Mar 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Justin Edwards (11) drives for a shot past Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore (88) during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
Who'd have thought it? Certainly not the fanbase, nor the higher-ups in the Sixers organization. The veteran players probably weren't anticipating this, and most likely neither were the participating players themselves.
But this is what the Sixers season has become, and in the case of developing players, most would have never thought they would be asked to play the amount they have or to have such a heavy-hand in the progression of what they hope to become a playoff season.
Probably not too often did coach Nick Nurse envision for the season that he would be sending out starting lineups that included the likes of Dominick Barlow, Justin Edwards, Trendon Watford, Jabari Walker or Adem Bona. Nor did he think that he'd be counting on MarJon Beauchamp, Tyrese Martin or Dalen Terry to have to carry important minutes down the stretch of what was envisioned as a playoff run.
But that's just where this season has gone with the myriad of injuries and a 25-game suspension to Paul George. Players that were planned to be the ones that developed in the G-League or with the developmental staff on the main team have been pushed to play some serious minutes in a league they might not yet be ready for. It's a tough ask, and Nurse knows it. But as the losses pile up and the playoff seeding drops to most likely Play-In Tournament level, there has to be positives gained, and Nurse sees that.
"It's always positive in that you've always got to get an evaluation," said Nurse. "These guys can only get better on court and I think it's gone pretty well. I mean, what's going to happen, if you're realistic about it, is these guys are working like crazy to develop their game. And then you kind of, we always say, develop daily and evaluate periodically.
"These guys are going to have some ups and you're thinking 'Oh goodness.' Then they are going to have some downs because they're young and the nature of the game and all that kind of stuff. You hear me say this all the time, it's when they can start smoothing that out, put it together consistently of what is their game going to be, more night in and night out, rather than these huge peaks and valleys. I think they're still working through some of that stuff. You've seen it."
Probably a little too much for anyone's liking for a team that was supposed to be reliant on Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, George, Kelly Oubre, Jr. and even rookie VJ Edgecombe. Instead, it's been more about converting two-way contracts into standard ones and inking more two-ways, handing players who probably aren't ready bigger roles.
Saturday against the Brooklyn Nets was a perfect example of what can happen when you're dealt the hand that Nurse has. A makeshift lineup filled with youngsters wanting to prove themselves showed the energy and want to against a tanking Nets team that you'd expect. They ran all over the court, kept offensive players in front of them and won nearly every battle on the floor in taking a 22-point halftime lead. But then the second half showed what happens when dealing with young players with little experience. A lead that grew to 28 points became a one-point deficit in the fourth quarter. There were bad shots, silly turnovers, head-scratching fouls, unsure decisions.
Before it was too late, however, the Sixers found their first half energy and were able to pull away for a 104-97 win. It came against a team that had scored 31 points at halftime and had committed more turnovers (17) than field goals made (16) late in the third quarter. Of course, the Sixers didn't help themselves by making just three of their 25 three-pointers.
The Sixers got 19 points from Edwards, the little-used shooter who has seen way more time than expected, 10 each from Barlow and Watford, to go with nine points, 10 rebounds and four blocks from Bona, who has been trying to fill huge shoes with the absence of Embiid. That helped on a day when expected scorers Quentin Grimes (28 points) and Edgecombe (19) did their parts.
"Guys are down so I've got a bigger role on the team," said Edwards. "I just have to try to take advantage of the opportunity that I have right now. I just have to stay ready and wait for my name to be called. Some days it might not get called, some days it might get called. Just staying patient and just staying ready. That's how I've been approaching this season."
It's a good way for all involved to do the same, though it's easier said than done.
"I would love to say I know who I'm going with for long stretches, but what will probably happen is they'll all get a shot and then you kind of try to make your best read of what's happening on the night," said Nurse. "One night it's Beauchamp, one night it's Terry, one night it's Edwards. Hopefully, it's all of them on the same night. But I think that's just kind of the nature of where they are in their careers and all that kind of stuff. So, it's useful."
And on some nights, the team will get performances like the one on Saturday from Edwards, who shot 9-for-13 from the floor and also lifted three steals.
"You guys know how much I like Justin," said Nurse. "Again, I think he's going to be a really great catch and shoot player at some point. It's just the mechanics and work ethic and the confidence and the ball finding him. There's a lot of things that add up to that and he just kind of needs to work through some of this other stuff and he's super, super young."
As are most of these makeshift subs. But, as Nurse alluded to, there's no better way to get the experience than getting thrown into the fire.
"It's tough, but you can't think like that, honestly," said Edwards of his on and off again playing time. "I'm in the NBA. I'm part of that percentage that made it into the NBA. I can't think of it like that because at the end of the day this is my dream job and this is something that I want to do for a long time. It always comes back around so I just alway have to stay ready and patient."
Sounds like a good team goal, too.
Count Nurse as one of the many who love this time of the year as college basketball revs up with conference tournaments leading to the Big Dance.
"I get into it, like everybody else," said Nurse. "I've got my favorite teams. It's gonna be a big year. Northern Iowa (where Nurse attended) made it. Iowa State's going to be in. Iowa should be in. I'm really pulling for Penn here today, coach (Fran) McCaffery. I have some friends in the coaching business as well that are in. So, yeah, I get into it big time."
Forward Jabari Walker was scratched due to illness. Andre Drummond missed his second straight game with a sore back...The team hosts the Portland Trail Blazers at 6 p.m. Sunday before heading out on a three-game West Coast trip that will include games in Denver, Sacramento and Utah.
