Are Sixers about to enter youth movement? – NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers will travel to Abu Dhabi for preseason games vs. the Knicks on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4. They’ll begin their regular season by facing the Celtics on Oct. 22. 

Before the action commences, we’re looking at key questions for the 2025-26 Sixers. First up: Are the Sixers about to enter a true youth movement? 

By the end of their miserable 2024-25 season, the Sixers were exceedingly light on experienced players.

That was not by design. With a roster full of season-ending injuries, the Sixers were forced to rely on youngsters and fringe NBA players to finish out their schedule. 

Still, it’s not a stretch to say that the quality of the Sixers’ youth is a serious positive entering the 2025-26 campaign. Excluding two-way contracts, the team currently has seven players 24 years old or under:

• VJ Edgecombe — 20
• Jared McCain — 21
• Justin Edwards — 21
• Adem Bona — 22
• Johni Broome — 23
• Tyrese Maxey — 24
• Trendon Watford — 24

“If everything sets up well, we’ll have a younger, more dynamic roster around a healthy Joel (Embiid), Tyrese and Paul (George),” Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said at his end-of-season press conference.

Health permitting, we assume that Maxey, McCain, No. 3 pick Edgecombe and versatile summer signing Watford will start in the rotation mix. Edwards also appears likely to merit minutes after a very solid rookie year.

While veteran big man Andre Drummond remains a Sixer, the team clearly likes both Bona and Broome. The two shared the floor at summer league.

Everyone can see Broome’s many levels below Bona in the explosiveness department, but the No. 35 overall pick is a tough, multi-dimensional player with a big-time college résumé. Bona improved rapidly throughout his rookie season and averaged 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.1 steals over the Sixers’ last 12 games. He’s been getting high-intensity game reps lately as a member of Turkey’s EuroBasket squad.

It’s difficult to imagine the Sixers making a dramatic jump from last season without Embiid and George being much healthier. However, it’s not hard to envision multiple young players taking fun leaps that meaningfully change the complexion of the team.

McCain is a contender after a bright rookie year snuffed out by a left lateral meniscus tear. 

“Everything happens for a reason,” McCain said at his exit interview. “God doesn’t make mistakes and I know the universe has put me in this position to be injured to learn something. I know I’m destined for something great.

“I read the book ‘The Obstacle Is The Way.’ … Just trying to create any advantage through all the adversity that you go through. There’s a saying … ‘Amor fati.’ Just love everything that comes, even the negative. Love everything that comes your way and you’ll find your way back in the positive. 

“So I just try to take that every single day and live with gratitude. I’m huge on that. I know I’ll be fine. I know I’ll get back to where I was, even better. Just got to be patient and be present.”