Sixers basketball is right around the corner, with the team set to play its first preseason matchup Oct. 5 against the defending champion New York Knicks.
While most fans are excited to see Philadelphia's new starters finally in Sixers uniforms, they may have to wait a bit longer to see them play. Preseason basketball is typically used to solidify the roster and evaluate rotations.
With that in mind, there is still plenty for Sixers fans to watch this preseason. Here are three players to keep a close eye on.
The Sixers made a mildly surprising move this offseason, adding former New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti on a one-year, $3.4 million contract. Hukporti was an important energy guy for the Knicks throughout their championship run, appearing in 54 regular-season games and 10 more in the playoffs.
While he wasn’t a world-beater by any means, his work on the boards and protecting the rim was valuable. On a per-36-minute basis, Hukporti finished third on the Knicks with 11.5 rebounds and second with 1.9 blocks.
Hukporti was stuck fighting for minutes in New York behind Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns. When he joined the Sixers, it was assumed he’d take on a similar role as the third center. However, after Adem Bona’s left foot sprain, Hukporti’s signing has become significantly more important to the Sixers.
With Bona failing to solidify himself as the true backup center last season, this preseason represents a great opportunity for Hukporti to take over that role.
Labaron Philon comes to the Sixers as the first draft selection of new Sixers president Mike Gansey. Philon was selected with the 22nd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Alabama after appearing in 70 games and starting 61 over two seasons with the Crimson Tide.
After a relatively quiet freshman season that saw Philon average 10.6 points and 3.8 assists per game, he exploded as a sophomore. Philon became the offensive epicenter for a 25-10 Alabama team, leading the Crimson Tide in both scoring and assists at 22.0 points and 5.0 assists per game.
In a lot of ways, Philon is going to be a spiritual successor to Jared McCain. The Sixers selected Philon with the pick received in the much-panned McCain trade and are now hoping he can become a legitimate bench contributor right away.
Philon will be one of the key players to watch this preseason, as he’s likely to get plenty of playing time. His combination of talent, defense and three-point shooting makes him extremely valuable to the Sixers going forward if he’s able to get up to speed quickly. The preseason will provide Philadelphia with an early look at how he fares against NBA-level competition.
Justin Edwards has been an interesting addition to the Sixers over the past two seasons. After going undrafted, Edwards was one of the few bright spots from a difficult 2024-25 season.
After averaging 10.1 points as a rookie, Edwards remained effective in a slightly more limited role last season on a playoff team. While he averaged only 6.0 points per game, he impressed in that role and slightly improved his three-point percentage to 37.2%.
Edwards proved last season that he can contribute to a playoff-caliber team. Now is his time to prove he can do it for a championship contender.
Edwards has shown flashes of what made him the No. 1 high school recruit over the past two seasons, but he will need to fight for a consistent rotation spot. With Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Dean Wade joining the Sixers’ forward rotation, Edwards will need to make the most of this preseason to solidify his role.
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