Looking at the 76ers at the All-Star break

by Marc Narducci | Feb 18, 2026

At the NBA All-Star break, the 76ers have been a resounding success, especially compared to last year’s nightmare of the season.

The Sixers are 30-24 after a 24-52 record a year ago.

Tyrese Maxey is a second-time All-Star and should be an All-NBA player by season’s end. The teams is now Maxey’s, although Joel Embiid has shown that he has more than something left in the tank.

A lingering knee injury has limited Embiid to 31 games, and he missed the last two before the break. The Sixers are 19-12 in games he has played compared to 11-12 in those he has been sidelined.

Embiid is not the same player, but he is still an effective one, or more pointedly, a highly effective one.

There could have been an argument that he should have been an All-Star, but missing 23 games was the biggest reason he wasn’t selected.

Are the Sixers potential contenders in what is a watered-down NBA Eastern Conference?

That might be a stretch, but they can’t be discounted, yet so much depends on Embiid.

Here are some of the key situations for the Sixers as they prepare for the postseason with just 28 regular season games remaining.

Embiid’s effectiveness

Embiid is averaging 26.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in just 31.4 minutes per game. He doesn’t play in back-to-back games, but that shouldn’t be a problem in the postseason since teams rarely play in consecutive days.

Still, the knee acts up, and he sometimes has to miss multiple games, as he did leading into the break.

Embiid isn’t the same player. He doesn’t like to play much in the low post, but he has regained his shooting touch and still has a great ability to draw fouls and make free throws. He is shooting .858 from the foul line on 8.6 attempts per game.

Embiid still takes too many three-pointers, averaging 3.9 per game, while shooting just .320 from deep.

He isn’t the same disruptive defender, but as the record shows, they are winning team with him on the court. Embiid turns 32 in March and whether he can physically withstand the playoffs remains to be seen. Yet, he has done much more than expected when many felt he wouldn’t be able to overcome his latest injury woes.

Maxey’s minutes

Maxey has been outstanding, but he also leads the NBA in minutes per game, 38.6. How much of a toll will this come in mid-April? He is unstoppable going to the hoop, too quick for any defender and don’t be surprised if the Sixers see plenty of zone defenses in the playoffs. The Sixers may want to cut down Maxey’s minutes so he will be fresher in the postseason.

Edgecombe’s Development

Even though he was the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, VJ Edgecombe has surpassed expectations. He is averaging 14.9 points and shooting .352 from three-point range, which isn’t lights out, but much better than expected. He is shooting better from deep in the NBA than he did in his lone season at Baylor (.340).

Like Maxey, he is playing a ton. Edgecombe is ninth in the NBA in minutes per game (35.4). He is an accomplished defender, won’t turn 21 until July and looks like a potential future All-Star. The one question is will he hit the rookie wall? Will playing all those minutes catch up to him?

Can Paul George Contribute to a Postseason run?

Forward Paul George will be able to return from his 25-game suspension on March 25, with 10 games left in the season. George was suspended for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy by taking an improper medication.

He has been highly criticized since signing a four-year, $200 million contract before last season. Yet, while not worth that price, George has been effective, averaging 16.0 points and shooting .382 from three-point range in just 30.5 minutes per game this season.

Will he be hurt by the layoff? Can George be able to avoid the injuries that have plagued his brief Sixers career? Will he be a significant postseason contributor?

The Sixers have many questions, but how their best four players fare during the rest of the regular season will give an idea of how competitive they might be in the NBA playoffs.

Photo courtesy of 76ers X/Twitter

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Author: Marc Narducci

Looking at the 76ers at the All-Star break

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