Philadelphia's history is full of great teams that got broken up fast and stars who ran out of time before winning it all. The Jaylen Brown trade and the LeBron signing are the clearest bet yet that this front office wants to avoid repeating both mistakes.
Why does the Jaylen Brown trade feel personal in Philadelphia?
Boston swept the 76ers out of the 2020 bubble, a loss that cost Brett Brown his job, then beat them in seven games in the 2023 second round. Brown played for the Celtics both times. Now he's making $57.1 million to wear a 76ers jersey, and the rivalry that has haunted this franchise since the Syracuse Nationals years just switched a starter to the home bench.
Has Philadelphia built a superteam before, and what happened to it?
Yes, in 1966-67: Wilt Chamberlain, Billy Cunningham and Hal Greer went 68-13 under Alex Hannum, won the title, and were voted the greatest team in NBA history in 1980. Chamberlain was traded to the Lakers barely a year later for three role players, and by 1971-72 the 76ers had collapsed to 30-52. Stars have not stayed put here before.
When was the last time this team's stars actually got a Finals shot?
2001, when Allen Iverson carried the 76ers to the Finals and lost in five games to the Lakers. That's the only Finals trip since the 1983 title team of Julius Erving and Moses Malone. Embiid, at 32 and coming off a 38-game season last year, is running out of runway to add a banner of his own.
Why does the October 20 opener at the Knicks matter beyond one game?
New York swept Philadelphia out of the second round in the series that ended Daryl Morey's run as president of basketball operations, an exit fans still argue looks different with a healthy Embiid. The 76ers open the regular season at Madison Square Garden on October 20, their first chance to answer that series with this roster on the floor.
Did the 76ers ever beat the Celtics in a big playoff series recently?
No. Boston swept them out of the 2020 bubble and beat them in seven games in the 2023 second round, with Jaylen Brown playing for the Celtics both times.
What was the best regular-season record in 76ers history?
68-13 in 1966-67, the Wilt Chamberlain-led team that won the title and was later voted the greatest team in NBA history.
