As Mike Gansey left Saturday’s Sixers Blue x White Scrimmage, fans gathered alongside the fence greeted him with a big cheer.
The Sixers’ new general manager made a massive splash in his first summer in charge, swinging a trade for Jaylen Brown and following it up by signing LeBron James.
On Saturday, fans finally got their first look at this year’s squad, but for Gansey, it’s been a few days of watching the star-studded team he assembled face one another in camp.
“I’ve been in a lot of training camps, and at least like the first four or five days, the intensity, I mean, LeBron’s diving on the loose floor for balls,” Gansey said. “He’s 41 years old. It’s just stuff like that, like he’s really set the tone, and everyone’s been doing the same.”
Ariel Hukporti (left) defends against LeBron James during the Sixers Blue x White Scrimmage at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Even with all the new faces, the Sixers are still relying on their long-time veterans, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Gansey said back in Cleveland, he referred to Maxey as the “Cavs killer,” and since coming to Philadelphia, he’s seen Maxey develop both as a player and as a leader.
“[He] and Joel are like the elder statesmen here with the team,” Gansey said. “With Jaylen, LeBron and all the other new guys in here, I think he’s trying to take on a vocal leadership role with our group because, you know, the talent, the skill level, I mean, some of the stuff he does in practice, it’s like ‘Whoa,’ you know, like, ‘I’ve never seen that before.’”
Gansey also provided insight into the future of first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr., who, after the Sixers’ big summer, has a much tougher road to significant playing time. That doesn’t mean he’s not factored into the Sixers’ long-term plans.
Philon started on the White Team, defending against the Sixers’ ideal starting lineup with James, Embiid, Maxey, Edgecombe, and Brown. He stayed aggressive on defense and hit a few tough contested baskets.
“Being a point guard in this league, I think that’s the hardest position for a rookie to come in, and it’s going to take some time,” Gansey said. “But he’s a worker.”
The big story of the scrimmage, though, was seeing that starting five all on the floor together. The Sixers have a lot of skill and personality in the locker room. They’re counting on that high level of skill to win a lot of games, but as this team knows from past experiences, it takes more than talent to win games.
Ariel Hukporti (left) and Joel Embiid share a laugh during the Sixers Blue x White Scrimmage at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
But based on what Gansey has seen so far during training camp, he’s confident the Sixers will figure it out. They’re not starting from zero, given James and Embiid’s experience at the Olympics, and Maxey and James’ time as training partners.
“We have so many good veterans that they’re just kind of figuring it out,” Gansey said. “Like, there’s been a lot of scrimmages we’ve had where we don’t even have to run a play. They just kind of figure it out, and I think that’s what it’s really going to be moving forward. Practice is obviously important this week, and then obviously when the games start, we’ll try to figure it out.”
VJ Edgecombe could have had an easy dunk or layup in Saturday’s Blue x White scrimmage before Joel Embiid made up his mind to prevent it.
As Edgecombe was weaving his way down the middle of the lane, Embiid made up the few steps he was trailing Edgecombe and met him at the rim. Embiid blocked the shot, but not without a foul. Embiid fell to the ground when he landed, which can cause at least a little bit of nervousness, given his injury history. But he got back up and started twirling around his finger, asking for a review of the play, as did LeBron James.
“I thought it was all ball,” Embiid said.
That sequence was just one of a few indications of how healthy Embiid has looked since the start of camp, with teammates, coach Nick Nurse, and president Mike Gansey raving about his intensity and participation level.
“He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in damn near everything that we’ve done,” James said. “Pretty much, [the team has] had to sit him out at times, even when he wanted to keep going.”
Gansey said the team “got a plan together” for Embiid for this season, something Embiid also referenced during his comments Monday at media day. When asked if the team had a target number of games for Embiid to play this season, Gansey didn’t specify, but said the team would take things “day by day” with how Embiid is feeling.
Embiid played a good portion of the Sixers scrimmage on Saturday, and he looked refreshed and spry on both ends of the floor. He was knocking down threes as a trail man in transition and challenging shots at the rim while dusting off his two-man game with Tyrese Maxey. He even dunked at one point to cap a couple intense possessions battling Ariel Hukporti.
“That’s probably the last dunk of my career,” Embiid said in typically trolling fashion.
He also reignited some chemistry with James from their time playing for Team USA in the 2024 Olympics.
“We played a lot of minutes,” James said. “He started a lot of games for us that summer, but the difference between ‘24 and now, he’s just so much more healthier.”
On one possession, James hit Embiid in stride as he was approaching the three-point line, and Embiid walked into an open three. That was part of an early barrage of plays James was making that delighted the crowd inside Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“Obviously, the Olympics was great. But whether we have played together or not, I don’t think it was going to matter,” Embiid said. “Because at the end of the day, when you put — whether it’s two players, a bunch of players together that have a high basketball IQ — it’s going to be easy to fit with that, and that’s been the case.”
Related to the fit, Embiid touched on one of the buzzwords of this Sixers training camp: sacrifice. James spoke at length about how that word doesn’t have to be a negative. Nurse echoed that, and said he wanted the players to be the best versions of themselves, whatever that may look like within the context of this team. When asked a question about what he has seen from Maxey so far this camp, Embiid took his answer and spoke at length about his view of that word, and what it may mean for him and the rest of the Sixers lineup.
“It’s not about sacrifice. It’s just about being a star in your role and doing what you do best,” Embiid said. “I don’t think anybody should be put in a box. Just go out there, be yourself. Good shot, great shot, bad shot, we’ve all got each other’s backs. We move on. And then we go get a stop.”
The Sixers have one of the most star-studded rosters in the NBA. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
To Embiid, this roster configuration is a chance for every player on the roster to be more efficient with the touches they get because the attention everyone else will command should keep the floor open regardless of who has the ball.
“You might get less touches, but you might get also more space. So what are you going to do with that space?” Embiid said. “Whether it’s for [Maxey], for me, for everybody, starting lineup, guys coming off the bench, different roles. Roles don’t even matter; it’s just about making the right play for each other over and over and over and try to find a way to be — I think for me — more efficient than I’ve ever been.”
The crowd noise inside Xfinity Mobile Arena swelled as public address announcer Matt Cord’s booming voice said, “At 6-9, from St. Vincent-St. Mary … ” before introducing LeBron James. It erupted again the first time the all-time great touched the ball, then when James dished a pass to Joel Embiid for a three-pointer, then when James buried his own shot from beyond the arc.
James’ first public appearance in a 76ers (practice) jersey Saturday afternoon came with far more hubbub than a typical preseason scrimmage. His impact was apparent all over the floor as a facilitator, pace-pusher and scorer for the revamped Sixers roster now expected to contend in a deep Eastern Conference.
For James, the annual Blue x White scrimmage was an “extension of training camp” and in his personal onboarding process in his first official days with his new team.
“As far as in the building, it’s been very smooth, in the simple fact that everybody’s been super welcoming,” James said following the scrimmage. “I’ve been able to implement some things in my voice, and as far as my command in how I play the game, and my experience of playing the game.
“I’m still getting more and more comfortable off the floor, as far as with the travel and without my family and things of that nature. So that’s going to be a little bit of a challenge. But everything’s been good so far. It’s been a great first week.”
The Sixers’ signing of the legendary James — plus trading for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown as part of a shocking offseason — prompted the move of their annual public scrimmage from their G League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats’ facility in Wilmington to South Philly in order to accommodate more fans. With skyrocketing ticket prices for the regular season, this might be the only time some of those in attendance Saturday will get to see this star-studded roster in person. Admission was a $10 donation to the Sixers Youth Foundation, with 5,000 tickets provided to families that receive grants from the organization’s nonprofit affiliate along with youth organizations and community partners.
LeBron James handles the ball as Dean Wade, left, defends in the Sixers’ public scrimmage. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
It was the start of a new relationship between Sixers fans and James, who said at media day that he appreciated the mutual respect and hate he received during his previous trips to Philly as an opponent.
Those in the stands Saturday got to watch James, wearing No. 9 instead of his iconic 23, deliver a behind-the-back pass to VJ Edgecombe in the corner. And throw down an alley-oop from Tyrese Maxey. And hit another step-back three-pointer.
After averaging 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, James maintained Saturday that he is willing “to pick up whatever a team may need” as the Sixers aim to best maximize their top-end talent.
“I’m just trying to fast-track everything, offensively and defensively,” James said. “The commands. The calls. The reads, and everything they’ve had in place over the few years. I’m stepping into a new system and I’m stepping into a whole new environment.”
The bulk of James’ initial work, however, has been in the privacy of the Sixers’ practice facility. Coach Nick Nurse and president of basketball operations Mike Gansey recently commended James’ consistent early arrival for his meticulous personal routine ahead of practice. Though his strong rapport with Maxey is already well-documented, James on Saturday reminded that he also has brief history with Embiid as part of the 2024 U.S. Olympic team.
Gansey also called James a tone-setter; that, at age 41, he is still diving on the floor for loose balls during practice.
“I mean, the guy is the biggest professional I’ve ever seen,” said Gansey, who also was in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office during James’ championship-winning stint with that team.
Once the Sixers begin preseason play Monday against the New York Knicks, James said he hopes to continue gaining rhythm with new teammates but “not overdo it” physically leading up to a high-profile Oct. 20 opening night at Madison Square Garden. The Sixers’ home opener is two nights later, against James’ familiar Cavaliers.
Yet Saturday afternoon will always mark the first time James got Cord’s booming introduction inside Xfinity Mobile Arena. Fans hung around the building long after the scrimmage concluded, at one point abruptly swarming to a fence overlooking the parking lot where players come and go.
They wanted a glimpse of James leaving his new home arena.
“Obviously, it was fun to be able to play in front of some of our Philly faithful for the first time,” James said. “ … It was a great first step in the direction we’re trying to go. And, like I said, it was great to hear some cheers.”
A normal NFL halftime typically lasts between 12 and 14 minutes, give or take, from the final first-half whistle to third-quarter kick.
For Eagles coaches, it’s a pretty frenetic period. Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion takes an express ride on an elevator down from the coaches’ booth and gets together with his staff. They talk about the looks they’re seeing, the notes they’ve taken.
“We quickly put together and chart our course for the second half, communicate it with the players, and then we’re out,” Mannion said Thursday.
Nick Sirianni, who usually is pretty guarded, didn’t want to go into too much detail about the halftime routine when asked about it a day later. But he did mention that the idea is to be making adjustments on the fly between series as the game goes on.
“That’s so important that they’re going through that process at that time because halftime, there may be certain things that you say, ‘OK, we can’t get that drawn up right,’” he said. “‘Hey, we want to put this in here. Hey, we can’t get that drawn up. Draw it up for halftime. We’ll put it in there.’
“There are some things that are saved for halftime, but the majority of it is happening within the game.”
Nick Sirianni and the Eagles are looking to bounce back after their first loss of the season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Regardless of when and how the Eagles are adjusting, whatever is happening at halftime might need a makeover. It’s only been three games, but no one is worse in the third quarter right now than the Eagles, who have eight three-and-outs on 11 third-quarter drives. That’s three more than anyone else in the NFL.
There have been various reasons for each punt. No series is identical. The Eagles have had negative runs, negative swing passes, penalties, and other detrimental plays. But the play sequencing and planning certainly has contributed. It’s something Mannion, a first-time play caller, said the staff is trying to correct.
“Certainly, as a staff and as a team, we’re working through getting better there,” Mannion said. “You hate to do a lot of nice things in the first half of some of these games and kind of fall into a rut in the second half.
“We’re working at that. We’re attacking it each day to be better there coming out of halftime.”
The Eagles and Rams kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be aired on Fox29 and called by the network’s top duo of play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt and analyst Tom Brady. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi are the sideline reporters.
As usual, Merrill Reese and Mike Quick will have you covered for the local radio broadcast on 94 WIP.
DeVonta Smith scored a big fourth-quarter touchdown against the Rams last season, but he won’t be available for Sunday’s game — and likely longer.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Eagles
Fixing the ugly third-quarter trend won’t get any easier with DeVonta Smith slated to miss Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. He may be out beyond this week, too.
The Eagles also will be without a key defensive starter in Zack Baun, who remains in the concussion protocol. Those absences mean Dontayvion Wicks is slated to be the No. 1 wide receiver on Sunday while Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the next man up at linebacker.
Out
WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)
LB Zack Baun (concussion)
TE Dallas Goedert (knee)
S Marcus Epps (groin)
WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
T Fred Johnson (knee)
Rams
Puka Nacua is on track to the return for the Rams, who, entering Week 3 and dating back to when he was drafted in 2023, were averaging 6.1 yards per play with Nacua on the field, compared to 5.1 yards when he’s off the field. But the big news of the day Friday came when Sean McVay ruled Aaron Donald (back) out.
Donald came out of retirement and rejoined the team after training camp. His absence means Los Angeles is without two of the better defensive front-seven players in the NFL in Donald and Myles Garrett, who is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Out
DT Aaron Donald (back)
TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle)
CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder)
Questionable
TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder)
OLB Josaiah Stewart (groin)
Storylines to watch
Smith’s absence is a big blow to the Eagles. In previous seasons, they have withstood the loss of Smith or A.J. Brown knowing the other would be out there. Can Wicks provide the same comfort? We’ll find out Sunday, and maybe next week in London, too.
The team’s best pass catcher being out comes at a pivotal time for an offense that needs to start putting things together. The Eagles haven’t successfully married their run and pass games the way they said they wanted to. The running game showed some signs of life in the first half on Monday night, and the Eagles will hope to build off of that Sunday.
There are some defensive concerns, too, that may be amplified with Baun out. The Eagles had a key miscommunication Monday that led to a Bears touchdown, and Cooper DeJean said there’s not enough talking happening on the field right now.
What went wrong Monday, and what can we expect Sunday vs. the Rams? Plus, what are the biggest concerns so far for the Eagles? I broke it down with my colleague Olivia Reiner earlier this week in our latest Gameday Central pregame show.
The Eagles are a home underdog for the first time since 2023. They were 10-1 when they hosted the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13 of the 2023 season. A 42-19 beat down at Lincoln Financial Field started a late-season collapse.
Jordan Davis and the Eagles blocked a last-second field goal attempt last season to complete their comeback win against the Rams.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
32.9% — That’s DeVonta Smith’s target share through three games. Brandon Graham, now away from football and in the podcasting world, got some traction last week after the Eagles’ Week 2 win when he said he thought Jalen Hurts was playing freely and not having to force the ball to certain players.
Maybe he meant the way the offense is designed gives Hurts more answers, or maybe he was referring to Hurts not having to force the ball to A.J. Brown. Either way, the numbers tell a different story. If Smith’s target share number holds up, he would have the highest single-season target share of any Eagles player since at least 2000, according to Next Gen Stats.
Smith is slated to miss this week’s game and possibly next week’s in London. Goedert still isn’t back from injury. Hurts is going to have to put his trust in others.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 in Nashville, Tenn.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
“Who are we?”
Well, that’s kind of existential, Jalen.
But it’s the question the quarterback said he posed to the locker room in the aftermath of their 27-7 loss on Monday night.
“Ask yourself that question because that’s a choice you can make, and being deliberate and intentional on how we move forward, so we can continue to improve,” Hurts said.
Thanks for reading. The weekly Eagles newsletter will be back again next Saturday sent to your inbox all the way from London, where the Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5.
For the first two days of 76ers training camp, coach Nick Nurse was installing defensive concepts. This was especially exciting for Nurse, whose eyes lit up when talking about what this roster allows him to do on that end of the floor.
“I don’t feel like I’ve been able to get into my bag of defensive stuff nearly as much as I would like to,” Nurse said of his previous years as Sixers coach. “And I think now we’ve got a little bit more depth, size, athleticism. It may take us a minute, but I think I’m most excited about that.”
A young, inexperienced team might not have the bandwidth to execute multiple coverages like switching one through five, drop coverage, or a high wall without some miscommunication and needing an extra beat to remember which is the current coverage.
A team lacking size and athleticism limits the kinds of coverages that could be deployed for the sake of ending up in unfavorable mismatches. What the Sixers seem to have is a good mix of that experience, athleticism, and basketball IQ to make it all work.
That they don’t have to just play one way throughout the course of a game, and Nurse can do different things with different lineups and match up better against specific opponents.
“We have so many defenders and athletes and good players that can do so many different things; we can really go deep inside the playbook and rotations and do things that other teams really don’t have the ability to do,” forward Dean Wade said. “That’s what’s going to separate us on the defensive end, too. We have so many great defenders, great help side defenders and great on-ball defenders.”
The Sixers were 17th in defensive efficiency a season ago, which speaks, perhaps, to the limited upside of what Nurse could do, especially with Joel Embiid only playing 38 regular-season games. But even when Embiid does take off games to maintain his health, the Sixers have a deeper roster that should still give them flexibility on defense. Wade figures to play a significant part in the team’s defensive success off the bench, while VJ Edgecombe said he will continue to burnish his reputation as a point-of-attack defender after getting “faster and stronger” from where he started a season ago.
Jaylen Brown on learning new defensive systems and terminology, an overlooked part of changing teams players have to get used to:
“It’s a whole new system, whole new calls. I got to like download my brain to a different algorithm to make sure I’m not calling the wrong stuff.” pic.twitter.com/ObZTebDajJ
“I’m just trying to make sure I’m in top-tier shape so I can do that,” Edgecombe said. “Obviously, that’s important. The league is full of great guards. And, like you said, that’s important to be that point-of-attack defense because that’s what kind of starts it with most of the possessions. And I want to be able to set that tone for us defensively, and we go from there.”
Then there’s LeBron James, who still can dial up the intensity defensively when needed. James relayed Monday that Tyrese Maxey previously said Jaylen Brown also was taking on primary defensive responsibilities and trying to set a defensive tone.
“What’s stood out to me so far is his communication and he’s willing to pick up the ball defensively, kind of just do whatever coach needs him to do right now,” Maxey said.
Brown mentioned Thursday that he was getting used to the terminology the Sixers use. One thing that might mean a certain coverage when he was in Boston might mean something different with the Sixers.
“It’s just getting him through it and getting him comfortable,” Nurse said. “I think we’ve covered a lot and probably calmed down on putting more stuff in and really started repping this out, so everybody gets comfortable with what the plays are called.”
The more Nurse can take out of his “bag,” the more versatility the Sixers can have defensively.
Up and down the roster, the Sixers have talked about the importance of that side of the ball. Nurse mentioned on Day 1 that James was “extremely loud” on defense, trying to set an example for the rest of the roster, while Brown said, “We’re focused on defense for a couple days, and I like that because that’s where the game is going to be won or lost.”
On the first day of 76ers training camp, Labaron Philon Jr. found himself backpedaling as LeBron James barreled toward him full-speed.
“That’s when the moment really hit,” Philon said. “I was like, ‘All right, it’s here now.’”
Consider it an early dose of “Welcome to the NBA” — and to the Sixers’ loaded roster — for the rookie point guard. But so far, Philon’s belief that he has been “able to stand [his] ground” against teammates with far more experience and established star power has been echoed by coach Nick Nurse. In these early practices, Nurse said he has been “super impressed” with Philon’s defensive competitiveness and ability to create offensively with the ball in his hands.
“He’s really talented,” Nurse said. “But the vision is, like, I think really special.”
Nurse’s early praise for Philon should not be dismissed as a preseason pump-up. Two years ago, Jared McCain was lauded as the Sixers’ best player during training camp, then became an early NBA Rookie of the Year frontrunner before tearing his meniscus. Last year, Nurse had zero hesitation about immediately inserting VJ Edgecombe into the starting lineup following a preseason that confirmed his maturity and versatility.
And it’s easy to forget that the Sixers’ wild offseason began when Philon slipped to them at No. 22 overall in the NBA draft.
In a strong class of lead ballhandlers, ESPN commentator and longtime coach Fran Fraschilla said Philon had the potential to be the best of the bunch. After Philon went from defensive stopper as a freshman at Alabama to top offensive option as a sophomore — he averaged 22 points on 39.9% shooting from three-point range, along with 4.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 32 games in 2025-26 — Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey and Nurse said on draft night that they expected the 20-year-old to instantly contend for a rotation role. He then flashed his crafty ballhalding and fearless shot-taking during Las Vegas Summer League.
“I think he’s going [up] quickly,” Nurse told a small group of reporters in Las Vegas in July. “I think he’s got some confidence to him that I don’t think he’ll be afraid. I think he’ll make the most of the opportunity.”
The Sixers picked Lebaron Philon Jr. 22nd overall in the NBA draft.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
That Las Vegas stint came amid the Sixers’ stunning roster transformation. They traded for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown, then signed the legendary James. They also added fellow guard Anfernee Simons along with wings Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as more proven role players.
Still, Philon’s comments Friday — along with the occasional video clip posted by the Sixers’ social media team — suggested that he has been working in practice with the Sixers’ second unit. He said he has been building chemistry with Ariel Hukporti, who is the backup center while Adem Bona nurses a knee injury.
The 6-foot-4, 176-pound Philon said his first on-court priority with this group is to be a “ball hawk,” in the right spot to swipe steals as part of Nurse’s aggressive defensive philosophy. On the offensive end, Philon credited Alabama coach Nate Oats’ NBA-style system with helping him arrive in Camden already comfortable enough to use his voice to direct older teammates and play “on the fly.” Though passing has always been one of Philon’s strengths, he emphasized the importance of making the “easiest” decisions.
“Right now, I don’t really need no ‘showtime’ or kind of flashy plays,” he said. “The position I’m in right now, it’s, like, making the right play every time.”
As Philon continues his NBA transition, he vowed to “have questions ready every day” for his more experienced teammates. He recently asked Brown about how he remains focused to hit tough fadeaway jumpers through the defender’s contest. He wants to learn all of James’ secrets for career longevity. He has gotten tidbits from Edgecombe his rookie experience and on shaping his prepractice routine. And he has engaged in one-on-one conversations with All-NBA point guard Tyrese Maxey about proper reads to make when the first option is not available.
“That takes a lot from everybody,” Philon said. “So I feel like I’ve been appreciating that, just being happy that those guys are here to help.”
There are bound to be more moments when Philon is caught backpedaling — figuratively and literally — during his rookie season on a Sixers team facing high pressure and expectations. But he already exudes the belief that he will continue standing his ground.
It’s a confidence Nurse and teammates share.
“Labaron’s good,” Simons matter-of-factly said at media day. “He’s good, for sure. … There are going to be times when, for sure, we’re going to need him.”
Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti first met on the basketball floor as teenagers, while playing for the Turkish and German national team programs, respectively. They were on rival teams again when they reached the NBA, with the 76ers and New York Knicks.
Still, Bona smiled and said, “That’s my guy” when asked about Hukporti at Monday’s Sixers media day.
Now they are teammates, after Hukporti signed as a free agent following his stint as a deep reserve on the Knicks’ championship run. Their longstanding healthy competition has shifted internally, for an important role on this star-heavy Sixers roster with massive expectations. Bona and Hukporti, who are less proven than several of their bench counterparts, are the primary contenders to fill the backup center minutes behind Joel Embiid — and to start when Embiid inevitably misses games to manage his health.
“People can say ‘battle’ or whatever,” Hukporti said following Thursday’s training camp practice. “But when it comes to the end goal, [you’re] coming together as a team and you produce as a team. It don’t matter. It can be me playing five minutes, [Bona] playing 15 minutes. Me playing 25 minutes, him playing 15. …
“Whoever gets in, gets in. Get the job done. Especially in the playoffs, we need everybody. We need all players.”
Hukporti would know. The 7-footer received spot minutes during the Knicks’ playoff tear, including in Game 1 of their second-round series sweep of the Sixers when All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and sound backup Mitchell Robinson got into early foul trouble.
Still, in an overwhelmingly lauded first offseason for new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey — which included signing all-time great LeBron James, trading for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown, and adding role players such as Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons — the Hukporti signing arrived with the most uncertainty. The 24-year-old has logged 715 total minutes across 79 career games in his first two NBA seasons, averaging 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds.
The 6-10 Bona, meanwhile, held the Sixers’ backup center role for the bulk of last season. And in several games Embiid did not play, Bona maintained the reserve minutes behind veteran Andre Drummond, who coincidentally left Philly to sign with the Knicks in free agency.
Sixers center Adem Bona has missed training camp for a knee injury. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Bona is an excellent athlete and shot-blocker, but is still raw offensively and has struggled with fouling and catching the ball. He averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 71 games with 18 starts last season, and also has expressed a strong desire to play next to Embiid in big lineups. In July, the Sixers guaranteed Bona’s $2.3 million salary for the final year of his contract in 2026-27, creating a crucial season for the 23-year-old.
Yet with Bona sidelined with a foot sprain sustained while playing for Turkey over the summer, opportunity has surfaced for Hukporti so far during training camp.
While highlighting the Sixers’ new-look bench unit Thursday, coach Nick Nurse called Hukporti “athletic, long, [and] plays really hard. He’s been awesome to see.” Hukporti added that he hopes to showcase more of his offensive repertoire with the Sixers, with “quite-good” ball movement during early practices helping him get to his floater and around-the-rim finishes.
Hukporti’s current spot on the depth chart also has meant matching up against Embiid, who has impressed Hukporti with his post game and patience to get to his spots on the floor.
“Obviously, he was an MVP in this league,” Hukporti said of Embiid. “And it just makes me a way better defender.”
Nurse said Thursday that Bona is expected to be reevaluated in the next couple days and could be available to play at some point during the preseason. Fellow returners Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker, who both parlayed two-way contracts into standard deals last season, are small-ball center options. The 7-6 Tacko Fall, who is on an Exhibit 10 deal and in contention to land the Sixers’ final two-way contract, is out at least two weeks with a hip issue. James has even played center at points during his legendary career.
But the Sixers’ prime position battle begins with former “rivals” Bona and Hukporti, who have been competing against each other in some capacity since they were teenagers.
“Now we’re on the same team,” Hukporti said. “So it’s been nothing but a blessing.”
The Eagles hit the first bump in their 2026 schedule with a 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night, but the day wasn’t a total loss for Philly sports fans. It was also their first chance to see LeBron James in a Sixers uniform during the team’s media day. The Phillies also clinched a playoff berth a day earlier and traveled to Atlanta for a wild-card series against the Braves.
Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors pick the best sports images from the last seven days. Here’s this week’s Big Picture …
A Chicago Bears fan wasn’t thrilled by the Eagles’ last-second Tush Push score in the second quarter, but that was about all they had to frown about as their team rolled to a 27-7 win over the Birds.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze can’t hang on to a pass from Case Keenum (not pictured) as he’s defended by Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Eagles linebackers Jihaad Campbell and Zack Baun tackle Bears tight end Colston Loveland in the third quarter. Loveland caught four passes for 31 yards.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerSixers center Adem Bona poses for a portrait during media day. The third-year player is expected to serve as Joel Embiid’s backup when he recovers from the foot sprain he suffered in the offseason.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerCaleb Love spins a ball on his middle finger during a portrait session at Sixers media day. Love, a second-year player, signed a two-way deal with the Sixers this summer.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
First-round pick Labaron Philon, who has flown under the radar after the Sixers acquired LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, poses for a portrait during media day.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerTyrese Maxey is entering his seventh season with the Sixers, one that comes with big expectations after the team’s splashy offseason.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerLeBron James gets interviewed during Sixers media day. He’ll likely make his on-court debut Monday when the Sixers kick off their preseason slate against the Knicks.Jessica Griffin / Staff PhotographerAlec Bohm celebrates after hitting a 10th-inning solo home run against the Atlanta Braves to lift the Phillies to a 4-3 win in Game 2 of their wild-card series.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies fans Nate Smith (left) and his wife Karen Smith of Cochranville, Pa., celebrate after the Phillies beat the Braves in Game 2 on Wednesday. The couple, along with hundreds of others, were at Stateside Live for an event kicking off the Flyers’ season, which opened Wednesday night.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto celebrates with Andrew Painter, who made his postseason debut in the team’s Game 2 win.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerPhillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (left) and infielder Edmundo Sosa (right) celebrate after clinching a postseason berth. They waited until the last possible minute, securing their spot in the playoffs in Game 162 of the season.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Phillies outfielder Derek Hill can’t come down with a deep fly ball off the bat of Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerThanks to Derek Hill’s miss in the sixth inning of Game 1, Albies plated a run with an RBI triple.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerCatcher Garrett Stubbs again leads the celebration in the clubhouse after the Phillies clinched a playoff spot on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerTemple special teams coordinator Brian Ginn (right) and head coach K.C. Keeler yell instructions during a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter against Army.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
Temple wide receivers Colin Chase (1) and JoJo Bermudez celebrate after Chase scored a touchdown during in third quarter against Army, but it wasn’t enough as the Owls fell, 21-17.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
The 76ers’ practice court was empty as the team began to cycle through interviews following their second day of training camp Wednesday afternoon.
Then, a shirtless Jaylen Brown emerged for an individual workout with new assistant coach Phil Handy, plus a player development coach bumping Brown as the All-NBA wing executed post-up moves.
Teammate Tyrese Maxey still used the term “foreign” to describe how it must feel for Brown to be inside the Sixers’ facility.
After spending his first 10 NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics, where he developed into a five-time All-Star and Finals MVP, Brown in July was shockingly traded to the Sixers team he was “trained to hate, probably,” Maxey said. The timing was particularly “crazy,” Maxey said, after the Sixers’ dramatic seven-game, first-round playoff upset of the Celtics less than five months ago.
“I feel like I’ve played against Jaylen so many times,” said Maxey, an All-NBA point guard who is entering his seventh season with the Sixers. “But when you’re with somebody every single day, it’s different.”
Brown is coming off his best individual season, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while star teammate Jayson Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery. Maxey said he has immediately been impressed with Brown’s communication and willingness to guard the ballhandler. Maxey also called Brown an “awesome cutter,” a valuable skill on a team with several top-notch ballhandlers and shot creators.
And, physically, Maxey called Brown a “freak of nature.”
“He’s just stronger than you,” Maxey said. “He jumps higher than you. He’s faster than you, and he’s very talented. Those are the things that you see every single day.”
Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe will play a key part in his team’s ability to get out in transition. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Asked to clarify if that meant Brown is faster than Maxey — who is regarded as perhaps the NBA’s speediest player — he quipped, “Nah, no chance.”
“I wasn’t talking about me,” Maxey said.
Sixers ready to run
Media attending the Sixers’ first two practices did not get an in-person glimpse of all-time great LeBron James partaking in any team or individual on-court work. But the Sixers’ social media team posted a video clip from Tuesday’s session of a fastbreak that began with the ball in Maxey’s hands, before he kicked it to James, who then found VJ Edgecombe for an alley-oop dunk.
“I was on their team [with the starters], it was so fun to play,” new forward Dean Wade said. “I played against them when they were in that flow, and there was nothing you [could] do. It’s unbelievable.”
The immediate success with — and emphasis on — the transition game is no surprise. Last season, the 41-year-old James led the NBA in fastbreak points (5.7 per game), while Maxey was third (5.5 per game). Brown ranked 14th, at 3.6 per game. And Edgecombe is regarded as one of the league’s more electric athletes.
So coach Nick Nurse already has been sending a consistent message of “pitch it ahead,” Maxey said.
“I dribbled a little bit more [last season] than I probably will this year,” Maxey added. “So I’m just trying to get it ahead, no matter what, or I’m trying to run ahead or I’m trying to figure it out.”
Last season, the Sixers ranked ninth in fastbreak points, at 16.9 per game. Getting into the open court is a way for the team to capitalize on forced turnovers, one of Nurse’s prime defensive philosophies. It also is a way to get easy buckets even while figuring out offensive schemes and roles, now with a loaded roster featuring four players who have been All-Stars and offensive focal points in their careers.
Those open-court opportunities still come with nuance. Maxey said he has spent these early days learning where new teammates want the ball in such scenarios, or who might pull up for a three-pointer.
“And then, at the end of the day, we also have No. 21 [Joel Embiid] trailing in,” Maxey said. “So that’s a pretty good option, too.”
Embiid ‘looks amazing’
The Sixers’ biggest positional question mark entering 2026-27 has been shorthanded at the start of training camp.
Adem Bona, the Sixers’ backup center for most of last season, has been nursing a sprained foot sustained while playing for the Turkish national team during the summer. The 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall, who is on an Exhibit 10 contract and a contender for the team’s final two-way deal, had a hip issue that took him out about midway through Wednesday’s practice, Nurse said.
Not on the injury report? Embiid, a noteworthy tidbit given the former MVP’s injury struggles in recent seasons.
Sixers center Joel Embiid has received credit for coming to training camp in great shape. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Embiid arrived at Monday’s media day noticeably slimmer and said that he was finally able to work on his game during the offseason. Maxey added Wednesday that Embiid, his longest-tenured teammate and close friend, has looked “amazing” — and happy — during initial practices.
“When you’re healthy and you’re happy and you’re at peace with your life and basketball,” Maxey said, “that’s when you’re at your best. He’s been great. He’s Joel.”
For the duration of Tyrese Maxey’s NBA career, Dean Wade was on the Cleveland Cavaliers, which meant Maxey and Wade shared the floor plenty over the last six years.
But one quality of Wade didn’t stand out for Maxey until they got on the practice floor together.
“I didn’t know he was this tall,” Maxey said. “You play against a guy two or three times a year, but you don’t really realize until you’re seeing somebody every day — he’s tall. He’s really tall.”
Wade, listed at 6-foot-9, will be utilizing that height off the bench to bolster the Sixers defense. His arrival from Cleveland was a part of the team’s plans before the Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown and landed LeBron James. Now that both Brown and James are here, Wade figures to be an ideal bench piece to complement this group. He’s a low-usage shooter, but someone who can knock down open threes (36.7% for his career), and he is a defensive standout who can take on a team’s best player, thanks in part to that height.
“That’s what’s going to separate us on the defensive end, too, we have so many great defenders, great help side defenders and great on-ball defenders,” Wade said.
Here’s some of Tyrese Maxey today talking about developing chemistry with his teammates in transition, also what he’s learned about playing alongside Dean Wade. “I didn’t realize he was this tall.” pic.twitter.com/l8jTqsX36z
Wade came to the Sixers thanks in part to his relationship in Cleveland with president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who previously served as the Cavaliers general manager. Gansey and Wade bonded early over their shared rivalries from the Big 12 (Gansey went to West Virginia, Wade Kansas State) and the undrafted Wade steadily carved out a role for himself with the Cavaliers with his commitment to defense.
He credited two coaches of his there, Josh Broghamer and Chris Darnell, with instilling the value of defense in him — not just how defense could affect a team, but how he could help him find a role in the NBA. So he got in the weight room and kept developing his lateral quickness so he could stay in front of his man.
“They were like, ‘The one thing that’s going to keep you on the floor is defense,’” Wade said. “‘You’re big. You move lateral, you’re quick enough that you can stay in front of people.’ And I think they’re like, ‘If you want to play, you want to stick in the NBA, you got to do that. You know, every team has scores, people that can create. You got to be different.’”
Wade, who averaged 5.8 points last season, said one of his goals this season on offense was to make sure he gave his teammates space to create and do their thing. He wouldn’t be hunting for his own shot. Maxey said he was going to encourage Wade to shoot more.
“He’s also somebody who knows how to play a role, and he knows how to star in his role, too. He doesn’t deviate,” Maxey said. “[I’ll] be on him this year about shooting the ball. I want him to shoot a lot of threes. He can shoot the ball.”
Dean Wade (45) during Sixers media day on Monday.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
When told what Maxey said, Wade flashed a smile, as if he has heard 1,000 times in his career that he has the green light to shoot the ball more.
“They pay me to shoot the ball when I’m open and play defense, so I have to do that,” Wade said. “Coach [Nick Nurse] has been on me a few times already, so it’s something that I’ve been told before. It’s not like I hate it; it’s better to shoot than stop shooting, but it will come along when you get into the flow of games and getting repetition, and time with each other.”
Among his initial impressions so far at camp, Wade said both Jaylen Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope think the game similarly to him, and he has also been impressed with the maturity of VJ Edgecombe, even though the second-year guard is only 21 years old.
“I love the way he plays. I really do,” Wade said. “So anytime I get out there on his team, like I love it because man, he’s flying around in transition, making the right cuts. He’s sacrificing shots for people, and … he plays the right way.”
“I’ve been in the gym quite a bit with everyone,” Wade said. “The biggest thing coming in is being yourself. Especially, in training camp, just come out, be who you’re going to be all season and let everyone learn what you do.”
