There was plenty of digital ink spilled breaking down the new-look Sixers this summer.
On Tuesday night, the time for words was over as we got our first look at LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the 2026-27 Sixers — and the early returns were impressive. They spoiled banner night at MSG, taking down the defending champion New York Knicks 106-100.
There are things to iron out, but we’ll focus more on the positives from a gritty opening night win.
Defense wins …
The biggest question surrounding this iteration of the Sixers
is how things would work defensively. It’s just one game, but if it’s any indication, pretty damn good.
There were unsurprising aspects, like VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown doing a terrific job on Jalen Brunson. The reigning Finals MVP scored 21 points but needed 19 shots to get there. Though he might not be the elite defender he was in his prime, the 41-year-old James showed off his elite basketball IQ and physicality, spending a lot of time defending Karl-Anthony Towns.
The biggest surprises on that end might’ve been the two longest-tenured Sixers.
Tyrese Maxey was the best player on the floor and not just because of his game-high 28 points. Maxey posted three steals and three blocks. Opponents routinely picked on Maxey throughout the early stages of his career. We’re at a point now where teams will pay the price for doing so. When he was drafted by the Sixers, Maxey said Jrue Holiday was one of his favorite players because of his two-way ability. As Maxey has gotten bigger, stronger and smarter, he’s been way more impactful on that end.
But there was no bigger pleasant surprise than the way Joel Embiid moved defensively. Brunson relentlessly picked on Embiid last year in the playoffs. Embiid was much more spry, varying the looks like he showed Brunson in the pick-and-roll, even hanging tough on a couple switches. In the second half, the Sixers put James on KAT and Embiid on Josh Hart. That type of strategy wasn’t physically possible for Embiid the last couple seasons.
In his prime, Embiid was a Defensive Player of the Year finalist and one of the best rim protectors in the sport. This was the first time in at least two years where he looked like that guy.
It’s just one game (and it’s fair to be skeptical of Embiid keeping this up over the long haul), but what a tremendous effort on the defensive end.
Mad Maxey
I’ve been saying all offseason I believed Maxey would be this team’s leading scorer. On opening night, he scored 28 and was the only Sixer to score 20-plus. Now, matchups will dictate things on many nights, but Maxey being able to blend his elite off-ball scoring with the on-ball experience he’s gotten over the past two seasons is going to make him lethal.
Maxey scored the first two baskets of the game on a pair of threes — one off an Embiid screen and the other off the dribble in transition after a steal. This team talked all summer about wanting to get out in transition. Maxey led that charge in a big way. His speed paired with his shooting ability make him nearly impossible to guard, especially with the gravity of guys like Embiid, James and Brown.
As mentioned, what stood out even more was Maxey’s work on the defensive end. I’d argue this was the best two-way performance of Maxey’s career. Hell of a night.
Anfernee and KCP for three
It was an abysmal shooting night for both teams. Along with defense, three-point shooting was looked at as a possible sore spot for this loaded roster. That’s likely why Mike Gansey signed Anfernee Simons early in free agency, a move that showed dividends on opening night.
Simons showed off his microwave scoring ability in the first half with a slick finish off a drive and a midrange pull-up off a screen. In the second half, Simons helped the Sixers flip the game, nailing three threes in the third quarter. He has such a quick release and flawless form. I also love the way Nurse used him coming off screens like a true movement shooter — something Nurse didn’t really do for Jared McCain. Credit to Nurse and credit to Simons for being ready when his number was called, despite missing the entire preseason.
Most of the game was a mixed bag for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but like Simons, the veteran wing hit big shots. A pair of KCP threes in the fourth quarter helped the Sixers stay on top. It’s nice for the Sixers to have a stabilizing player. Nobody expects KCP to go off for 30, but he’s going to be where he’s supposed to be and will (hopefully) make open shots.
The Sixers’ bench was a glaring weakness last season. This type of production from Simons and KCP (and hopefully Dean Wade when he’s healthy) could make a huge difference in the postseason.
Offensive rebounds an issue (evergreen)
You had to just laugh as Andre Drummond took it to his former team in the first half. With Towns in foul trouble, Drummond gave the Knicks great early minutes with 10 points and 12 rebounds, including six offensive boards. New York had eight as a team in the first half.
The Sixers did a better job in the second half. The Knicks had six offensive boards, but they also missed a ton of shots and one of those rebounds was on the final possession with the game already decided.
Rebounding has been an issue for Embiid the past couple years, but he had 11 in a solid effort on the glass. James and Brown are also great rebounders for their positions. James pulled down nine boards while Brown had eight. It’s going to be a group effort.
And the backup center will need to be better there.
Backup center an issue (super duper evergreen)
Speaking of, it was not a banner night for Adem Bona. I won’t crush him here because he did miss basically all of training camp and didn’t play at all in the preseason. It’s a hell of an ask to have him out there guarding KAT and battling Drum on the boards. With that said, the Sixers are going to need way more from the third-year big man.
Jabari Walker got a quick look, but this probably wasn’t the best matchup for him against two legitimately big centers. Nurse even briefly used LeBron at the five when Embiid picked up his third foul late in the first half.
Embiid was a +13. Bona was a -1 and Walker was a -6. As the great poet once said, same as it ever was.
I know a lot of people think the Sixers should simply try to get to December when they can sign a veteran to a standard deal. A couple more outings like this could test that. This is an all-in team. Gansey can’t mess around for too long.
It won’t get much easier for Bona and Walker — they go up against Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen when the Sixers host the Cleveland Cavaliers in the home opener Thursday.
Bonus fun fact
Jaylen Brown was a game-high +17.
Take that, nerds.
(In all seriousness, Brown was awesome in his Sixers debut. He looked like a two-way stud.)
