they do, he could very well retain his spot as a starter.

At full health, the Sixers will likely rely on Grimes less than they did towards the end of the season. Nevertheless, his post-trade performance didn’t look like it was a fluke. If the goal is to give their team the best chance to win, then putting the ball in Grimes’s hands doesn’t sound like a bad idea. At his worst, he’s a reliable off-ball threat that can play off of their other ball-handlers and shot-creators.

Justin Edwards

Though still flying under the radar, Edwards was a revelation as well.

A top high school recruit coming out of Imhotep Institute Charter in Philadelphia, the rookie went undrafted after an underwhelming freshman season at Kentucky. However, he averaged 15.0 points (39.7 percent shooting from 3) and 1.6 steals per game in his last 12 games, shooting 36.8 percent from 3.

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In that stretch, he scored in double-figures in nine consecutive games, eclipsing the 20-point threshold against the Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs. His feel, athleticism, and defensive upside have all been commended.

Adem Bona

Edwards wasn’t the Sixers only rookie to finish the season strong, as 2024 No. 41 pick Adem Bona averaged 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per contest in his final 15 games. In the Sixers’ season finale, he finished with a near double-double; 16 points and nine rebounds. He also added two blocks and one steal.

A traditional center, 75.5 percent of his attempts come within three feet of the rim. Consequently, the Lagos native likely won’t be mistaken for Embiid anytime soon. Nevertheless, when it comes to the future of their center rotation, he could prevent Philadelphia from relying on big men who are longer in the tooth (and perhaps less hungry).

2025 NBA Draft

With the 2024-25 regular season now in the books, the 76ers officially have the fifth-highest odds landing a top-four or the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. At worst, they’ll be a lottery team.

Given the concern surrounding Embiid, a skilled big man like Maryland center Derik Queen could be high on their draft board. However, Bona playing so well to close out the season could lead them to look elsewhere. Similarly, there’s uncertainty surrounding George’s future, both individually and with the team. Yet, Edwards looks like he could play a role similar to the one that they wanted the All-Star too.

Ultimately, the Sixers could also choose to use their pick as a sweetener in a draft night deal. If so, teams like Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets are teams that make sense as potential trade partners. Despite being invested in a rebuild, both teams have multiple veterans who are star-caliber players.

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