Will NBA Flex Last-Place Sixers From National TV Games?

The season has not started well in Philadelphia: The Sixers are tied for the NBA’s worst record at 2–11. 

The abysmal start prompted a team meeting Monday night following a loss to the Heat, according to ESPN, during which Tyrese Maxey even called out 2023 MVP Joel Embiid for consistently being late to team activities. Embiid has played in just three games so far this season after dealing with injuries and a three-game suspension to start the year. 

Before this season, the Sixers were projected to challenge the Celtics and Knicks at the top of the Eastern Conference after adding nine-time All-Star Paul George in the offseason. Maxey was coming off a Most Improved Player campaign, and the alarm bells hadn’t rung about Embiid’s injuries. The team was projected to win around 50 games.

It’s no surprise why the NBA and its broadcast partners decided to feature Philadelphia in 21 nationally televised games (not including NBA TV), the seventh most in the league. That included an opening-week matchup against the Bucks when both George and Embiid were out, which averaged 1.71 million viewers, down about 33% from last year’s comparable window that featured the Knicks and Celtics.

Flexing Off the Sixers

It’s possible the Sixers recover and make a playoff push—we’re only 20% of the way into the season. But the NBA and its partners may begin considering flexing the Sixers out of primetime games.

The NBA has flexed some games already this season, when they announced on Nov. 13 three different changes, including swapping a Nov. 22 game on ESPN between the Bucks and Pacers—both of whom have underperformed to start the season—with a Pelicans game against the Warriors, who have started strong and have notable viewership draw Steph Curry.

The league’s rules about flexing games are not as clear as the NFL’s, where most games require at least 12 days’ notice before flexing. This lead time is important for the league’s partners, who need to adjust their coverage plans.

Fortunately for the NBA, the Sixers will not play their next nationally televised game until Christmas when they visit the Celtics. It’s unlikely the league will change its Christmas Day schedule, but many of Philadelphia’s remaining national TV games will be in January.

There’s a case to keep the Sixers on TV, especially if George and Embiid begin to play as expected. Both are averaging well below their career points per game averages, and shooting below 40% from the field.

But there’s also the risk of Embiid simply resting during key games, particularly on back-to-backs. The Sixers have already been fined $100,000 by the league for violating a player participation policy when Embiid sat out of their home opener. The Sixers have two more national TV games during a back-to-back stretch: Jan. 2 against the Warriors on TV and Jan. 15 against the Knicks on ESPN.