How the 76ers’ Success Will Be Based on a Dependence on Non-Dependence
Oct 8, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) leads a fast break against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
The 76ers pulled off an encouraging preseason win against the New York Knicks on Monday. However, this did not come without immediate questions. The only center available for this game was the former Knick, Ariel Hukporti, and he, although only playing five minutes, did not impress.
Hukporti was a highly regarded young bench center option. With that, he was likely to serve as the 76ers’ main center behind Joel Embiid. However, unfortunately, just five minutes into his time as a 76er, he ruptured his Achilles, ending his season.
This injury raises major concerns. Since his historic MVP season, Embiid has yet to even play 50% of a season. This issue has drastically affected the 76ers, as they simply have not looked like the same team without him.
Now, for the first time in his career, Embiid is likely not the best player on his team. Since his first year in 2016 until now, Embiid has struggled with the responsibility of being the lead man constantly. Yet, even with that, he has managed to be a superstar year in and year out.
However, when Embiid is hurt, or even just resting, the 76ers suffer. Take, for example, the series against the Knicks in 2024. In this series, the 76ers ended up losing in six games. However, the only game Embiid found himself with a negative +/- ratio was Game 6. Even then, in Game 6, Embiid put up 39 points. In Game 1, Embiid finished with a +14 +/-. This came in about 36.5 minutes, meaning there were 11.5 minutes he was not on the court. In these less than 12 minutes, the 76ers were outscored by over 20 points, with the Knicks’ first three options off the bench all receiving a +/- that was over +20, with Miles McBride‘s being +37.
Throughout this entire series, Embiid played an average of 41.5 minutes per game, scoring 33 points and holding an average +/- of about +8. Yet, in his average 6.5 minutes per game off the court, the 76ers ended up with a -8 +/-rating, essentially negating his impact in 35 fewer minutes. This means that the wear and tear on his body, in a season where he only played 39 games and only played for over 40 minutes once in the regular season, was necessary if the 76ers stood a chance in the series.
Now, due to his injuries, expecting Embiid to play for almost 42 minutes a night is simply impossible. Due to this, it is clear that the 76ers’ success this season is dependent on not depending on Embiid. This is why the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown will do wonders. No longer is Embiid required for the 76ers to win. Now, he is a major benefit to a winning squad.
However, there is still the question of: “What if Embiid gets hurt?” Right now, the only backups are Tacko Fall and Adem Bona.
Bona, entering his third year as a 76er, has proven himself worthy of the spot. However, his worthiness as the main reserve for Embiid is up for debate. Bona is a little undersized for an average center, with the average NBA center being about 6’11 and 250 pounds. Bona stands at 6’10 and 235 pounds. At a glance, this may not seem terrible; however, on the court this leads to countless rebounds, lay-ups, and even mismatches simply due to a size difference. This size difference was especially exposed during the playoffs, as he constantly missed close-range shots and lay-ups, which should be, coincidentally, a lay-up for most centers.
On the other hand, in contrast to Bona’s slight undersize, the 76ers also have Fall. Standing at 7’6, he is the fourth tallest player in NBA history, and the tallest active player. In his career, he only started one game, in which he scored four points, but got 10 rebounds and two blocks in just 15 minutes. This is consistent with many of his other games with over 10 minutes of playtime, as, on average, when he plays more than 10 minutes, he has eight rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. On top of that, the most he has played in these games is just 19 minutes. He has a career close-range shot percentage of nearly 70%.
With that being said, Fall seems to be the answer to Bona’s size problems. However, his struggles are where Bona thrives. Fall simply cannot play more than 20 minutes due to his size. However, Bona can manage and play 30 minutes if needed. Bona is also a lot more versatile outside of the paint. Bona, just last season, went 2-for-6 from beyond the three-point line. However, Fall has never made a three-pointer. On top of that, from the free-throw line, their contrast sharpens. Bona, although not incredible, currently shoots about 70% from the line; however, Fall shot about 30%.
Due to the clear limitations behind Embiid, Head Coach Nick Nurse toyed with the idea of James or Dean Wade serving as a “small-ball five.”
“Dean would be another candidate, if you can call him a small five,” Nurse said last week. “I think LeBron is another candidate; he’s played some small-ball five as well.
“We’ll probably go with that crew unless something else emerges.”
The 76ers have a gaping hole behind Embiid. Time will tell whether it will be filled by a progressing Bona, a surprising Fall, or small-ball basketball. Nevertheless, the organization’s dependence on Embiid over his career has not been a secret. However, now, when he is hurt or resting, if the team cannot succeed, then it can never truly succeed.
Isaac Baranski
Isaac is a high-school senior who currently attends the Hun School of Princeton. In his free time, he has many interests, but most of all is his love for Philadelphia sports. He has watched the 76ers since the days of Sam Hinkie and hopes to watch the process be completed. He has also watched the Phillies since the days of Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and the great crew, and hopes to see Red October finally achieve its goal. Along with that, he picked up a love for the Philadelphia Union shortly before the pandemic and has seen them win multiple Supporters’ Shields in person. Lastly, and most importantly, he is a major football lover and an even bigger Eagles lover. Since developing his love for The Birds in elementary school, he has made it his goal to never miss a game.
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