LeBron James is officially taking his talents to eastern Pennsylvania, signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for what could be his 24th NBA season. We’re talking about his age 42 and potentially age 43 years, aiming to help a loaded lineup dethrone the world champion New York Knicks. That’s a massive target, but honestly, just getting to the Eastern Conference Finals would break new ground for a franchise that seems cursed when it matters most. They’ve cycled through stars, seen plenty of regular season success, but just can’t find a recipe for postseason glory.
The Process Promised More, Delivered Heartbreak
Listen, the Sixers have made the playoffs eight of the last nine years. That’s good, right? They even advanced out of the first round six times in that span. But here’s the kicker, the one that tells you everything you need to know: they haven’t made it any further than the first round since Allen Iverson was running point. Think about that. Their playoff drought hit rock bottom with a 10-win season in 2016, a full-on tank job that netted Ben Simmons in the 2017 draft. He joined Joel Embiid, defensive star Robert Covington, and sharpshooter JJ Redick to beat the Miami Heat 4-1 in the first round in 2018. The joy didn’t last. The Boston Celtics nearly swept them right out of the semifinals, a 4-1 loss of their own. Then came 2019, with Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler in the mix, and Kawhi Leonard still broke their hearts. Oooooof. The pandemic-shortened 2020 season in the bubble felt off, even with Embiid averaging 30 points per game, and the Sixers were swept out. Just like that.
Still Chasing, Still Falling Short in Philly
The pain kept coming. In 2021, they dispatched the Washington Wizards 4-1, then got into an absolute war with the #5 seed Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young caught fire, shooting Atlanta to only their second conference finals in six decades. Seth Curry was unconscious, hitting nearly 60 percent of his threes, but Ben Simmons was trapped in a shooting spiral, scoring just five points on four attempts as they were eliminated on their home court. James Harden arrived in 2022, an All-Star averaging a double-double for a 51-win team, but it made no difference. Tyrese Maxey, a 21st pick in 2020, was huge, averaging 17.5 points after getting promoted and leading the team with 20.2 points in their final series. But an injured Embiid and old friend Jimmy Butler on the Heat led to a 4-2 Eastern Conference Semifinals defeat. Then 2023. They swept the Nets, met the Celtics *again*, and despite taking a 3-2 series lead, couldn’t close out Boston at home. They lost the final two games by a combined 33 points. Brutal.
This is the gauntlet LeBron James and Jaylen Brown are now tasked with conquering. Eight playoff appearances in nine years, six first-round wins, and still no Conference Finals since Iverson. Can the King finally lead them out of this brutal cycle? That’s the billion-dollar question that will define this new era in Philadelphia.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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