The Philadelphia 76ers are set to begin the 2026-27 season with a schedule structure that could reduce some of the physical demands on their veteran-heavy roster. Basketball Forever reported that Philadelphia has the fewest back-to-back games, the fewest three-games-in-four-nights stretches and will not face a Western Conference opponent until its 18th game.
The schedule is particularly relevant for a Philadelphia team that added 41-year-old LeBron James to a core featuring Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey. Embiid appeared in only 38 games during the 2025-26 regular season, while James is entering his 24th NBA season.
Embiid averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 blocks in those 38 games while shooting 48.9% from the field and 85.4% from the free-throw line. His limited availability was a major factor in Philadelphia finishing 45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference, before advancing past Boston in the first round and losing to the Knicks in a four-game sweep in the conference semifinals.
Maxey was the 76ers’ most consistent offensive player last season, averaging 28.3 points, 6.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 70 games. He also shot 46.2% from the field and 36.7% from three-point range while playing 38.0 minutes per game.
Philadelphia then reshaped its roster around Maxey and Embiid by acquiring Brown from Boston. Brown averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 68 games for the Celtics in 2025-26 and gives the 76ers another high-volume scorer capable of creating offense without Embiid on the floor.
The addition of James further increases the importance of managing the regular season. James averaged 20.9 points during the 2025-26 season with the Lakers, and his arrival gives Philadelphia another veteran capable of carrying offensive responsibility while allowing the coaching staff to manage his workload.
The schedule also delays Philadelphia’s Western Conference travel and opponents. The 76ers will play their first 17 games without facing a Western Conference team, according to Basketball Forever, before beginning interconference play in Game 18.
Philadelphia’s roster also has more depth than the one that entered last season. The team signed Dean Wade to a four-year, $39 million contract and Anfernee Simons to a two-year, $12.3 million deal, while selecting Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
