The 2025-26 preseason has officially begun for Philadelphia — and it was a mixed bag in Abu Dhabi. The Sixers fell 99–84 to the Knicks, but the box score doesn’t tell the full story. There were flashes of promise, glaring weaknesses, and early clues about who might start the season with momentum. Here’s how to read what we saw.
🔍 1. Maxey and Edgecombe stand tall (despite the misses)
Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe took control of the narrative. Both scored 14 points in limited showings, and both flashed energy, aggression, and playmaking instincts. Maxey distributed, attacked gaps, and converted in the paint. Edgecombe, though erratic from three (1-of-6), kept attacking, got to the line, and defended with intent.
That said: the rest of the roster behind them looked frozen from deep. The team shot 3-of-36 from three – one of the worst perimeter marksmanship nights in franchise memory.
So the takeaway: Maxey and Edgecombe are earning their minutes early. But the shooters around them have to deliver consistency, or the offense may sputter.
🧱 2. The cold beyond the arc makes everything harder
That 3-for-36 line from three isn’t just bad — it warps spacing, forces clogging inside, and makes defenses sag in. The Sixers’ ability to work in motion, hit cutters, and generate off-ball movement looked hampered because the threat from deep wasn’t real. It’s preseason, yes — but this kind of shooting drought can’t be habitual.
So a key early question: will the shooting rotation (role players, bench wing depth) expand or contract? Because the burden on Maxey/Edgecombe to generate points may become too heavy.
🛡️ 3. Interior depth tested — and thin
With Joel Embiid and Paul George held out, the spotlight turned to the supporting bigs: Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow, and Jabari Walker. Bona had a modest night (4 points, a block) and showed defensive promise. Barlow and Walker got their looks, but the mismatch scenarios remain concerning against more seasoned frontcourts.
If the Sixers expect balance, these guys must show they can guard size, crash the glass, and finish in traffic without turning the ball over. Their performance this opener leaned more toward “work in progress.”
⏱️ 4. Pace, rotations, and flow felt disjointed
You could see it in line changes and possession timing — the game didn’t flow the way you’d hope. With shooters in drought and rotation mismatches, the offense stuttered. Tempo stalled. Some sets looked static. Those pauses gave the Knicks leeway to reset defensively.
The test now: can Philly graft fluidity when the shots fall (or sometimes don’t)? Can they maintain spacing and trust in movement even when rhythm’s off?
🧩 5. Game control and effort matters more than final score
Preseason is about process. Despite the result, the Sixers showed grit. Young players fought for every loose ball. Defense rotated with effort. The coaching staff tried mixing lineups, adjusting matchups midgame.
But control slipped in parts — too many missed assignments, slow closeouts, breakdowns as rotations piled. The team will need sharper communication and consistency if they want to avoid sloppy stretches in the regular season.
Bottom line: The opener didn’t deliver a win, but it delivered benchmarks. Maxey and Edgecombe made their case. The shooting woes and depth gaps were exposed. The supporting cast’s ability to step up — from role players to interior defenders — may determine whether Philly’s preseason optimism carries into November.