The Philadelphia 76ers entered this NBA season with championship aspirations after acquiring Paul George to complement Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. But things didn’t go as planned, and the 76ers fell short of expectations, leaving fans and analysts alike disappointed.
In light of their struggles, George revealed his offseason plan to forge better chemistry and strengthen his bond with Embiid and Maxey ahead of the next NBA season.
The Sixers forward emphasized the importance of spending more time together during the offseason. “I think that’s very important,” George told Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “We’ve already talked about seeing each other, where we’re going to be this summer. So we’ve already had those conversations about connecting once the season’s over”.
He added, “I think it’s very important. I don’t think it’s healthy to go two, three months before seeing each other, regardless of if we’re checking in over the phone. It’s just different seeing each other”.
Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Joel Embiid #21 during a timeout in the game against the Memphis Grizzlies. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philly Big 3 played only 15 games together during the regular season. That lack of time on the court contributed to their inability to build cohesion, reflected in a disappointing 7-8 record in those games.
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The Philly Big 3’s struggles
The Sixers faced significant challenges due to injuries to their star trio. Embiid missed most of the NBA season with persistent left knee issues, limiting him to just 19 games. Despite his limited availability, the big man still posted solid numbers, averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
George, meanwhile, underperformed before being sidelined in March with groin and knee injuries. In 41 games, he averaged just 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists—well below expectations for a player of his caliber.
Maxey, the youngest member of the trio, was the team’s most consistent performer. The 24-year-old guard set a career-high in scoring, averaging 26.3 points per game, along with 3.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists, in 51 games.
Maxey endorses George’s plan
Maxey, who emerged as the standout player among the trio, agreed with George’s approach and stressed the importance of starting next season on the right foot.
“I think hopefully everybody can get healthy, everybody can be ready for the start of training camp next year,” Maxey said. “Whenever the case may be, get guys together in the summertime, spend time with each other, and try to hit the ground running and get a good start next year”.
