NBA: Expectations greater for 76ers with new Big 3

Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, left, reacts as he poses with Joel Embiid, proper, for images through the NBA basketball group’s media day, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Camden, N.J.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

CAMDEN, New Jersey — Joel Embiid gained a gold medal this summer time and misplaced about 30 kilos.

Tyrese Maxey signed a $204 million contract extension and the All-Star guard wrote down the evening earlier than the 76ers left for coaching camp all of the targets he set for this season.

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Paul George cradled his younger son on his lap — little Paul is about to hitch the Big Three in October (as in turning 3 years outdated) months after dad left Los Angeles to type a Big Three with Embiid and Maxey in Philadelphia.

READ: NBA: Joel Embiid indicators 3-year contract extension with 76ers

A brand new Philadelphia trio… 🔥

Maxey.
Embiid.
George.@sixers x #NBAMediaDay pic.twitter.com/wjlclZdnhx

— NBA (@NBA) September 30, 2024

Star energy is robust in Philly.

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Expectations? Through the roof of the Wells Fargo Center that the franchise is desperately attempting to flee in 2031 — maybe by then with a championship banner or two hanging within the rafters.

This is the season — once more, the 76ers insist — that Embiid can lead the Sixers to … a championship? Perhaps. But begin would simply be advancing out of the second spherical of the playoffs. Philadelphia has not gained an NBA title since 1983 and even gained the second spherical of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs since Allen Iverson and the late Dikembe Mutombo led them to the NBA Finals in 2001.

To borrow a phrase from Phillies proprietor John Middleton, the 76ers spent “stupid money” this summer time to maintain Embiid and Maxey for years to return and added George to the combo.

The 76ers dedicated greater than $400 million in wage to Maxey and George early in free company after which signed Embiid to a $193 million extension shortly earlier than the group opened coaching camp this week within the Bahamas.

No surprise the proficient trio was all smiles through the group’s annual media day at its New Jersey advanced.

READ: NBA: 76ers make splash with $400M in contracts for Paul George, Maxey

Philadelphia 76ers’ Paul George poses for images alongside aspect his son, Paul, through the NBA basketball group’s media day, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Camden, N.J.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Coach Nick Nurse is ready to enter his second season with none of the drama that enveloped camp in Colorado final yr when James Harden’s contract dispute threatened to derail the beginning of the season. Harden was ultimately traded, however the black cloud by no means actually lifted — not when Embiid missed a piece of the season with accidents that induced extra complications than any locker room points ever might in Philadelphia.

Can the feel-good vibes of October lastly result in one thing to be ok with in May and past?

Embiid’s summer time trip

Embiid revealed he dropped about 25 to 30 kilos over the summer time. Perhaps it was all that basketball he performed for Team USA when he helped it win a gold medal on the Paris Olympics.

Embiid, who dropped a franchise-record 70 factors final season in opposition to San Antonio, was happy his lobbying efforts to recruit George in free company paid off.

“We got a lot of new guys, so I think it’s important to just be around and make sure everyone understands each other,” Embiid mentioned Monday.

Already an NBA MVP and a seven-time All-Star, Embiid mentioned his primary focus this season isn’t attempting to win extra particular person awards. The 7-foot heart desires to remain wholesome for a whole playoff run, which has eluded him. And, Embiid is aware of with Maxey a rising star — he was the NBA’s Most Improved Player — and George on board, he doesn’t have to hold the load alone.

The 76ers completed 31-8 within the common season with Embiid — a few 65-win tempo — and a woeful 16-27 with out him.

“What I really want to focus on is, empower these guys,” Embiid mentioned. “I will do it when I have to. If it means I have to score some points at some point, I’m going to do it. Most of the time I want to focus on, just really let the game come to me. I think in previous years I had to do it because we didn’t have necessarily the manpower for me to kind of take that step back and put us in a position to win.”

Maxey-mum effort

The 23-year-old Maxey joked he was “getting old” as he entered his fifth season with the Sixers as one of many elder statesmen on the group.

Maxey was requested about veteran management on the group. Yet, Maxey is the veteran chief — at the same time as he rattled off Kyle Lowry and Reggie Jackson as gamers the Sixers ought to lean on — and mentioned one step he made towards that was studying how a lot he wants to alter his recreation this season if Embiid once more is out with accidents.

Maxey, who mentioned he wrote down his season targets earlier than he went to sleep Sunday evening, mentioned he struggled with attempting to do an excessive amount of to hold the group when Embiid was damage.

“I felt like last year was my first year leading the charge and it was difficult,” he mentioned.

PG-13

With cash to burn, the 76ers enticed George to depart the Los Angeles Clippers and signal a four-year, $212 million contract.

George is a six-time member of the All-NBA Team. He’s a four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team and was the league’s most improved participant in 2013. He was a finalist for each NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.

READ: NBA: Paul George set to hitch 76ers on $212 million deal

Like Embiid and Maxey, George additionally has by no means performed in an NBA Finals.

He believes Embiid and Maxey can get him there.

“I think this is the first time that I’ve played with an elite point guard and big man all at once,” George mentioned. “For us, it’s kind of just countering off each other. Nothing’s forced for one person to kind of take that load alone. We’ve got to share that responsibility. I see us flowing. All of us can kind of play our game within the game.”