Chaos in the City of Brotherly Love: Sixers Set Historic Record with 54 Starting Lineups in a Tumultuous Season
Philadelphia, PA – July 31, 2025
In a season defined by turbulence, trial, and the unrelenting spin of a lineup roulette wheel, the Philadelphia 76ers etched their name into the NBA record books — but not in the way they hoped.
The Sixers deployed 54 different starting lineups during the 2024–25 campaign, the most in league history since tracking began in 1970. The milestone, reached in mid-April during a loss to the Cavaliers, was met with a mixture of disbelief, exhaustion, and grim reflection within the fanbase and the front office alike.
> “We never had a rhythm,” head coach Nick Nurse admitted in his end-of-season press conference. “I’d prepare for one group on a Monday and have to re-script everything by Wednesday. Injuries, trades, rest days — it all hit us like a storm we never quite got out of.”
A Revolving Door of Uncertainty
The 76ers’ season was marred by a relentless stream of injuries, headlined by superstar Joel Embiid, who missed 41 games with knee complications. Point guard Tyrese Maxey, an All-Star hopeful, missed stretches due to a recurring ankle issue. Role players like De’Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, and midseason pickup Kelly Oubre Jr. rotated in and out of availability like clockwork.
At one point in February, no player started more than three consecutive games. Two-way players, G-Leaguers, and emergency 10-day contracts were elevated to starting roles — often with hours’ notice.
> “I’d wake up not knowing if I was suiting up in Delaware or starting in Philly,” said guard Jaden Springer, who started 11 games despite spending much of the season with the Blue Coats.
The front office, meanwhile, shuffled the deck with aggressive midseason trades in an effort to salvage momentum. A deal that sent PJ Tucker and picks to Portland for defensive forward Matisse Thybulle briefly solidified the rotation — but only temporarily.
Numbers Behind the Madness
Total Starting Combinations: 54
Most Common Lineup: Used only 4 times
Number of Players Who Started at Least 1 Game: 17
Win-Loss Record in Games with a New Starting Five: 22–32
While the Sixers managed to scrape into the Play-In Tournament as the 9th seed, they fell in a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Miami Heat, bringing a merciful end to a season that felt more like musical chairs than championship contention.
Bigger Questions Ahead
With Embiid’s long-term durability now a looming question, Maxey entering free agency, and Nurse’s system still trying to take root, the 76ers are headed into a pivotal offseason.
> “We need continuity. We need stability. This season taught us that talent alone can’t win if the ground is constantly shifting,” said GM Daryl Morey.
The city of Philadelphia knows resilience. But even the most battle-hardened fan base was tested in a season where the starting lineup felt more like a guessing game than a strategy.
And while history remembers records, not all are worth celebrating.
Would you like a version told from a frustrated fan’s POV or a mock sports radio rant?
