5 Things We Learned From Philadelphia 76ers Star-Studded Scrimmage
The Philadelphia 76ers put on a show on Saturday. Close to 10,000 fans packed Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday for the team’s annual Blue x White Scrimmage, paying just $10 to get an early look at a Philadelphia team that has championship expectations already.
The event was originally held at the team’s G League facility, but the demand was so high that the Sixers moved it to their home arena.
And there was plenty to be excited about.
For the first time, Philadelphia’s projected starting five of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid shared the floor, and it was a sight to behold.
It is still a scrimmage, and nobody should be hanging banners because of what happened Saturday, but the Sixers gave their fans plenty of reasons to believe this season could be different.
Here are five things we learned from Philadelphia’s scrimmage.
1. This Starting Five Could Be Absolutely Terrifying
Let’s start with the obvious: there is a ridiculous amount of talent in the starting lineup.
The five-man group immediately showed why Philadelphia is getting so much buzz. During its early run together, the Sixers jumped out to a 14-5 start while moving the ball with everyone having a say per possession.
In the first quarter alone, we saw Edgecombe create an Embiid dunk, Embiid facilitate from the elbow, LeBron push in transition, Brown attack mismatches, and Maxey use his speed to attack.
This is very exciting. Each star looked comfortable taking turns and making the defense pay accordingly.
On paper, there is no obvious way to defend all five simultaneously. Of course, there will be questions about spacing, touches, and how everyone looks against an actual NBA defense.
But for one afternoon, Philadelphia got a glimpse of what this group could become. And frankly, it looked completely unfair just as it would on the NBA 2K27 video game.
2. LeBron James Has Still Got It
The biggest attraction was always going to be LeBron James, the face of the NBA for long enough.
This was his first public appearance in a Sixers uniform, and the 41-year-old immediately reminded everyone that he is not in Philadelphia to sell jerseys. He wants to dominate the game like the superstar he is.
He provided the highlights, too. James caught an alley-oop from Maxey and threw down a dunk, buried a deep three, and delivered a slick behind-the-back pass to Edgecombe.
The number on his back was a little different, too. James wore No. 9 because his usual No. 6 is retired by Philadelphia in honor of Julius Erving. He was introduced as No. 23, but the jersey itself was No. 9. And frankly, the number didn’t matter because the fans were happy to see him.
What mattered was seeing LeBron finally play with Maxey, Brown, and Embiid.
He averaged 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists last season with the Lakers, and Philadelphia is clearly hoping that version of LeBron is still available when the games start counting.
Based on the scrimmage, LeBron has still got it, folks, not that we are surprised by that.
3. Joel Embiid Looked Like A Different Player Physically
For Philadelphia, this might have been the most important aspect of the entire day. Seeing the big names perform was great, but Joel Embiid looking healthy is what could actually determine whether this team has a championship season.
Embiid participated fully and looked noticeably leaner and more mobile than he has in recent seasons. He showed how exceptional he can be athletically by running the floor and switching on defense effortlessly.
The funniest part was Embiid’s reaction afterward. He joked that it was probably the “last dunk” of his career.
Maybe he was kidding. But seeing Embiid sprinting the floor and finishing a fast break was exactly what Sixers fans wanted to see after years of watching injuries interrupt his seasons.
Without question and without disrespect to LeBron, Brown, and Maxey, a healthy Embiid changes everything for this team come playoff time.
4. VJ Edgecombe Looks Completely Comfortable Around Superstars
The “smallest” name on this star-studded 76ers team is VJ Edgecombe; we know that.
But today, he looked like he belonged. The young guard was aggressive, athletic, and willing to make plays. One of the night’s biggest highlights came when Edgecombe and Embiid ran a two-man action before Edgecombe exploded into a thunderous dunk.
He later added another one-handed transition slam. No doubt his confidence has not wavered since the superstars arrived in town.
Philadelphia does not need Edgecombe to be a 20-point scorer at all. They need him to defend, run the floor, make quick decisions, and capitalize when defenses become obsessed with the four established stars around him.
Saturday suggested he is capable of doing exactly that, and if Edgecombe develops into the two-way weapon Philadelphia believes he can become, this roster gets even scarier.
5. Philadelphia Fans Are All The Way In…And They Should Be
Yes, this was a scrimmage. But it was a reminder of what happens when Philadelphia finally has a team worth getting excited about.
The Sixers normally hold their Blue x White Scrimmage at their G League facility in Delaware. This year, ticket demand forced the organization to move it to Xfinity Mobile Arena. Nearly 10,000 fans showed up, paid $10, and created an atmosphere that made a preseason practice feel like a playoff game.
The reaction to LeBron was especially wild. Fans crowded the aisles trying to get a glimpse of him. The expectations follow him everywhere he goes.
Philadelphia has not won a championship since 1983. Now the Sixers have put together a starting five featuring LeBron, Embiid, Brown, Maxey, and one of the most intriguing young players in the league.
Nobody is going to remember who won a scrimmage in October, true. But the excitement surrounding this team is very real.
And after Saturday, it is getting harder to blame Sixers fans for believing that this could finally be the year Philadelphia gives them something worth celebrating since Allen Iverson carried them to the NBA Finals in 2001.
