NBA champion turned analyst Kendrick Perkins weighed in on the Philadelphia 76ers' chances of winning a championship this season.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, closing out the 2025-26 season on a strong note is essential as they look to build momentum heading into the playoffs.
A major part of their success hinges on Joel Embiid's health. Throughout his career, Embiid has dealt with injuries, and his availability has often determined how far the 76ers can go.
On NBA Countdown, Kendrick Perkins weighed in on the 76ers and Embiid, as well as the expectations surrounding the All-Star center.
"It's not just about one playoff series; they need to get through three and four," Perkins said. "Right now, look at this squad; their ceiling is the second round.”
He adds that Embiid's production isn't the concern; rather, it's how he looks physically, saying, "When you think of Joel Embiid, he's one of the most skilled bigs ever to play the game of basketball. He's going to put up points; it's always about how he looks moving, how he looks leathery, does he have lift? Is he dunking the ball? He is blocking."
Perkins also adds that there are too many unknowns about the 76ers and what they do in April and May, not in February.
"With the 76ers, there are too many unknowns," he said. We have been here before. We have seen this movie here. It's February. The 76ers are clicking on all cylinders, Joel Embiid is looking like an MVP, and we get to April, and like, [expletive] it… It doesn't matter what they do in the regular season; we're past this time. It's about what they do in April, May, and June if they get there," Perkins concluded.
The 76ers currently stand 30-23 ahead of the All-Star break and are the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, holding a 1.5-game lead over the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic.
The 76ers are a team to watch in the Eastern Conference heading into the NBA Playoffs. Even while dealing with several injuries, Embiid remains one of the best players in the league and is important to the 76ers' success.
Fortunately for Embiid, he won't have to carry most of the load on offense, as the 76ers have another star in Tyrese Maxey.
Join The 76ersRoundtable Community
Head over to the 76ersRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button under the featured story... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other 76ers fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.