PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The Philadelphia 76ers’ star trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George were front and center on the team’s opening night, their images displayed on the arena’s 4K kinetic scoreboard. Embiid was seen gripping a basketball, Maxey appeared ready for a dunk, and George exuded intensity as he squeezed the ball with both hands.
These three players were expected to be the cornerstones of a 76ers squad poised to make a deep playoff run this season, all under hefty contracts reflecting their importance. George left the Clippers for a four-year, $212 million deal. Maxey, coming off a breakout season and his first All-Star appearance, signed a five-year, $204 million extension. Embiid, the reigning NBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist, agreed to a $193 million extension.
However, two weeks into the season, the results haven’t matched the hype. The 76ers are sitting at a dismal 1-6 record, tied for the worst in the NBA with Milwaukee and Utah. To make matters worse, the team has yet to field its expected starting lineup due to injuries and suspensions affecting Embiid, Maxey, and George.
Maxey, the team’s leader in points (27.6 per game), is now sidelined with a right hamstring injury and is expected to miss at least two weeks, according to sources familiar with the situation. The injury occurred during a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. As of Thursday, the team had not disclosed specific details of the injury, but further evaluation is expected to shed more light on his condition.
“Not very good luck,” said head coach Nick Nurse on Thursday. “We’ve got to hang in there and still find a way to compete and play better.”
Maxey’s absence is the latest in a series of setbacks for a team that entered the season with high hopes. Despite his strong individual performance, his injury compounds the challenges the 76ers are facing early on.
Paul George has also struggled with injuries, playing only two games so far due to a bone bruise on his left knee, sustained during the preseason. His limited availability has further hampered the team’s efforts to find cohesion.
Meanwhile, Embiid has yet to play a game this season. The MVP center has missed time for “left knee management” as well as serving a three-game suspension for a confrontation with a reporter in which he shoved a newspaper columnist.
The 76ers’ challenges extend beyond the court. The franchise has been the subject of two NBA investigations, a sharp contrast to the team’s lone victory so far this season. Last month, the league fined the 76ers $100,000 for public statements made by team officials, including president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and Coach Nurse, which were deemed inconsistent with Embiid’s health status and violated NBA player participation policies. Embiid’s suspension came as a result of the altercation in the locker room.
As the team heads into Friday’s game against the Lakers, they’re on a four-game losing streak. They will return home for a pair of games, facing Charlotte on Sunday and the New York Knicks on Tuesday. Embiid is expected to make his season debut against the Knicks, which will also be the first game of the NBA Cup.
“We’ve got to play better,” Nurse said. “We’re taking two steps forward and two steps back. We’ve got to develop some consistency and play a little better.”
