4 NBA Finals contenders nearing the end of their championship window

NBA contender #3: Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers have never made it past the second round of the playoffs since Joel Embiid joined the team. They were desperate for a second star to replace Ben Simmons. Now that they have James Harden, they need to use the chance because their championship window will not stay open forever.

The 76ers have three players aged 30 or older on their roster, including starters Tobias Harris and Harden, who is already declining from his former MVP level. They also have four players close to turning 30. Embiid is one of them, and he has already been having injury troubles for several years. He is one of the best players in the league, but what good does that do the team if he can not stay healthy for an entire season?

Considering Harden’s age-induced decline and Embiid’s concerning injury history, Philadelphia probably has about two or three years left to win a championship in the Harden-Embiid era. They do have a bright young hope in Tyrese Maxey, but their two stars’ decline will be a big blow and lead to the closing of their championship window until Philadelphia is able to replace them.