Maxey, Edgecombe give Sixers new life as Embiid works his way back

The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t open the season the way they envisioned it.

Paul George is still sidelined after having arthroscopic knee surgery. Joel Embiid, their franchise cornerstone for nearly a decade, is still on a minutes restriction – capped at just 20 to 25 minutes a night as he eases back from all his injuries accumulated over the years and his lingering health concerns.

Ordinarily, that combination would spell a sluggish start. For years, the Sixers’ fate has hinged on Embiid’s availability – when he sits, the team’s identity tends to blur. But this time feels different. Even with Embiid’s load being carefully managed, Philadelphia has discovered a new rhythm, one that’s fueled by speed, youth, and two dynamic guards playing beyond expectation.

At 5-1 to open the season, the Sixers have catapulted to the top of the Eastern Conference standings – and it’s largely because of the brilliance of Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, who have shouldered the offensive and emotional weight of a team still searching for its full strength.

A restrained Embiid, still dominant in flashes

Embiid’s limitations were expected. After dealing with multiple knee issues the past two years and a grueling stint with Team USA during the Paris Olympics last year, the organization is determined to pace him for the long run. He’s averaging roughly 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in just over 21 minutes per game – flashes of his MVP form in short, controlled bursts.

The Sixers have embraced this restriction not as a setback, but as an opportunity. Instead of relying on Embiid to manufacture everything through the post, head coach Nick Nurse has allowed the offense to open up – to flow through his guards, spread the floor, and attack in waves. It’s a modernized, pace-driven approach that keeps defenses guessing even without the full gravitational pull of their superstar center.

And in that system, Tyrese Maxey has flourished.

Maxey’s resurgence: The spark of a new era

Two years removed from his first All-Star appearance, Maxey looks like a man determined to reclaim that status – and perhaps exceed it.

After going through a tough year in 2024-25, he’s come roaring back with a vengeance. Through six games, Maxey is leading the NBA in scoring on elite efficiency. His shot selection has matured dramatically: he’s diversified his arsenal with a steady mid-range pull-up, and his three-point volume and accuracy have both spiked.

But it’s not just the scoring that stands out – it’s how much control he exerts over the game now. Maxey’s pace manipulation has improved; he’s reading double teams, recognizing help defenders, and consistently making the right pass out of pressure. His assists are up, and his turnovers are down – a testament to how much more comfortable he’s become as a lead ball-handler rather than just a scoring guard.

That sense of command has become infectious. Maxey’s bursts of energy – those downhill drives, the fearless pull-ups in transition, the late-game dagger threes – have re-energized a fan base used to waiting for Embiid’s dominance to dictate outcomes. Now, it’s Maxey’s rhythm setting the tone for everything.

Edgecombe’s emergence: A rookie already trusted like a veteran

While Maxey’s ascent has been steady, V.J. Edgecombe’s start to the season has been nothing short of meteoric. Drafted third overall, the rookie guard entered the league with both promise and questions: his athleticism and defensive motor were undeniable, but skeptics wondered whether his streaky shooting would hold up against NBA defenses.

Six games in, he’s silenced much of that noise. Edgecombe has started every game so far, and he is shooting a respectable percentage from three in a small sample size. He had 34 points in his debut, Beyond the numbers, it’s his composure and poise that have turned heads.

Edgecombe has already become the Sixers’ primary point-of-attack defender, taking on assignments against All-Star guards and relishing the challenge. Offensively, he plays well beyond his years: his rim pressure is relentless, forcing defenses to collapse and creating easy looks for teammates. And when teams dare him to shoot, he’s making them pay just enough to keep the floor spaced.

The rookie’s playmaking has also been a pleasant surprise. Nurse has used him as a secondary creator alongside Maxey, allowing the two guards to run pick-and-rolls with bigs or play off each other in staggered sets. Their chemistry has been evident – a blend of youthful fearlessness and calculated execution that has kept opposing defenses off balance.

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The Sixers’ 5-1 record could be a product of an identity shift, and this hot streak could continue behind the play of their young bright guards.

They’ve traded half-court dependence for pace and unpredictability. Their guards push the tempo, the wings space the floor, and their bench has embraced a collective role built around effort and ball movement.

And yet, this is still far from Philadelphia’s ceiling. Once Embiid’s minutes gradually ramp up, Paul George returns from injury, and promising guard Jared McCain coming back from injury and joining the rotation full-time, the Sixers could realistically become one of the East’s deepest and most dangerous squads.

The hope, both internally and among fans, is simple: to finally break through the second-round barrier that has haunted them for years.

Although Philadelphia’s early surge doesn’t erase the questions about health, playoff durability, and how all the pieces will mesh once everyone’s available, what it does provide is proof of concept. It shows that this group can win in multiple ways – through pace, through defense, through guard play, even without Embiid carrying them night in and night out.

And more importantly, it shows that the future of the franchise is in good hands.

Tyrese Maxey has evolved from a promising young guard into a legitimate franchise cornerstone. V.J. Edgecombe has validated his draft hype and given Philadelphia the defensive energy and secondary creation they’ve lacked for years.

The Sixers may not be fully whole yet, but they’ve found something real – a heartbeat, a rhythm, and a pair of leaders ready to carry them until their superstar can return to full strength.

For the first time in a long while, Philadelphia’s hope doesn’t hinge solely on Embiid’s knees. It’s being carried by Maxey’s fearlessness, Edgecombe’s emergence, and a collective belief that this could finally be the season the Sixers’ story changes.

They’ve been written off before. But behind Maxey’s evolution and Edgecombe’s rise, the Sixers are rewriting what resilience looks like – one game, one statement, one unlikely win at a time.