Charles Barkley sits atop the Sixers’ power-forward lineage, with Dolph Schayes, Bobby Jones, George McGinnis, and Thaddeus Young following. Tobias Harris earns an honorable mention for a productive Philly run. The piece blends scoring, longevity, and defense, showing how each PF shaped the franchise’s identity across eras.

From Barkley’s dominant scoring and rebounding to Schayes’ historic rebound numbers and All-Star legacy, the list charts a path through Sixers basketball history, highlighting how each era’s style influenced the PF role and fantasy value in hindsight.

Nikola Jokic remains the centerpiece of fantasy NBA lore, and Joe Mazzulla’s water polo comparison underscores his rare playmaking and touch. Embiid’s feet and timing draw a soccer parallel in the same perceptive lens. Denver’s offseason additions Bruce Brown, Jonas Valančiūnas and Cameron Johnson could ease Jokic’s heavy load without dulling his ceiling, blending better defense with diversified scoring. Expect Jokic to keep elite per-game production while teammates shoulder more of the creation and Jokic eases into a more balanced, sustainable rhythm.

Jokic leads NBA 2K26 at 98, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the only player hovering in the elite tier. Embiid sits at 92, while Paul George drops to 81 after a rough 2024-25 season marked by knee issues and lower offensive involvement. The piece argues 2K’s ratings lean heavily on recency, flagging an inconsistency that keeps Embiid high while George sinks. Philly’s 24-win year amplifies fantasy-betting chatter as the game’s early access arrives Aug 29 and global launch Sept 5.

Nets cap space exceeds 14 million even after preliminary signings, with Brooklyn still needing to reach the salary floor before opening night. The team can absorb a contract or two and still maneuver for deals, avoiding luxury tax penalties and keeping future flexibility as a facilitator in trades.

Brooklyn added Michael Porter Jr., Terance Mann, and Haywood Highsmith while drafting five players, plus a likely Exhibit 10 deal for Fanbo Zeng. Cam Thomas' next contract will shape the cap sheet, and Brooklyn still must balance extensions and roster moves to hit the floor without crippling long‑term flexibility.

All signs point to a high-variance, cap‑savvy season where the Nets leverage cap space and roster depth to chase upside through trades and affordable signings, balancing veteran wings with rookie potential as training camp looms.