V.J. Edgecombe selected No. 3 by the Philadelphia 76ers
Bryan Kalbrosky breaks down the game of newly drafted NBA player out of Baylor, V.J. Edgecombe
Sports Pulse
After a disastrous 2024-2025 season, Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are looking for some stability in hopes of returning to the playoff this year.
There are plenty of questions surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers as the team opens the season this week following last year’s embarressing 24-58 finish which saw the team miss the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
As training camp comes to a close, the Sixers seem optomistic this season will have a better outcome as Embiid recovers from a nagging knee injury while rookie guard VJ Edgecombe joins a talented backcourt of Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and newly signed guard Quinten Grimes.
However, the team has already dealt with bad luck as second-year star McCain is out following thumb surgery and veteran forward Paul George continues to recover from a knee procedure.
Will good health be in the Sixers favor this year, or will last season’s injuries continue to compile? We’ll soon find out with the regular season on the horizon.
When does the NBA season start?
The 2025-26 NBA season tipped off with opening night Oct. 21 the NBA-champion Oklahoma City Thunder topped the Houston Rockets 125-124 and the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Lakers 119-109.
When do the Sixers play?
The 76ers will open the season against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Sixers’ home opener will be Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET. against the Charlotte Hornets.
Will Joel Embiid play this season?
Out since last February with a knee injury, Embiid returned to action for the first time in months during the Sixers’ last preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 17.
While the star center looked close to his old self during the team’s final tuneup for the season, Embiid’s status for against Boston is still up in the air. The good news is he’s not listed on the Sixers injury report going into the season opener.
Reports say Embiid likely will not play in back-to-back games during the regular season this year in hopes of avoiding another injury.
Philadelphia 76ers schedule
- 76ers at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 22
- Charlotte Hornets at 76ers, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 25
- Orlando Magic at 76ers, 7 p.m. Oct. 27
- 76ers at Washington Wizards, 7 p.m., Oct. 28
- Boston Celtics at 76ers, 7 p.m., Oct. 31
- 76ers at Brooklyn Nets, 7 p.m., Nov. 2
- 76ers at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m., Nov. 4
- 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m., Nov. 5
- Toronto Raptors at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8
- Detroit Pistons at 76ers, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 9
- Boston Celtics at 76ers, 8 p.m., Nov. 11
- 76ers at Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 14
- Los Angeles Clippers at 76ers, 7 p.m., Nov. 17
- Toronto Raptors at 76ers, 7 p.m., Nov. 19
- 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m., Nov. 20
- Miami Heat at 76ers, 1 p.m., Nov. 23
- Orlando Magic at 76ers, 8 p.m., Nov. 25
- 76ers at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 28
- Atlanta Hawks at 76ers, 6 p.m., Nov. 30
- Washington Wizards at 76ers, 7 p.m., Dec. 2
- Golden State Warriors at 76ers, 7 p.m., Dec. 4
- 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m., Dec. 5
- Los Angeles Lakers at 76ers, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 7
- 76ers at New York Knicks, 7 p.m., Dec. 19
- Dallas Mavericks at 76ers, 7 p.m., Dec. 20
- Brooklyn Nets at 76ers, 7 p.m., Dec. 23
- 76ers at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m., Dec. 26
- 76ers at Oklahoma City Thunder, 3:30 p.m., Dec. 28
- 76ers at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m., Dec. 30
- 76ers at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m., Jan. 1
- 76ers at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 3
- Denver Nuggets at 76ers, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 5
- Washington Wizards at 76ers, 7 p.m., Jan. 7
- 76ers at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m., Jan. 9
- 76ers at Toronto Raptors, 6 p.m., Jan. 11
- 76ers at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 12
- Cleveland Cavaliers at 76ers, 7 p.m., Jan. 14
- Cleveland Cavaliers at 76ers, 7 p.m., Jan. 16
- Indiana Pacers at 76ers, 7 p.m., Jan. 19
- Phioenix Suns at 76ers, 7 p.m., Jan. 20
- Houston Rockets at 76ers, 7 p.m., Jan. 22
- New York Knicks at 76ers, 3 p.m., Jan. 24
- 76ers at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m., Jan. 26
- Milwaukee Bucks at 76ers, 8 p.m., Jan. 27
- Sacramento Kings at 76ers, 7 p.m., Jan. 29
- New Orleans Pelicans at 76ers, 7 p.m., Jan. 31
- 76ers at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m., Feb. 2
- 76ers at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m., Feb. 3
- 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m., Feb. 5
- 76ers at Phioenix Suns, 9 p.m., Feb. 7
- 76ers at Portland Trailblazers, 10 p.m., Feb. 9
- New York Knicks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 11
- Atlanta Hawks at 76ers, 7 p.m., Feb. 19
- 76ers at New Orleans Pelicans, 7 p.m., Feb. 21
- 76ers at Minnesota Timberwolves, 7 p.m., Feb. 22
- 76ers at Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m., Feb. 24
- Miami Heat at 76ers, 7 p.m., Feb. 27
- 76ers at Boston Celtics, 6 p.m., March 1
- San Antonio Spurs at 76ers, 7 p.m., March 3
- Utah Jazz at 76ers, 7:30 p.m., March 4
- 76ers at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m., March 7
- 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m., March 9
- Memphis Grizzlies at 76ers, 7 p.m., March 10
- 76ers at Detroit Pistons, 7 p.m., March 12
- Brooklyn Nets at 76ers, 1 p.m., March 14
- Portland Trailblazers at 76ers, 6 p.m., March 15
- 76ers at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m., March 17
- 76ers at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m., March 19
- 76ers at Utah Jazz, 9:30 p.m., March 21
- Oklahoma City Thunder at 76ers, 7 p.m., March 23
- Chicago Bulls at 76ers, 7 p.m., March 25
- 76ers at Charlotte Hornets, 6 p.m., March 28
- 76ers at Miami Heat, 7 p.m., March 30
- 76ers at Washington Wizards, 7 p.m., April 1
- Minnesota Timberwolves at 76ers, 7 p.m., April 3
- Detroit Pistons at 76ers, 7 p.m., April 4
- 76ers at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m., April 6
- 76ers at Houston Rockets, 8 p.m., April 9
- 76ers at Indiana Pacers, 7:30 p.m., April 10
- Milwaukee Bucks at 76ers, 6 p.m., April 12
Sixers bring back black jerseys to honor 2001 NBA Finals team
After years of rumors, the Sixers revealed on Sept. 24 that the team will bring back the “Hardwood Classic” black jerseys worn by Allen Iverson and the 2001 NBA Finals team for the 25th anniversary of the Eastern Conference champions.
The Sixers will wear the retro black jerseys during 25th Anniversary Celebration Nights at Xfinity Mobile Arena during the 2025-2026 NBA season. Those nights will include the themed court, in-game programming and tributes featuring alumni, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Sixers will wear the black jerseys during 14 home games and six road matches. Here’s when they’ll wear them in Philly:
- Nov. 8: Toronto Raptors
- Nov. 9: Detroit Pistons
- Nov. 23: Miami Heat
- Dec. 4: Golden State Warriors
- Dec. 7: Los Angeles Lakers
- Dec. 20: Dallas Mavericks
- Dec. 23: Brooklyn Nets
- Jan. 24: New York Knicks
- Jan. 31: New Orleans Pelicans
- Feb. 11: New York Knicks
- March 3: San Antonio Spurs
- March 4: Utah Jazz
- March 23: Oklahoma City Thunder
- April 12: Milwaukee Bucks
Philadelphia 76ers roster
- Tyrese Maxey, PG
- Andre Drummond, C
- Quentin Grimes, SG
- Kyle Lowry, PG
- Paul George, F
- Kelly Oubre Jr., F
- Justin Edwards, F
- Trendon Watford, F
- Marjon Beauchamp, F
- Marjon Beauchamp, PG
- Jared McCain, PG
- Joel Embiid, C
- Johni Broome, F
- Eric Gordon, SG
- Dominick Barlow, F
- Adem Bona, C
- Jabari Walker, F
- Malcolm Hill, F
- Saint Thomas, F
- Hunter Sallis, SG
- VJ Edgecombe, SG
