NEW YORK -- The Philadelphia 76ers have had a miserable 2024-25 season as they sit at now 23-53 following a loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday. The Sixers were expected to contend for a championship following the addition of Paul George in free agency, but instead, they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
The idea was that George would join forces with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to get the Sixers over the hump and past Round 2 for the first time since 2001. Instead, it has been an injury-riddled season where Embiid and George were limited to just 19 and 41 games, respectively. Maxey has only played 52 and has not played since March 3.
Even when the trio did play--which was only 15 times--it wasn't great results. The Sixers went 7-8 in those games and there wasn't much chemistry. Knicks forward PJ Tucker talked with Sixers Wire about the trio as he has played with all three players in his career.
"Individually, all three of them are amazing players, obviously," Tucker said. "They’ve all played at a super high level for a long time, outside of Tyrese, but Joel and PG. I say it all the time, it’s hard to just put three people together and just think they’re gonna work. It don’t work like that."
Chemistry is a big part of success. This isn't fantasy basketball where three guys come together and then boom! Instant championship. It takes time. Those three need to play together and they just weren't able to get much court time together because of all of the injuries.
"You gotta build the chemistry," Tucker continued. "You gotta build the trust. You gotta build camaraderie. You gotta build it all. The way you play has an effect. The shots you take, the sacrifices that people really gotta take in real life. All that takes its toll and it runs throughout the season and the injuries and everything, it’s a lot. It’s crazy. I think it’s crazy how it works."
Tucker, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in the James Harden deal, watched it with George, Harden, and Kawhi Leonard in the 2023-24 season. It took time for those three to figure it out.
Unfortunately, the Sixers never had that as Embiid had to battle through yet another injury and George dealt with injury troubles of his own along with the supporting cast. Embiid, especially, labored through the 19 games he did end up playing and Tucker feels for him.
"Yeah because he’s gotta deal with everybody asking, should he have played here? Or should he have done this?" Tucker said of Embiid. "As a player, you don’t think about that. You think about playing all the time and helping out teams the best you can when you can, but it’s life. That’s kinda how it works."
At this point, all the Sixers can do is hope for better injury luck in the 2025-26 season. If they're healthy--a certainly big "if" for this group--then they should be considered a serious contender in the East. Until then, Embiid, George, and Maxey will have to heal up and hope for better luck in the future.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: PJ Tucker gives thoughts on Joel Embiid, 1st season for Sixers' Big 3
