Each of the last three seasons, there has been a new reason for the Philadelphia 76ers to be hopeful, but it always ends in disappointment.

The 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals Game 7 debacle—when Ben Simmons passed up an open dunk—led to a trade request and holdout from the former star guard.

It was a dark cloud over Philly’s 2021-22 season, as team president Daryl Morey was in no rush to make a deal. But his strategy paid off as the Sixers acquired James Harden from Brooklyn in February 2022.

It was a coup at the trade deadline, teaming Harden with annual MVP candidate Joel Embiid. But as the Sixers were on their way to eliminating the Toronto Raptors in Game 6 of their first-round series, Embiid took an elbow to the face with just under four minutes left to play and his team leading by 29. There was no reason for the star big man to still be in the game.

It turned out, Embiid suffered an orbital fracture and mild concussion that forced him to miss the first two games of the next series against the Miami Heat. He returned for Game 3 but never looked like himself, as Philly was eliminated in six games.

The season from hell ended, and with an entire year of Harden, Embiid and Tyrese Maxey on tap, the following campaign looked promising. The regular season was just that, as they finished 54-28.

Then they swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. Philadelphia did not leave the series unscathed, though. Embiid missed Game 4 with a right knee sprain. That also caused him to miss Game 1 against the Boston Celtics.

However, Embiid returned for Game 2, and the Sixers eventually took a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 on their home court. They were on the verge of making the conference finals for the first time since 2001. Then Boston went on an 11-3 run in the final six minutes to force Game 7, in which the Sixers were again sent home.

That exit caused the team to fire coach Doc Rivers and replace him with Nick Nurse. Then Harden’s free agency resulted in his opting into his deal, making a trade demand and trying to force his way to the L.A. Clippers.

It was another contentious offseason that Philly fans were so used to. It got so bad that Harden, who forced his way to Philly to be reunited with Morey, called him a liar—twice!

Morey held firm again on his asking price all offseason, and the trade to L.A. did not materialize until November 1.

Philadelphia looked like a contender during the regular season thanks to Embiid’s play and the emergence of Maxey as a strong No. 2 option. Then—you guessed it—Embiid suffered a lateral meniscus injury that forced him to miss a large chunk of the season, and the team plummeted in the standings.

Embiid returned in time for the playoffs but was not fully healthy, and the Knicks eliminated Philly in the first round.

It is constant deja vu with the Embiid injuries and holdouts leading to trades. Each year, they are discussed as contenders, and each year, weird obstacles get put in the Sixers’ way to stop them from even getting out of the second round.