Paul George, Tyrese Maxey say Sixers can compete after lost season - ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — After one of the most disappointing seasons in NBA history, both Paul George and Tyrese Maxey said they believe the Philadelphia 76ers can still achieve the championship dreams the franchise fell so far short of achieving this season moving forward.

«I do think so,» George said before the 76ers concluded their dismal 2024-25 campaign with a final game here at Wells Fargo Center against the Chicago Bulls. «I think with the personnel we have, I think with finding young talent [to help us].… I think we can be a team in the future that can compete for a championship.»

«The one positive that I do take away,» said Maxey, «is the only way we can go from here is up.»

For Philadelphia, this season has been one to forget. The 76ers entered Sunday's season finale against the Chicago Bulls with 24 wins — tied with the 1994-95 edition of the franchise for seventh-fewest in its 76-year history.

They got here by going an abysmal 5-30 over their past 35 games — a two-and-a-half month stretch of losing that has potentially allowed Philadelphia to pull off what once was unthinkable: keeping its top-six protected first round pick.

That possibility, however, hasn't made the past few months any easier to swallow for the 76ers, and in particular for its stars. George hasn't played since March 4, and was officially ruled out for the season on March 17 following injections in both his left adductor muscle and left knee.

George, who turns 35 next month and signed a four-year, $212 million max contract with the 76ers last summer — a signing that was supposed to launch Philadelphia into true title contention — was one of many disappointing parts of this season in Philadelphia.

He played in 41 games — down from 74 last season — and