The NBA released the rest of the 76ers’ regular-season schedule Thursday afternoon, rounding out a much-anticipated slate after the team added stars LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to become preseason championship contenders.
Several marquee games were announced earlier this week, including the Sixers’ season opener (Oct. 20 at New York Knicks) and home opener (Oct. 22 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers); their holiday matchups on Christmas (at Los Angeles Lakers), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 18 at Atlanta Hawks), and Presidents Day (Feb. 15 at Dallas Mavericks); and their NBA Cup group play matchups (Oct. 30 vs. New York, Nov. 6 at Cleveland, Nov. 25 vs. Miami Heat, and Nov. 27 at Indiana Pacers).
The primary mystery still lingering entering Thursday was when All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown would make his return to Boston. That day will finally arrive Jan. 21 — unless one counts the Sixers’ preseason visit to TD Garden during which Brown, like many stars in those exhibitions, may not suit up.
Brown played his first 10 NBA seasons with the Celtics, developing into a five-time All-Star, 2024 NBA champion, and Finals MVP before being shockingly traded to the Sixers last month.
The Sixers will also play in Boston on March 7, a 1 p.m. game televised by ABC. The first Sixers-Celtics meeting will be Nov. 10 at Xfinity Mobile Arena, marking Paul George’s return to Philly after he was moved to Boston in that blockbuster deal. That November game also will be the first with stakes since their wild first-round playoff series, when the Sixers rallied from down three-games-to-one to win Game 7.
Sixers Joel Embiid covers Lakers LeBron James in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers at Philadelphia 76ers NBA game at the Wells Fargo Center in Phila., Pa. on Fri., Dec. 9, 2022.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Hello again, LeBron
The NBA had already placed James’ first game against the Lakers, for whom he had played the previous eight seasons, as a premier Christmas Day matchup. The all-time great also will return to Cleveland on Nov. 6 and March 1, and to Miami on Jan. 30 and April 8.
James won NBA titles and MVP awards with the Cavaliers and Heat, and was considering both teams during his elongated free agency. Instead, James chose to sign a two-year contract with the Sixers in what he called his final playing-destination decision.
One additional LeBron-related travel anecdote: The Sixers’ game at the Memphis Grizzlies is Feb. 3, after James said he is not the biggest fan of the hotel accommodations in that particular city. It is a single-game trip.
Heading West
Unsurprisingly, the Sixers’ two longest road trips of the season are primarily to the Western Conference.
That Lakers showdown on Christmas begins a five-game trip, which continues against the Los Angeles Clippers (Dec. 27), Sacramento Kings (Dec. 29), Phoenix Suns (Dec. 30), and Milwaukee Bucks (Jan. 1).
The Sixers also will head West four games in late March against the Utah Jazz (March 23), Golden State Warriors (March 24), Portland Trail Blazers (March 26), and Denver Nuggets (March 28). That finale in Denver is of note, considering former MVP Joel Embiid has not played in that city — and against former MVP-caliber center rival Nikola Jokic — since 2019.
Beyond those jaunts, the Sixers’ longest road trip of the season is three games coming out of the All-Star break in February. And two of those are against the New York teams (at Brooklyn Nets Feb. 25, at Knicks Feb. 27) and won’t require travel in between.
Noteworthy visits
Here is when several big names and former Sixers will visit Philly (barring health):
Oct. 25 and Feb. 5: Cade Cunningham(and Paul Reed and Isaiah Joe) with the Detroit Pistons
Nov. 12 and March 15: Kawhi Leonard (presumably) with the Toronto Raptors
Nov. 15 and Jan. 19: Kelly Oubre Jr. with the Indiana Pacers
Dec. 2: Jokic with the Nuggets
Dec. 23: Kevin Durant with the Houston Rockets
Jan. 6: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (and Jared McCain) with the Oklahoma City Thunder
Jared McCain (right) and the Thunder will visit Philly on Jan. 6.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
March 4: Luka Doncic (and Quentin Grimes) with the Lakers
March 21: Victor Wembanyama (and Tobias Harris) with the San Antonio Spurs
March 24: Stephen Curry (and, potentially, Jimmy Butler) with the Warriors
Other nuggets
The Sixers have 34 nationally televised games, a franchise record and the maximum allowed for a single team. That further embodies the immense attention on a star-studded roster. Ten of those are on Amazon Prime Video, while eight apiece are on ESPN and NBC/Peacock, five are on ABC, and three are on Peacock/NBC Sports Network.
The Sixers will play 13 back-to-backs, down from 16 last season. Managing those will be crucial to maintaining the health of James and Embiid, who previously said on the record that he may never play in both games of such a set again. The Sixers’ strangest back-to-back: Indiana to Houston over Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 27 and 28).
Nine of the Sixers’ 16 January games will be at home, the most in a month during the season. Matchups against the Washington Wizards (Jan. 12), Nets (Jan. 14), Clippers (Jan. 25), and Sacramento Kings (Jan. 27) — who are all expected to finish near the bottom of the standings — are part of that stretch.
Their final four games — vs. Atlanta, at Toronto, at Miami, vs. Charlotte — could go a long way in determining postseason seeding and exemplifies the newfound depth of the Eastern Conference.
The new-look 76ers continue to be featured in premier games during the NBA’s 2026-27 schedule release.
They will play at the Atlanta Hawks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 18, televised by NBC and Peacock at 2:30 p.m.) and a road game against the Dallas Mavericks on Presidents Day (Feb. 15 at 2:30 p.m.), per the NBA. Those nationally televised matchups follow the Sixers’ Christmas Day game at the Los Angeles Lakers in LeBron James’ return to his former NBA home.
The NBA also announced Wednesday that the Sixers will host the New York Knicks on the first night of NBA Cup group play on Oct. 30 (Amazon Prime Video). It will be the Sixers’ second matchup against the defending champions in the season’s first two weeks, following an opening night visit to Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20.
The Sixers’ other NBA Cup group play games will be Nov. 6 at the Cleveland Cavaliers (Prime), Nov. 25 vs. the Miami Heat (ESPN), and Nov. 27 at the Indiana Pacers.
The NBA announced Tuesday that the Sixers also will play their home opener Oct. 22 against the Cavaliers, another former James team. The remaining schedule will be released Thursday afternoon, per the NBA.
The Sixers are coming off a transformative offseason in which they added the legendary James and All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown to a core already featuring All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey, former NBA MVP Joel Embiid, and rising star guard VJ Edgecombe. They are considered title contenders in a deep Eastern Conference.
Jaylen Brown could not hold back the chuckle when asked about the 76ers’ offseason.
“Um, I think they did a great job,” Brown said at his introductory news conference Thursday afternoon.
Probably the correct response from Brown with Mike Gansey — the Sixers’ new president of basketball operations who traded for the All-NBA wing in a shocking blockbuster with the Boston Celtics last month — sitting in the front row alongside other front-office personnel and owner Josh Harris. It also is the overwhelming consensus, after the Sixers acquired Brown and then signed all-timer LeBron James to add to the core of All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey, former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, and explosive young guard VJ Edgecombe.
Brown was quick to point out that the Sixers’ “excellent” on-paper roster does not guarantee they will fulfill their expectations to immediately compete for a championship. A few minutes later, Gansey echoed that sentiment while meeting with local media for the first time since his team landed James.
But Gansey did concede that he “would have never thought our offseason would turn out like the way it [did].”
“We’ve got to figure it out and gel,” Gansey added from Francis J. Myers Recreation Center. “But it definitely makes me pinch myself a little bit, like, ‘Man, we really have a lot of talent.’”
It was difficult to fathom all of this when Gansey — who previously worked his way up to general manager in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office — was first introduced as the Sixers’ new lead executive at the team’s practice facility in early June.
Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey (left), All-NBA star Jaylen Brown and owner Josh Harris pose for a photo during Brown’s introductory press conference.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The Sixers appeared locked into the max contracts of the aging and oft-injured Embiid and Paul George, with little maneuverability to make sweeping changes to the roster. And back then, it was unclear if James was even considering leaving the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, much less would consider signing a far-below-market veteran’s minimum contract with the Sixers.
Yet Gansey on Thursday reiterated what he told The Inquirer last month at Las Vegas Summer League, that he and Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens talked for “days” (and kept quiet) about a potential deal to swap Brown for George and four draft picks. After that move popped July 1, Gansey believed the Sixers suddenly “had a chance to be in the mix” for James, who on July 24 announced his decision to come to Philly. The Sixers also recently signed veteran 3-and-D wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — a former James teammate with the Lakers — to add more championship experience to a franchise that has not advanced past the playoffs’ second round since 2001 or won a title since 1983.
“Just having that presence,” Gansey said, “that everyday leadership that we’re going to have is going to be invaluable for everybody.”
Gansey quipped the Sixers now “kind of have a Big 5” in their starting lineup, plus helpful bench contributors in defensive wing Dean Wade and sharpshooter Anfernee Simons. He compared coach Nick Nurse to “a kid in a candy store” while already thinking about the various lineup configurations. Though the Sixers technically still have one full-time roster spot open, unless they waive reserve forward Jabari Walker (whose contract is partially guaranteed at $250,000 until Jan. 10), they must wait until December to sign another player because they are hard-capped at the first apron. They do have one two-way contract slot remaining, after signing Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert to such deals.
Throughout this week, Gansey said there were eight players working out at the Sixers’ facility — including a visibly slimmed-down Embiid, who Gansey described as “doing all the right things” and “super motivated.” James and Maxey, who are longtime offseason workout buddies, have been photographed training together in Los Angeles. Brown has been making the rounds in Philly, throwing out the first pitch at Thursday’s Phillies-Nationals game and visiting Eagles training camp Friday. Gansey said he is unsure when James will stop by Camden, though teams typically reconvene after Labor Day for informal pickup games before training camp begins in late September.
That is when the Sixers will begin blending a talented and revamped roster on the floor. But in the aftermath of the Sixers’ stunning offseason, Gansey is metaphorically pinching himself.
“The vibes are high,” Gansey said. “Everyone’s excited. Once we get together, I’m excited to see what the journey’s going to look like.”
Jaylen Brown sat immersed in his new basketball community Thursday afternoon, ready to move forward.
The All-NBA wing had stepped inside the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center’s gymnasium in Southwest Philly. An absence of air-conditioning in early August did not prevent kids wearing blue T-shirt jerseys — with Brown and the No. 7 on the back — from creating a human tunnel to welcome the 76ers’ star. Mike Gansey, the Sixers’ president of basketball operations, marveled at the scene, saying, “This is Jaylen Brown right there, man. … This is a special, special day to be a Seventy-Sixer.”
Brown proclaimed that, “on paper,” these new-look Sixers boast “excellent” talent but cautioned that those names “don’t really mean nothing” when it comes to future on-court success. The 29-year-old also shrugged off a question about if there are enough touches to go around on a roster now full of high-usage stars, and acknowledged he is “not sure completely yet” what these Sixers will need most from him.
So his initial focus is on winning — and to “just be myself.”
“That’s one thing that I can promise this city, the organization, and the coaching staff,” Brown said during his news conference, “that I’m going to come in every single day and be myself. Put my best foot forward. Lead with my integrity, lead with my mentality, and lead with my capacity and my will to win.
“We’ll figure out the Xs and Os and the ins and outs. But winning is the agenda, so that’s the first thing that’s on my mind.”
Inquiries are valid about where Brown envisions his fit on a roster that also features All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey, former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, and second-year standout guard VJ Edgecombe.
Brown is coming off the best individual season of his career, when he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists and finished sixth in MVP voting. Brown also publicly called it his “favorite season” on more than one occasion, because he was the unquestioned top offensive option while fellow superstar wing Jayson Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery and helped a Celtics team that many outsiders had written off finish second in the Eastern Conference’s regular-season standings.
That will not be the case on these Sixers now expected to legitimately chase a title in a deep Eastern Conference headlined by the defending-champion New York Knicks. Sacrifice, transparency, and communication between those stars will be critical, Brown said Thursday.
In turn, Brown vowed to earn the “trust and respect” of his new teammates. He is excited to learn from James, an all-time great and four-time champion. Those two premier newcomers are already in multiple group chats with the established Sixers, which Brown said are active “damn near every day.” Reserve forwards Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker were in attendance at Thursday’s news conference.
“I don’t care about the MVP award or the Finals MVP,” Brown said. “None of that stuff really moves me. It’s nice, but the only thing that’s going to move me is doing something collectively, so a championship.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to, trying to start that journey and building toward [it].”
Brown reflected fondly on his 10 seasons in Boston, where he spent one-third of his life and became a five-time All-Star and Finals MVP. He declined to fully rehash his messy and public departure — when his game and personality were heavily scrutinized by professional and social-media pundits — though acknowledged he is still processing “to some degree” the emotions of such a jarring professional and personal change.
“It’s been a crazy transition,” Brown said. “ … It has been a lot.”
But now Brown has officially begun immersing himself in his new basketball community. After his afternoon rec center visit, he headed to Citizens Bank Park to throw out the first pitch of the Phillies-Nationals game. Sixers training camp begins in less than eight weeks.
Sixers forward Jaylen Brown throws the ceremonial first pitch before the Phillies played the Washington Nationals on Thursday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
He sees the same impressive roster that has vaulted his new team into contender status. He also recognizes that a list of names and past individual accomplishments are not guaranteed to translate to the court.
So he will start his Sixers tenure by prioritizing winning, and being himself.
“Obviously, on paper, we look great,” Brown said. “But let’s all slow down. It takes real work every single day in order to make something like this happen. …
“I’m looking forward to doing whatever it is I need to do, whoever I need to talk to, to make sure that we’re on the same page and everybody’s focused on the same thing. If we do that, then we’ll be where we want to be.”
The 76ers had the splashiest offseason in the NBA, signing LeBron James on a two-year, $8 million deal and trading for Jaylen Brown. Those additions elevated the expectations for the Sixers, who were previously considered a playoff-bound team buoyed by the young backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe and former MVP Joel Embiid.
But now they have emerged in the title conversation after adding two stars with championship experience. Considered one of the greatest players of all-time, James has lived in the NBA Finals and won four titles. Brown was the NBA Finals MVP in 2024 and carried his team to the postseason last season.
This team is also deeper prior seasons, with Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade — two players with starter talent — anchoring the reserves alongside exciting rookie Labaron Philon Jr.
So what does that formula mean for the Sixers? Should it make them the favorite to win the title? Or should the talent in New York, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City be enough to pump the breaks on this star-studded experiment? We asked our Sixers experts.
Gina Mizell, Sixers beat writer
Odds say no, simply because of the field.
The New York Knicks deserve respect as the defending champions. The Eastern Conference is the deepest it’s been in some time, making the road to the Finals a gauntlet. And in the West, the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder boast (arguably) the game’s most dominant players and recent Finals experience.
Yet this Sixers team is the franchise’s biggest title threat since at least the 2019 Kawhi Leonard shot, and possibly since the 2001 Finals squad. And it does already feel different from 2024, when many projected the Sixers as contenders after signing Paul George. Maxey is even better. Edgecombe is coming off a fantastic rookie season. Even if Embiid’s health does not hold up and James needs rest days, Brown is still in his prime and more reliable from an availability standpoint than George.
The hype around the Sixers is deserved, given the out-of-nowhere nature of their blockbuster offseason. But it’s really hard to win a championship. If it does happen, history tells us to bet on it in LeBron’s second season and not 2026-27. Regardless, the Sixers will be the NBA’s most fascinating team this season, which is a blast for folks like us who chronicle it all.
David Murphy, Sports columnist
I’d love to be the contrarian, but the answer really is no. What matters is that there is a realistic scenario where they are the favorites by the time the playoffs start. There’s also a realistic scenario where the Knicks are again the heavy favorite. Right now, Vegas odds have the two teams even as the co-favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. That alone speaks to the massive upside of this team.
After all, there is a tremendous amount of unknown priced into those odds. No team in the NBA has a wider range of potential outcomes than the Sixers. We know who the Knicks are. We know they are going to be somewhere in the mix at the very end (barring injury, of course). The Sixers could easily find their formula is a lot more difficult in reality than in theory. That’s especially true if Embiid is closer to the player he was in his worst stretches last season vs. his best stretches.
The Sixers’ LeBron James and Joel Embiid will be charged with chasing a title alongside a bevy of other stars. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
That being said, go back to the Knicks series last year. Imagine swapping Brown and James in for Kelly Oubre, Jr. and George. And imagine a bench that has Wade, Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope coming off it rather than Quentin Grimes, Dominick Barlow and Justin Edwards. Imagine the Sixers aren’t coming off a seven-game first round series on the road. The potential is very real.
Gabriela Carroll, Sports reporter
Let’s go with no, to be safe. If this Sixers team is fully healthy, and manages to jell on offense and defense, they’ve got a shot. It’s as good a chance as they’ve had since the beginning of The Process. They currently hold the fourth-best odds to win the NBA title next season, behind the Spurs, Thunder, and the reigning champion Knicks.
Victor Wembanyama continues to level up, and the Thunder have two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and multiple deep playoff runs under their belt, including a championship in 2025. Even if everything goes right, winning an NBA championship against the strong field is a challenge. Even Rich Paul, James’ agent, said he didn’t think the Sixers were favorites for the title.
And as Sixer fans know well, a lot can go wrong. While Embiid said his knee issues are behind him, anything can happen, as indicated by last year’s late-season appendicitis.
“Who wouldn’t want to be around that?” Philon said Monday from an appearance at Sunrise Day Camp-Greater Philadelphia’s basketball clinic at Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood. “I feel like we’ve got a lot of great guys, and [we are] just going to continue to do the right things and just make it happen.”
Philon acknowledged this wild Sixers offseason — they also traded for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown on July 1 — is not what he expected after the team drafted him in late June. But the former Alabama guard is ready for a debut NBA season suddenly with “a lot at stake.”
“Those older guys being able to teach us young players what we need to know, I feel like that’s a very important thing for me,” Philon said. “Just being a rookie and being able to be around all those guys is a privilege for me. You don’t get to see a rookie get to play with five guys that can potentially make an All-Star team [James, Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe].
“I feel like you can learn every day, and every day you can compete against them to get better.”
Perhaps Philon landing in the Sixers’ lap with the 22nd overall pick foreshadowed what they would pull off during a transformational summer. On draft night, Philon called Philly the “perfect spot” for him on a FaceTime call with electric fellow guards Maxey, who last season earned All-NBA status for the first time in his career, and Edgecombe, who finished third on a fantastic Rookie of the Year ballot.
Then the Sixers acquired Brown in a stunning blockbuster trade, which sent former perennial All-Star Paul George and four draft picks to the Boston Celtics. Then James, arguably the best player of all time, chose to sign a two-year, $4 million deal with the Sixers in his final pursuit of a championship. Earlier this month, Philon lauded Brown’s “championship DNA.” He added on Monday that he is eager to learn about how James takes care of his body, because he also would like his NBA career to last into his 40s.
“Being able to have that longevity,” Philon said of James, “that’s God-given ability.”
In between his team’s two monster personnel moves, Philon took the floor in a Sixers jersey for the first time at Las Vegas Summer League.
Labaron Philon is looking forward to learning from LeBron James.Monica Herndon
He showed off his crafty handle, passing ability, and fearless shot-taking. But the 6-foot-3, 176-pound Philon came away from those games recognizing he needed to “sharpen my tools,” including quickening his shot release. During his two college seasons, Philon dramatically improved his stats, upping his three-point percentage from 31.5% to 39.7%, his scoring from 10.6 to 22 points per game, and his assists from 3.8 to 4.9 per game.
“Just finding out how I can impact the team as much as I can,” Philon said. “I’ve got to put in a lot of work. All of us got work to put in.”
The Sixers’ roster revamp means Philon’s initially anticipated role might diminish or change. In addition to adding Brown and James, the team also signed sharpshooting reserve guard Anfernee Simons and is expected to sign veteran 3-and-D wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. But Sixers coach Nick Nurse has proven he is willing to play young guards, including Edgcombe and former Sixer Jared McCain as rookies.
“He’s in the rotation until something changes,” Nurse said of Philon at Summer League, before James signed. “I just feel like he’s talented enough. I think we liked him enough as a staff [and] organization. … He’s going this direction [up] quickly, and I think he’s got some confidence to him that I don’t think he’ll be afraid. I think he’ll make the most of the opportunity.”
As for the rest of Philon’s offseason, before the Sixers begin training camp in late September?
First, he still needs to formally move to the Philly area. Events like Monday’s, designed for children with cancer and their siblings, help him “fit right in” with a passionate sports community. When asked how much time he will spend in market versus elsewhere — such as in Los Angeles for Sixers assistant coach Rico Hines’ renowned pickup games — Philon quipped, “Wherever basketball at, I’ll be there.”
Then, he will formally begin to play with the Sixers’ star-studded roster. Becoming the first domino of their wild offseason is not exactly what Philon envisioned on draft night less than five weeks ago. But he is ready for a rookie ride that coincides with his new team’s championship push.
“I’ve been doing a good job of keeping my composure,” Philon said. “Staying [in] a steady mindset and just ready to get to work.”
About two months still remain before the 76ers get their first crack at putting together their star-studded puzzle, when training camp opens with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown on the roster.
The Sixers now boast four players who have made at least one All-NBA team, and two former MVPs in James and Joel Embiid. Their fifth starter, VJ Edgecombe, is coming off a fantastic rookie season.
Though this is now a team with legitimate championship aspirations, it will take individual sacrifice and adaptability to combine these talents on the court. Here is what the Sixers need from each of their five starters:
Tyrese Maxey
A healthy pinkie finger
Maxey is coming off his second consecutive season with a sprain in the same pinkie, which impacted his shooting and ball handling. Though he admirably returned exactly three weeks after sustaining the injury in early March, he acknowledged he periodically aggravated it throughout the regular season’s stretch run and playoffs.
He went 3-of-19 from three-point range in the Sixers’ second-round sweep to the New York Knicks, and matter-of-factly said after the season-ending Game 4 loss that the finger “just hurt.”
Now Maxey is getting the offseason to heal that injury. Was it just horrible luck that he hurt the same finger two seasons in a row? Or is there any preventative treatment or protection that can make it less vulnerable this season?
Sixers center Joel Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey have a two-man game that will still be an asset this season. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
More play off the ball
Maxey already was talking in May about using his offensive “gravity” while off the ball more frequently, and drilling those scenarios with Edgecombe as the primary ballhandler. Now, Maxey will have the opportunity to be on the receiving end of one of the best passers of all-time in James.
Maxey should be able to find plenty of moments to set screens, cut, and come off screens to attack with momentum or find space to launch three-pointers. Coach Nick Nurse said earlier this month that he also wants Maxey to keep exploring ways to score with his midrange game.
The Franchise
Embiid bestowed that nickname on Maxey years ago. He has earned it with his on-court ascent into an All-NBA player and, more importantly, the tone-setter and leader in the locker room.
The Sixers are adding two stars with championship experience and overall gravitas. But Maxey is the one who has been here through the roller coaster of the past six-plus years. That holds immense value while building a team aiming for a long-awaited breakthrough season.
Joel Embiid
Health
Well, duh.
Embiid, who has played in only 96 games the previous three seasons combined, was optimistic during his end-of-season news conference that he and the Sixers have figured out how to manage his surgically repaired left knee. Bob Myers, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment’s president, reiterated that in early June, noting Embiid had no offseason surgeries planned. Embiid then reportedly reinforced that he feels healthy to James in his pitch to join the Sixers.
Actions over words, of course. Knee management could not negate Embiid getting popped in the oblique or appendicitis, the main culprits for his absences late last season. But when Embiid was able to play consistently from late November through early February, he looked like an All-Star.
Pick your spots
The Sixers are no longer going to run their entire offense through Embiid. The 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player also probably will not see as many double-teams, given the star power surrounding him.
The middle of the post should still be an area where Embiid can be fed the ball and operate. And dominate whenever the matchup dictates. It will be interesting to track the type of chemistry he can establish with James and Brown, after already creating a lethal two-man game with Maxey. Being able to complement his automatic midrange jumper with a more consistent three-pointer — he shot 33.3% from long range last season — also would provide a big boost.
Embiid said last season that he wants the ball to move and to keep teammates involved. Time to put that into practice for an entire season.
Defensive improvements
It is unrealistic to expect Embiid will ever return to his stature as an NBA Defensive Player of the Year contender. In recent seasons, he was deliberately not jumping as much for rebounds and to block shots in an effort to protect that knee.
But can Embiid regain his mobility in space while defending the pick and roll, after the Knicks attacked him in those actions throughout that playoff series? That would benefit the aggressive defensive playmaking approach of Maxey and Edgecombe on the perimeter, and James while he likely conserves his energy on that end of the floor.
Jaylen Brown
Buy-in as a co-star — again
It’s easy to get hung up on Brown repeatedly calling last season with the Boston Celtics his “favorite” so far in the NBA. Sure, it was because he was the bona fide top scorer. But he also spoke publicly about helping teammates, whom outsiders expected to take a gap year while fellow star Jayson Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery, exceed expectations by finishing second in the Eastern Conference standings.
Could Brown get the same type of satisfaction in helping the Sixers finally clear that second-round hurdle? In elevating Maxey and Embiid and Edgecombe, even if it means taking a slightly more complementary role?
Unlike James, Brown did not choose the Sixers as his new playing destination. He also has not yet answered questions on this topic in a formal introductory news conference. But Brown was already calling new teammates Maxey and Edgecombe during his first Twitch live stream after the trade.
Jaylen Brown will team up with the Sixers this season after battling them in the Eastern Conference playoffs last year. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Catch and shoot — and run
Brown is excellent at using his blend of athleticism and strength to go 1-on-1 and generate his own shots. But with the ball theoretically being more spread around with this roster makeup, Brown also should have opportunities to immediately fire off the catch.
Could we see an uptick in his three-point efficiency, after connecting on 35.8% of his 5.3 attempts per game throughout his career?
An underrated part of Brown’s game, meanwhile, is that he ranked 14th in the NBA last season in fastbreak points (3.6 per game). He can help spearhead the Sixers’ effort alongside the electric Maxey and Edgecombe — and, yes, James, who last season led the NBA in that category (5.7 per game).
Perimeter defense
Brown might not be the Sixers’ best perimeter defender, a title that belongs to fellow newcomer Dean Wade. But Brown is regarded as a two-way player. Assuming the Sixers close with their starting lineup when fully healthy — aka, will not have Wade on the floor — Brown (and Edgecombe) likely will be tasked with guarding prolific offensive players.
If Brown’s workload dips on the offensive end — he ranked third in the NBA in usage rate last season (35.1%) — he should have more energy to dedicate on the opposite side of the floor.
LeBron James
The connector
There already is outside hubbub about ESPN’s Shams Charania’s reporting defining James as the Sixers’ point guard. But that is how a team leverages James’ still-elite skill, as a legendary passer even while becoming the league’s all-time scorer. The 7.2 assists he averaged last season do not capture James’ role as a connector.
James thrived in that type of facilitating role last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, paving the way for in-prime stars Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to carry the scoring load. And that playmaking and basketball IQ will hold up even as his body continues to age throughout this two-year contract with the Sixers.
LeBron James, left, has a deep bond with Tyrese Maxey, right, that played a part in his decision to come to Philly. Chris Szagola / AP
Pace yourself
James is about to enter his NBA-record 24th season, and is choosing the grueling push for another championship. He also takes maniacal care of his body, though some freak injuries cannot be fully prevented.
Like Embiid, it is most important that James is healthy for the playoffs. So don’t be surprised by the rest days, or even if his in-game minutes are slightly limited to gear up for that postseason run.
Championship habits
The internet is already getting glimpses of James’ 5 a.m. workouts and gym time with Maxey, his longtime friend and fellow Klutch client.
But his new Sixers teammates and staff are about to get an up-close view at how James moves through every single day. How he attacks practices and games. How he recovers on off days. How he spends down time on road trips. How he communicates in the locker room. How he handles the fanfare and media circus that follows him wherever he goes.
Those habits matter on a championship quest. And the players who have not reached the NBA’s pinnacle — even fellow stars Maxey and Embiid — should have plenty to learn.
VJ Edgecombe
Coast-to-coast
Even before the Sixers landed James, Nurse said he wanted Edgecombe to seize more opportunities to grab the rebound and take it all the way to the basket on the opposite end. The second-year guard is an unreal athlete, and this is a way he can get easy buckets even when plays are not frequently run for him in the halfcourt offense.
Improve shooting
As a rookie, Edgecombe already flashed an uncanny fearlessness to shake off slow shooting starts and still knock down crunch-time shots. He tied for sixth in the NBA with 12 three-pointers in “clutch” time, and shot an eye-popping 54.5% from long range in such situations.
The next step? More consistency in those opening three quarters. He is likely to get open looks, with defenses focused on the Sixers’ more proven stars.
Yes, the Sixers’ blockbuster additions are going to move Edgecombe down the pecking order after a fantastic rookie season when he immediately brought two-way production and rare maturity in charged road environments.
But he also will play in lineups with reserves, and more scoring chances. It also is reasonable to expect Edgecombe to get increased opportunities when Embiid and/or James inevitably miss games. Even when his team was fully healthy during last season’s playoffs, Edgecombe still found a way to rise in massive moments.
Edgecombe’s time is coming. But second-year players — especially who were drafted this high — rarely get to experience the stakes of the season that awaits. And don’t underestimate what Edgecombe, who has deep respect for the game’s history, already expects to glean from being around James and Brown.
That is how deep the East has become, at least on paper. It is a counter to the West, which may have the two best long-term teams and superstars in Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
But 11 East teams seem primed to compete for a top-six seed. That is too many for the play-in tournament, much less the actual playoffs.
Injuries, in-season moves, and other factors can impact the East landscape from late October through June. But here is where things stand following a wild summer:
The defending champ
New York Knicks
The Knicks deserve this respect after their torrid run to the NBA title last month. And they are running it back with much of their full rotation — including ’Nova Knicks Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart — except backup center Mitchell Robinson. That there has been no repeat NBA champion since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018 illustrates the steep challenge now facing the Knicks. But they still belong at the top of this ladder until they are knocked down.
The challengers
Sixers
The Sixers might now boast the NBA’s most talented starting lineup, but how long does it take to gel? Health is always a concern with former MVP Joel Embiid — and, to a lesser extent, James at this point in his career. But the Sixers appear better equipped to withstand that by adding Brown to the dynamic Tyrese Maxey-VJ Edgecombe backcourt.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons also deserve respect as last year’s top playoff seed, while anchored by MVP contender (and still ascending) Cade Cunningham. But losing in the second round of the playoffs demonstrates that steps remain for them to become legitimate contenders.
LeBron James’ decision to join the Sixers was one of several large dominoes in the Eastern Conference. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
They’re in a contract stalemate with restricted free agent (and Roman Catholic product) Jalen Duren, an All-NBA selection last season who struggled mightily in the playoffs. But they addressed outside shooting concerns by trading for former Sixer Isaiah Joe and also added John Collins.
Boston Celtics
Perhaps this is too high for Boston following the Brown trade that netted Paul George. But the Celtics are in a similar spot as last season, just with the now-healthy Jayson Tatum as the unquestioned top offensive option. George is a secondary offensive option, and they also added Robinson to address their center void, which was exposed during their first-round playoff loss to the Sixers.
Figuring out the post-Brown era is a task for Joe Mazzulla, the reigning NBA Coach of the Year who may have gone too far with an unorthodox starting lineup in Game 7 against the Sixers and overall three-point-heavy scheme.
Cleveland Cavaliers
It might be fair to call the Cavaliers a subpar Eastern Conference finals team, given how that series went against the Knicks. Then they missed out on a sentimental second reunion with James, leaving them with a team that boasts an impressive core — All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell and former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley — but feels like it may have run its course.
Perhaps Cleveland will now pivot to adding a complementary player such as Jonathan Kuminga, but is that enough to move the needle (or maintain their positioning) in this loading-up East?
The wild cards
Indiana Pacers
Remember them? Assuming Tyrese Haliburton returns to All-NBA form following Achilles surgery, can the Pacers recapture the magic of their 2025 Finals run? Indiana started prepping for the upcoming season by trading for center Ivica Zubac at the February deadline but didn’t add a high draft pick thanks to horrendous lottery luck.
Toronto Raptors
If the Kawhi Leonard trade finally goes through, move the Raptors into the challenger tier. Leonard, who would return to Toronto still as one of the NBA’s best two-way wings when healthy, creates a super-fun duo with All-Star Scottie Barnes. The Raptors also still have helpful complementary players such as Immanuel Quickley and Collin Murray-Boyles.
Miami Heat
The Heat certainly seem like they’d belong in the challenger tier after trading for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to pair with All-Star Bam Adebayo. But missing out on a reunion with James leaves Miami with a severe lack of playmaking and overall perimeter punch.
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta was one of the hottest teams during the second half of last season and gave the Knicks their toughest postseason test. The Hawks successfully pivoted from the Trae Young era to building around All-Star Jalen Johnson and CJ McCollum.
Following this summer’s blockbuster trade, Paul George will now shift to the second option in Boston.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
This offseason, they traded for stout perimeter defender Lu Dort to play alongside 2025-26 Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels and drafted intriguing point guard Kingston Flemings.
Orlando Magic
Orlando has not changed much besides its coach, with Sean Sweeney taking over after impactful assistant stints with the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks. Two big questions facing this roster: Can Franz Wagner stay healthy, and can Paolo Banchero improve his efficiency?
Charlotte Hornets
One of last season’s feel-good stories has already undergone a shakeup by trading LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Hornets still have an exciting young core with Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, but now feel a tick below these other teams after losing in last season’s play-in.
The 76ers are trading Johni Broome and a second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for cash considerations, a source confirmed to The Inquirer Tuesday.
The move allows the Sixers to officially sign veteran wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope while staying under the first apron hard salary cap. Caldwell-Pope, who over the weekend agreed to a contract buyout wiht the Memphis Grizzlies, will reunite with recently signed megastar LeBron James, his former teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers including during the 2019-20 championship season.
The Sixers also had the option of waiving Broome and stretching his $2.1 million cap hit over seven seasons — reducing it to $300,000 per year — because his 2027-28 and 2028-29 salaries were nonguaranteed, according to The Athletic. But this trade solves that issue in one fell swoop.
Broome played in only 11 games for the Sixers during a rookie season that was interrupted by late-February meniscus surgery. He did perform well in stints with the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats, including a 50-point, 17-rebound outburst shortly before his injury.
He returned to extensive on-court action during the Las Vegas Summer League earlier this month, and was one of the top rebounders (nine per game) among all participants across the league. He also averaged 14.7 points per game, and was tasked to work on his three-point shooting.
“My first season wasn’t the best,” Broome said in Las Vegas. “I can see that myself. That’s why I put in a lot of work to have a better second year. Obviously, I want to make a better impression and I’ve got more to do. I just want to keep proving myself each and every day, for Philly.”
Broome, who turned 24 this month, was the Sixers’ second-round draft pick in 2025 after a standout college career at Auburn.
The Sixers on Sunday waived guard Dalen Terry — whose $2.6 million salary for 2026-27 was nonguaranteed until Jan. 10 — in order to sign James and stay under the first apron hard cap.
LeBron James chose the 76ers because he believes their new-look roster offers the best available option for him to push for a final NBA championship.
And the window is small, because James’ contract fits his age.
The 41-year-old signed a “one-plus-one” deal, aka a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option on the second season. That forced the Sixers to do some roster tinkering for salary-cap purposes, waiving guard Dalen Terry before officially signing James on Sunday.
It is fitting that James is likely to be in Philly for two seasons. At all three of his title-winning stops, he achieved that feat in the second year.
For those eager to proclaim that the Sixers are immediately championship-or-bust for the 2026-27 season, let that history serve as a reminder that it can take time even for a star-studded roster to figure things out.
Here is how James reached the NBA’s mountaintop at each previous stop:
After “The Decision” teamed James with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to create the “Big Three” in Miami, the Heat turned an infamously shaky 9-8 start into 58 victories and the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed. James, Wade, and Bosh all made the All-Star team.
Miami advanced to the NBA Finals, beating the Sixers in the first round along the way. But the Heat lost to the Dirk Nowitzki-led Dallas Mavericks, falling short of a championship in the first season of the “Heatles.”
LeBron James celebrates his first NBA title in 2012 with the Miami Heat. J Pat Carter
Second season
Following the NBA lockout, the Heat finished 46-20 and second in the East standings at the end of the shortened regular season. James won his third NBA Most Valuable Player award, and first with the Heat. James, Wade, and Bosh were All-Stars once again.
In the playoffs, Miami beat the Boston Celtics in a thrilling seven-game Eastern Conference finals series. Then they topped the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder — then led by a young Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden — to win James’ first NBA championship.
Though that Heat team did not accomplish the “not five … not six … not seven …” declaration of James’ flashy Miami introduction, it did win back-to-back titles (and reached four consecutive NBA Finals) before he returned home to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
2014-16 Cleveland Cavaliers
First season
James’ new “Big Three” with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love also got off to a slow start at 19-20. After trading for J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, and Tomofy Mozgov midseason, the Cavaliers finished second in the East standings with a 53-29 record. James and Irving both made All-NBA teams.
Cleveland advanced to the NBA Finals but lost to the Golden State Warriors to begin that team’s dynasty.
Toronto Raptors forward James Johnson fouls Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James during a playoff game in 2016.Frank Gunn
Second season
The Cavaliers underwent a critical midseason shakeup when, despite holding the East’s best record at the time (30-11), they fired coach David Blatt in January. They elevated then-assistant Ty Lue, who has since become one of the NBA’s most-respected coaches. Cleveland went on to finish the regular season 57-25 and atop of the Eastern Conference.
That playoff run then culminated in an unbelievable, storybook Finals against the Warriors. The Cavaliers became the first team to overcome a 3-1 Finals deficit, and won a dramatic Game 7 to deliver the franchise’s first NBA championship. James’ crunch-time block on Andre Iguodala, which preserved a tie before Irving’s go-ahead three-pointer, is considered a historic playoff moment.
James stayed with Cleveland for two more seasons — he reached the Finals each time to create a personal streak of eight in a row — but the Cavaliers lost again to Golden State both times.
2018-20 Los Angeles Lakers
First season
James in free agency joined a Lakers team primarily with young players, including Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart. They slogged through an injury-riddled 2018-19 season — James only played 55 games — and missed the playoffs. It was the first time since 2006 that a James team had failed to reach the postseason.
Team president Magic Johnson stepped down at the end of the season in an abrupt and now-famous “I’m not gonna be here” news conference, and coach Luke Walton and the team also parted ways.
LeBron James hugs general manager Rob Pelinka after the Lakers won the NBA title in 2020.Wally Skalij / MCT
Second season
Under promoted executive Rob Pelinka, the Lakers acquired star big man Anthony Davis in a blockbuster trade and added former Sixers Danny Green and Dwight Howard as veteran complements.
The Lakers recorded the Western Conference’s best record (52-19) during a regular season interrupted for more than four months and then shortened because of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. James and Davis were both named first-team All-NBA.
The Lakers’ “bubble” playoff run at Disney World ended with topping the Heat to clinch the storied franchise’s first title since 2010. Some critics will put an imaginary asterisk next to it. But that will likely go down as the most bizarre circumstances under which any NBA team will win a championship.
