For years, the Philadelphia 76ers have been among the NBA’s more successful teams in terms of regular-season wins. While that consistency hasn’t translated into a championship, they’ve remained a threat for most of the past eight seasons aside from last year’s slump.
Naturally, their performance is often compared to their biggest rival, the Boston Celtics. Boston has enjoyed even greater success during this stretch, capped by a recent championship that cemented their place atop the Eastern Conference.
However, even perennial contenders aren’t immune to setbacks. The Celtics are already facing the prospect of playing the 2025-26 season without their star, Jayson Tatum, who is recovering from a torn Achilles. Now, they’re also dealing with a shake-up at the very top.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Wyc Grousbeck will no longer serve as team governor following the Celtics’ $6.1 billion sale to Bill Chisholm. This comes as a surprise, as the franchise had previously indicated Grousbeck would remain in charge until the end of the 2027-28 season.
While Boston insists day-to-day operations will stay the same, such major ownership changes often bring unforeseen challenges from internal dynamics to league relationships. The shift could weaken the Celtics’ organizational stability at a time when they can least afford it.
For rivals like the Sixers, though, the timing couldn’t be better. If Boston stumbles, Philadelphia won’t be shedding any tears.
