Dean Wade has been downgraded from day-to-day to out with an ankle injury ahead of Tuesday's game at the Knicks. The 76ers open the 2026-27 season without the forward-center, with an expected return listed for October 22.
What happened
The 76ers ruled Dean Wade out for Tuesday's game against the Knicks on the injury report issued at 6:47 PM ET, about 13 minutes before tip. The listed detail is an ankle injury. Wade had been day-to-day with the same ankle issue since Friday, October 16, so this is a downgrade rather than a new problem. The report's comment reads: "Wade (ankle) is out for Tuesday's game against the Knicks." No further detail on the severity was announced. The report lists an expected return date of October 22.
What it means for the 76ers
Philadelphia opens the 2026-27 season at New York on Tuesday at 7:00 PM ET, on NBC and Peacock, with a 0-0 record and no games yet to measure how the team does without Wade. Last season he played 59 games at 22.3 minutes, averaging 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists, a frontcourt depth piece rather than a scorer. With him out, the minutes fall to the usual group: Joel Embiid at 31.6, Paul George at 30.7 and Andre Drummond at 19.5, with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes handling the perimeter. Dominick Barlow, who logged 23.8 minutes in those lineups, is also out with a back injury, so the frontcourt is thin.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Wade's listed expected return of October 22 holds or slips. No specifics on the ankle beyond the status have been announced, so the report itself is the only signal. Barlow's back injury is the other frontcourt question for Philadelphia. The schedule beyond Tuesday's opener is the next thing to watch once the 76ers get through their first game of the season at Madison Square Garden.
Is Dean Wade playing vs the Knicks?
No. Wade is out for Tuesday's season opener at the Knicks with an ankle injury, downgraded from day-to-day on the 6:47 PM ET injury report.
When will Dean Wade be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of October 22. Nothing more specific has been announced, so the next report is the thing to check.