Philadelphia 76ers season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27
Expectations are high with the arrival of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.
The 2026-27 NBA season is now underway, and the Philadelphia 76ers are drawing attention with their roster moves and outlook. After a 45-37 finish in the previous season, the team made several offseason signings and trades. LeBron James returned to the roster, along with new signings Dean Wade, Ariel Hukporti, Anfernee Simons, Caleb Love, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Jaylen Brown. Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul George, and Andre Drummond departed the team.
The opening schedule features games against the Knicks, Cavs, and Bucks. The preseason power rankings have placed the Sixers at No. 3. The team's excitement stems from their roster depth and potential to achieve 70 wins if everything goes according to plan. However, concerns surround the aging LeBron and Jaylen Brown's satisfaction, Embiid's injury history, and the team's ability to maintain defensive stops.
Fantasy analysts suggest bringing VJ Edgecombe off the bench for Dean Wade. Concerning LeBron's performance, Dan Titus notes that he faces challenges in terms of turnovers and aging. The betting perspective currently has the 76ers at a 50.5 win total, with a +225 chance to win the division and +850 odds to win the NBA Finals.
In the best-case scenario, the Sixers could secure the No. 1 seed, with a smooth-running Core Four, improved VJ Edgecombe, and an exceptional bench unit. Conversely, the worst-case scenario may involve the team facing the Play-In Tournament, with health concerns for Embiid and age-related issues for LeBron potentially limiting their ceiling and floor.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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