The 76ers (2-11) are off to their worst start since the 2015-16 season.
Modern NBA history suggests that heads roll when a franchise with a massive payroll and title aspirations does not live up to expectations. However, the Sixers are not expected to make any drastic changes to their coaching or front-office staff.
According to The Athletic, the jobs of head coach Nick Nurse and president of basketball operations Daryl More are not in danger despite the team’s woeful start. The report came in the aftermath of an ESPN report divulging details of a heated locker room meeting in which Tyrese Maxey called out Joel Embiid’s tardiness.
The Athletic provided additional details on the meeting, noting that Maxey told Embiid: “Joel, you know I love you. But it starts with you, and your habits.” The Sixers guard reportedly called out Embiid for being “late to too many team functions” such as practice and film room sessions.
The details of the closed-door meeting sent shockwaves through the NBA world, with analysts such as Kendrick Perkins questioning if “the trust” level had already been broken within the franchise. Speaking on “NBA Today” on ESPN, Perkins opined that word of the meeting got out to the media because Embiid had lost the support of his locker room.
The 76ers entered the 2024-25 season with the third-shortest odds to win the title, behind only the Celtics and Thunder. A month into the season, Philadelphia has lost the faith of oddsmakers, dropping to 10th, per ESPNBet.
The one thing working in the Sixers’ favor is the mediocrity of the Eastern Conference. As of Wednesday, the East had only four teams with records above .500 compared to 11 in the West. The Sixers can still realistically make the playoffs despite their early season struggles.