With less than two months away from the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season, several notable season openers have been revealed, including the Philadelphia 76ers’ first taste of action. On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Sixers are set to host Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and the Milwaukee Bucks, according to the Athletic’s Shams Charania.
This is the second straight season Philadelphia will open their season against Milwaukee. Last season, the 76ers finished the season 0-3 against the Bucks. Being swept by a conference rival is certainly no fun, so it’s a major opportunity for revenge for Philadelphia in this matchup.
Joel Embiid missed two of those three games against the Bucks, while the sole game he did play came while James Harden was sitting out during his trade demand. Another major component of that situation was that the Sixers had not received the depth that later showed out in the aftermath of the Harden trade.
The Sixers rolled out a team that included P.J. Tucker, future Buck Patrick Beverley, Jaden Springer, and Danny Green, who played for the Sixers for their first two games. Each of those players would not be a part of the team after the NBA trade deadline.
This is not an omission of guilt for Philadelphia but an acknowledgment of the state of flux the team found itself in last season, something the team does not have to worry about this season.
Yes, there are many new faces on this 76ers roster. However, one major advantage the Sixers will have this season is having their team together for the entirety of training camp and the preseason. It’s not much in terms of continuity when comparing against teams like Denver or Boston, but it’s more than Philadelphia has been able to enjoy in two of the past three seasons.
Facing one of the premier teams in the East will be no easy task for the 76ers, but it will be a fantastic test for Philadelphia’s new-look roster.
