Joel Embiid is set to lead the Sixers in scoring again this season, marking what is easily the most exciting and anticipated era of Sixers basketball ever! Philly has absolutely loaded up their roster, dreaming big about winning the conference and even more. And they are not alone. More than half the East has done the exact same thing, making this one of the hardest seasons to predict in recent memory, especially with reigning NBA champions and some of the biggest offseason moves the league has ever seen.
Embiid: The Hub That Forces Teams To Bend
Seriously, when Embiid is on the court, you can bet the rest of the team will be bending their game to his rhythm. Working out of the free throw line area, he is the natural hub for this offense. The man proved last season that when he’s locked in offensively, he’s still dominant enough to command double teams every time he attacks the basket. Imagine those double teams when the full starting five is out there! The defense is gonna be scrambling, because there won’t be anyone on the floor they feel comfortable leaving alone. If that’s the premise, and Embiid is who a healthy starting five functions around, he will easily be the leading scorer on this squad.
This dude’s comeback has been something else. After racking up multiple scoring titles, Embiid’s points per game understandably took a big hit in the 2024-25 season when he could only play 19 games. He spent a good chunk of the first half of last year just getting back into shape, hitting the floor for only 38 games. But even with that, he nearly caught up to Tyrese Maxey in points per game, despite Maxey’s scorching start to the season. Embiid wrapped up last year with 26.9 points per game, just shy of Maxey’s 28.3. The team’s messaging, straight from Maxey himself, is that he’s going to be playing off the ball more this year, which just opens up even more for Embiid.
The “One Basketball” Challenge
So, the real head-scratcher for this team is how they are going to spread just one basketball around such an insanely talented starting five. You gotta wonder if everyone’s gonna get enough touches. The answer to that question will depend hugely on how often that starting five actually plays together. We’re all crossing our fingers and knocking on wood, but I really do think Embiid is going to be on the court a lot this season, unless something catastrophic happens.
These guys are aiming high, with aspirations of winning the conference and more. That’s the real goal for this loaded Sixers squad. You know what that means: every game matters, every possession counts. It’s going to be a wild ride, and watching how Embiid dominates and how this star-studded team figures out how to share the rock is gonna be a season-long drama. Better grab your popcorn!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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