What is the nadir of the 2024-25 Philadelphia 76ers' season?
Was it when Joel Embiid, in the midst of an injury absence, was suspended in November for a locker room altercation with a media member? Was it when Paul George announced in late February he was pausing his podcast to focus on a playoff push, only to undergo season-ending medical procedures a week later? Or was it in March, when the 76ers lost to the Eastern Conference-worst Washington Wizards at home?
All are worthy moments amid a host of others throughout Philly's disaster of a season, which now includes Embiid facing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee next week -- one month after he had already been shut down for the season.
This wasn't where the 76ers expected to find themselves in April after seven consecutive playoff appearances and an offseason that seemingly solidified their championship hopes. Philadelphia extended Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, signed George -- the biggest star to change teams in free agency in years -- and added impressive depth across the positional spectrum over the summer. ESPN's Kevin Pelton handed out two "A" grades -- the 76ers and the Oklahoma City Thunder -- when he evaluated every team's summer.
And while the Thunder are the West's No. 1 seed and poised to set the NBA record for point differential in a season, the 76ers seem as if they are now trying to lose as many games as possible to avoid giving Oklahoma City a prime top-six protected pick in June's draft.
Since Feb. 4, Philadelphia is an NBA-worst 3-24 with a minus-10.9 net rating.
But that's just about the franchise's only success this season. As this fiasco limps to its conclusion, let's take stock of the 76ers' massive disappointment: its causes, where it ranks in history and what comes next.
