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Tag: VJ Edgecombe

  • Joel Embiid finishes first week of Sixers camp in good health and spirits

    Joel Embiid finishes first week of Sixers camp in good health and spirits

    VJ Edgecombe could have had an easy dunk or layup in Saturday’s Blue x White scrimmage before Joel Embiid made up his mind to prevent it.

    As Edgecombe was weaving his way down the middle of the lane, Embiid made up the few steps he was trailing Edgecombe and met him at the rim. Embiid blocked the shot, but not without a foul. Embiid fell to the ground when he landed, which can cause at least a little bit of nervousness, given his injury history. But he got back up and started twirling around his finger, asking for a review of the play, as did LeBron James.

    “I thought it was all ball,” Embiid said.

    That sequence was just one of a few indications of how healthy Embiid has looked since the start of camp, with teammates, coach Nick Nurse, and president Mike Gansey raving about his intensity and participation level.

    Sixers’ rookie Labaron Philon Jr. already had his welcome to the NBA moment with LeBron: ‘It’s here now’

    “He hasn’t missed a practice. He’s been in damn near everything that we’ve done,” James said. “Pretty much, [the team has] had to sit him out at times, even when he wanted to keep going.”

    Gansey said the team “got a plan together” for Embiid for this season, something Embiid also referenced during his comments Monday at media day. When asked if the team had a target number of games for Embiid to play this season, Gansey didn’t specify, but said the team would take things “day by day” with how Embiid is feeling.

    Embiid played a good portion of the Sixers scrimmage on Saturday, and he looked refreshed and spry on both ends of the floor. He was knocking down threes as a trail man in transition and challenging shots at the rim while dusting off his two-man game with Tyrese Maxey. He even dunked at one point to cap a couple intense possessions battling Ariel Hukporti.

    “That’s probably the last dunk of my career,” Embiid said in typically trolling fashion.

    He also reignited some chemistry with James from their time playing for Team USA in the 2024 Olympics.

    “We played a lot of minutes,” James said. “He started a lot of games for us that summer, but the difference between ‘24 and now, he’s just so much more healthier.”

    On one possession, James hit Embiid in stride as he was approaching the three-point line, and Embiid walked into an open three. That was part of an early barrage of plays James was making that delighted the crowd inside Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    “Obviously, the Olympics was great. But whether we have played together or not, I don’t think it was going to matter,” Embiid said. “Because at the end of the day, when you put — whether it’s two players, a bunch of players together that have a high basketball IQ — it’s going to be easy to fit with that, and that’s been the case.”

    New-look Sixers roster should allow Nick Nurse to get into his ‘bag’ on defense

    Related to the fit, Embiid touched on one of the buzzwords of this Sixers training camp: sacrifice. James spoke at length about how that word doesn’t have to be a negative. Nurse echoed that, and said he wanted the players to be the best versions of themselves, whatever that may look like within the context of this team. When asked a question about what he has seen from Maxey so far this camp, Embiid took his answer and spoke at length about his view of that word, and what it may mean for him and the rest of the Sixers lineup.

    “It’s not about sacrifice. It’s just about being a star in your role and doing what you do best,” Embiid said. “I don’t think anybody should be put in a box. Just go out there, be yourself. Good shot, great shot, bad shot, we’ve all got each other’s backs. We move on. And then we go get a stop.”

    The Sixers have one of the most star-studded rosters in the NBA. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    To Embiid, this roster configuration is a chance for every player on the roster to be more efficient with the touches they get because the attention everyone else will command should keep the floor open regardless of who has the ball.

    “You might get less touches, but you might get also more space. So what are you going to do with that space?” Embiid said. “Whether it’s for [Maxey], for me, for everybody, starting lineup, guys coming off the bench, different roles. Roles don’t even matter; it’s just about making the right play for each other over and over and over and try to find a way to be — I think for me — more efficient than I’ve ever been.”

  • LeBron James makes first public appearance at Blue x White scrimmage and puts on show for ‘Philly faithful’

    LeBron James makes first public appearance at Blue x White scrimmage and puts on show for ‘Philly faithful’

    The crowd noise inside Xfinity Mobile Arena swelled as public address announcer Matt Cord’s booming voice said, “At 6-9, from St. Vincent-St. Mary … ” before introducing LeBron James. It erupted again the first time the all-time great touched the ball, then when James dished a pass to Joel Embiid for a three-pointer, then when James buried his own shot from beyond the arc.

    James’ first public appearance in a 76ers (practice) jersey Saturday afternoon came with far more hubbub than a typical preseason scrimmage. His impact was apparent all over the floor as a facilitator, pace-pusher and scorer for the revamped Sixers roster now expected to contend in a deep Eastern Conference.

    New-look Sixers roster should allow Nick Nurse to get into his ‘bag’ on defense

    For James, the annual Blue x White scrimmage was an “extension of training camp” and in his personal onboarding process in his first official days with his new team.

    “As far as in the building, it’s been very smooth, in the simple fact that everybody’s been super welcoming,” James said following the scrimmage. “I’ve been able to implement some things in my voice, and as far as my command in how I play the game, and my experience of playing the game.

    “I’m still getting more and more comfortable off the floor, as far as with the travel and without my family and things of that nature. So that’s going to be a little bit of a challenge. But everything’s been good so far. It’s been a great first week.”

    The Sixers’ signing of the legendary James — plus trading for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown as part of a shocking offseason — prompted the move of their annual public scrimmage from their G League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats’ facility in Wilmington to South Philly in order to accommodate more fans. With skyrocketing ticket prices for the regular season, this might be the only time some of those in attendance Saturday will get to see this star-studded roster in person. Admission was a $10 donation to the Sixers Youth Foundation, with 5,000 tickets provided to families that receive grants from the organization’s nonprofit affiliate along with youth organizations and community partners.

    LeBron James handles the ball as Dean Wade, left, defends in the Sixers’ public scrimmage. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    It was the start of a new relationship between Sixers fans and James, who said at media day that he appreciated the mutual respect and hate he received during his previous trips to Philly as an opponent.

    Those in the stands Saturday got to watch James, wearing No. 9 instead of his iconic 23, deliver a behind-the-back pass to VJ Edgecombe in the corner. And throw down an alley-oop from Tyrese Maxey. And hit another step-back three-pointer.

    After averaging 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, James maintained Saturday that he is willing “to pick up whatever a team may need” as the Sixers aim to best maximize their top-end talent.

    “I’m just trying to fast-track everything, offensively and defensively,” James said. “The commands. The calls. The reads, and everything they’ve had in place over the few years. I’m stepping into a new system and I’m stepping into a whole new environment.”

    The bulk of James’ initial work, however, has been in the privacy of the Sixers’ practice facility. Coach Nick Nurse and president of basketball operations Mike Gansey recently commended James’ consistent early arrival for his meticulous personal routine ahead of practice. Though his strong rapport with Maxey is already well-documented, James on Saturday reminded that he also has brief history with Embiid as part of the 2024 U.S. Olympic team.

    Jaylen Brown shares details of his onboarding process — on and off the court — with the Sixers

    Gansey also called James a tone-setter; that, at age 41, he is still diving on the floor for loose balls during practice.

    “I mean, the guy is the biggest professional I’ve ever seen,” said Gansey, who also was in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office during James’ championship-winning stint with that team.

    Once the Sixers begin preseason play Monday against the New York Knicks, James said he hopes to continue gaining rhythm with new teammates but “not overdo it” physically leading up to a high-profile Oct. 20 opening night at Madison Square Garden. The Sixers’ home opener is two nights later, against James’ familiar Cavaliers.

    Yet Saturday afternoon will always mark the first time James got Cord’s booming introduction inside Xfinity Mobile Arena. Fans hung around the building long after the scrimmage concluded, at one point abruptly swarming to a fence overlooking the parking lot where players come and go.

    They wanted a glimpse of James leaving his new home arena.

    “Obviously, it was fun to be able to play in front of some of our Philly faithful for the first time,” James said. “ … It was a great first step in the direction we’re trying to go. And, like I said, it was great to hear some cheers.”

  • New-look Sixers roster should allow Nick Nurse to get into his ‘bag’ on defense

    New-look Sixers roster should allow Nick Nurse to get into his ‘bag’ on defense

    For the first two days of 76ers training camp, coach Nick Nurse was installing defensive concepts. This was especially exciting for Nurse, whose eyes lit up when talking about what this roster allows him to do on that end of the floor.

    “I don’t feel like I’ve been able to get into my bag of defensive stuff nearly as much as I would like to,” Nurse said of his previous years as Sixers coach. “And I think now we’ve got a little bit more depth, size, athleticism. It may take us a minute, but I think I’m most excited about that.”

    A young, inexperienced team might not have the bandwidth to execute multiple coverages like switching one through five, drop coverage, or a high wall without some miscommunication and needing an extra beat to remember which is the current coverage.

    A team lacking size and athleticism limits the kinds of coverages that could be deployed for the sake of ending up in unfavorable mismatches. What the Sixers seem to have is a good mix of that experience, athleticism, and basketball IQ to make it all work.

    Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti have battled since they were teenagers. Now, they are vying to be the Sixers’ backup center

    That they don’t have to just play one way throughout the course of a game, and Nurse can do different things with different lineups and match up better against specific opponents.

    “We have so many defenders and athletes and good players that can do so many different things; we can really go deep inside the playbook and rotations and do things that other teams really don’t have the ability to do,” forward Dean Wade said. “That’s what’s going to separate us on the defensive end, too. We have so many great defenders, great help side defenders and great on-ball defenders.”

    The Sixers were 17th in defensive efficiency a season ago, which speaks, perhaps, to the limited upside of what Nurse could do, especially with Joel Embiid only playing 38 regular-season games. But even when Embiid does take off games to maintain his health, the Sixers have a deeper roster that should still give them flexibility on defense. Wade figures to play a significant part in the team’s defensive success off the bench, while VJ Edgecombe said he will continue to burnish his reputation as a point-of-attack defender after getting “faster and stronger” from where he started a season ago.

    “I’m just trying to make sure I’m in top-tier shape so I can do that,” Edgecombe said. “Obviously, that’s important. The league is full of great guards. And, like you said, that’s important to be that point-of-attack defense because that’s what kind of starts it with most of the possessions. And I want to be able to set that tone for us defensively, and we go from there.”

    Then there’s LeBron James, who still can dial up the intensity defensively when needed. James relayed Monday that Tyrese Maxey previously said Jaylen Brown also was taking on primary defensive responsibilities and trying to set a defensive tone.

    “What’s stood out to me so far is his communication and he’s willing to pick up the ball defensively, kind of just do whatever coach needs him to do right now,” Maxey said.

    Brown mentioned Thursday that he was getting used to the terminology the Sixers use. One thing that might mean a certain coverage when he was in Boston might mean something different with the Sixers.

    Jaylen Brown shares details of his onboarding process — on and off the court — with the Sixers

    “It’s just getting him through it and getting him comfortable,” Nurse said. “I think we’ve covered a lot and probably calmed down on putting more stuff in and really started repping this out, so everybody gets comfortable with what the plays are called.”

    The more Nurse can take out of his “bag,” the more versatility the Sixers can have defensively.

    Up and down the roster, the Sixers have talked about the importance of that side of the ball. Nurse mentioned on Day 1 that James was “extremely loud” on defense, trying to set an example for the rest of the roster, while Brown said, “We’re focused on defense for a couple days, and I like that because that’s where the game is going to be won or lost.”

  • Sixers’ rookie Labaron Philon Jr. already had his welcome to the NBA moment with LeBron: ‘It’s here now’

    Sixers’ rookie Labaron Philon Jr. already had his welcome to the NBA moment with LeBron: ‘It’s here now’

    On the first day of 76ers training camp, Labaron Philon Jr. found himself backpedaling as LeBron James barreled toward him full-speed.

    “That’s when the moment really hit,” Philon said. “I was like, ‘All right, it’s here now.’”

    Consider it an early dose of “Welcome to the NBA” — and to the Sixers’ loaded roster — for the rookie point guard. But so far, Philon’s belief that he has been “able to stand [his] ground” against teammates with far more experience and established star power has been echoed by coach Nick Nurse. In these early practices, Nurse said he has been “super impressed” with Philon’s defensive competitiveness and ability to create offensively with the ball in his hands.

    “He’s really talented,” Nurse said. “But the vision is, like, I think really special.”

    Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti have battled since they were teenagers. Now, they are vying to be the Sixers’ backup center

    Nurse’s early praise for Philon should not be dismissed as a preseason pump-up. Two years ago, Jared McCain was lauded as the Sixers’ best player during training camp, then became an early NBA Rookie of the Year frontrunner before tearing his meniscus. Last year, Nurse had zero hesitation about immediately inserting VJ Edgecombe into the starting lineup following a preseason that confirmed his maturity and versatility.

    And it’s easy to forget that the Sixers’ wild offseason began when Philon slipped to them at No. 22 overall in the NBA draft.

    In a strong class of lead ballhandlers, ESPN commentator and longtime coach Fran Fraschilla said Philon had the potential to be the best of the bunch. After Philon went from defensive stopper as a freshman at Alabama to top offensive option as a sophomore — he averaged 22 points on 39.9% shooting from three-point range, along with 4.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 32 games in 2025-26 — Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey and Nurse said on draft night that they expected the 20-year-old to instantly contend for a rotation role. He then flashed his crafty ballhalding and fearless shot-taking during Las Vegas Summer League.

    “I think he’s going [up] quickly,” Nurse told a small group of reporters in Las Vegas in July. “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.”

    The Sixers picked Lebaron Philon Jr. 22nd overall in the NBA draft.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    That Las Vegas stint came amid the Sixers’ stunning roster transformation. They traded for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown, then signed the legendary James. They also added fellow guard Anfernee Simons along with wings Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as more proven role players.

    Still, Philon’s comments Friday — along with the occasional video clip posted by the Sixers’ social media team — suggested that he has been working in practice with the Sixers’ second unit. He said he has been building chemistry with Ariel Hukporti, who is the backup center while Adem Bona nurses a knee injury.

    The 6-foot-4, 176-pound Philon said his first on-court priority with this group is to be a “ball hawk,” in the right spot to swipe steals as part of Nurse’s aggressive defensive philosophy. On the offensive end, Philon credited Alabama coach Nate Oats’ NBA-style system with helping him arrive in Camden already comfortable enough to use his voice to direct older teammates and play “on the fly.” Though passing has always been one of Philon’s strengths, he emphasized the importance of making the “easiest” decisions.

    “Right now, I don’t really need no ‘showtime’ or kind of flashy plays,” he said. “The position I’m in right now, it’s, like, making the right play every time.”

    Jaylen Brown shares details of his onboarding process — on and off the court — with the Sixers

    As Philon continues his NBA transition, he vowed to “have questions ready every day” for his more experienced teammates. He recently asked Brown about how he remains focused to hit tough fadeaway jumpers through the defender’s contest. He wants to learn all of James’ secrets for career longevity. He has gotten tidbits from Edgecombe his rookie experience and on shaping his prepractice routine. And he has engaged in one-on-one conversations with All-NBA point guard Tyrese Maxey about proper reads to make when the first option is not available.

    “That takes a lot from everybody,” Philon said. “So I feel like I’ve been appreciating that, just being happy that those guys are here to help.”

    There are bound to be more moments when Philon is caught backpedaling — figuratively and literally — during his rookie season on a Sixers team facing high pressure and expectations. But he already exudes the belief that he will continue standing his ground.

    It’s a confidence Nurse and teammates share.

    “Labaron’s good,” Simons matter-of-factly said at media day. “He’s good, for sure. … There are going to be times when, for sure, we’re going to need him.”

  • Tyrese Maxey calls Jaylen Brown a ‘freak of nature’ at start of Sixers training camp

    Tyrese Maxey calls Jaylen Brown a ‘freak of nature’ at start of Sixers training camp

    The 76ers’ practice court was empty as the team began to cycle through interviews following their second day of training camp Wednesday afternoon.

    Then, a shirtless Jaylen Brown emerged for an individual workout with new assistant coach Phil Handy, plus a player development coach bumping Brown as the All-NBA wing executed post-up moves.

    Teammate Tyrese Maxey still used the term “foreign” to describe how it must feel for Brown to be inside the Sixers’ facility.

    After spending his first 10 NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics, where he developed into a five-time All-Star and Finals MVP, Brown in July was shockingly traded to the Sixers team he was “trained to hate, probably,” Maxey said. The timing was particularly “crazy,” Maxey said, after the Sixers’ dramatic seven-game, first-round playoff upset of the Celtics less than five months ago.

    “I feel like I’ve played against Jaylen so many times,” said Maxey, an All-NBA point guard who is entering his seventh season with the Sixers. “But when you’re with somebody every single day, it’s different.”

    ‘Really tall’ Dean Wade is here to shoot the ball and help the Sixers defense

    Brown is coming off his best individual season, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while star teammate Jayson Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery. Maxey said he has immediately been impressed with Brown’s communication and willingness to guard the ballhandler. Maxey also called Brown an “awesome cutter,” a valuable skill on a team with several top-notch ballhandlers and shot creators.

    And, physically, Maxey called Brown a “freak of nature.”

    “He’s just stronger than you,” Maxey said. “He jumps higher than you. He’s faster than you, and he’s very talented. Those are the things that you see every single day.”

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe will play a key part in his team’s ability to get out in transition. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Asked to clarify if that meant Brown is faster than Maxey — who is regarded as perhaps the NBA’s speediest player — he quipped, “Nah, no chance.”

    “I wasn’t talking about me,” Maxey said.

    Sixers ready to run

    Media attending the Sixers’ first two practices did not get an in-person glimpse of all-time great LeBron James partaking in any team or individual on-court work. But the Sixers’ social media team posted a video clip from Tuesday’s session of a fastbreak that began with the ball in Maxey’s hands, before he kicked it to James, who then found VJ Edgecombe for an alley-oop dunk.

    “I was on their team [with the starters], it was so fun to play,” new forward Dean Wade said. “I played against them when they were in that flow, and there was nothing you [could] do. It’s unbelievable.”

    The immediate success with — and emphasis on — the transition game is no surprise. Last season, the 41-year-old James led the NBA in fastbreak points (5.7 per game), while Maxey was third (5.5 per game). Brown ranked 14th, at 3.6 per game. And Edgecombe is regarded as one of the league’s more electric athletes.

    So coach Nick Nurse already has been sending a consistent message of “pitch it ahead,” Maxey said.

    “I dribbled a little bit more [last season] than I probably will this year,” Maxey added. “So I’m just trying to get it ahead, no matter what, or I’m trying to run ahead or I’m trying to figure it out.”

    Last season, the Sixers ranked ninth in fastbreak points, at 16.9 per game. Getting into the open court is a way for the team to capitalize on forced turnovers, one of Nurse’s prime defensive philosophies. It also is a way to get easy buckets even while figuring out offensive schemes and roles, now with a loaded roster featuring four players who have been All-Stars and offensive focal points in their careers.

    Dealing with ‘noise’ part of Sixers season, even that from LeBron James’ helicopter

    Those open-court opportunities still come with nuance. Maxey said he has spent these early days learning where new teammates want the ball in such scenarios, or who might pull up for a three-pointer.

    “And then, at the end of the day, we also have No. 21 [Joel Embiid] trailing in,” Maxey said. “So that’s a pretty good option, too.”

    Embiid ‘looks amazing’

    The Sixers’ biggest positional question mark entering 2026-27 has been shorthanded at the start of training camp.

    Adem Bona, the Sixers’ backup center for most of last season, has been nursing a sprained foot sustained while playing for the Turkish national team during the summer. The 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall, who is on an Exhibit 10 contract and a contender for the team’s final two-way deal, had a hip issue that took him out about midway through Wednesday’s practice, Nurse said.

    Not on the injury report? Embiid, a noteworthy tidbit given the former MVP’s injury struggles in recent seasons.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid has received credit for coming to training camp in great shape. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Embiid arrived at Monday’s media day noticeably slimmer and said that he was finally able to work on his game during the offseason. Maxey added Wednesday that Embiid, his longest-tenured teammate and close friend, has looked “amazing” — and happy — during initial practices.

    “When you’re healthy and you’re happy and you’re at peace with your life and basketball,” Maxey said, “that’s when you’re at your best. He’s been great. He’s Joel.”

  • ‘Really tall’ Dean Wade is here to shoot the ball and help the Sixers defense

    ‘Really tall’ Dean Wade is here to shoot the ball and help the Sixers defense

    For the duration of Tyrese Maxey’s NBA career, Dean Wade was on the Cleveland Cavaliers, which meant Maxey and Wade shared the floor plenty over the last six years.

    But one quality of Wade didn’t stand out for Maxey until they got on the practice floor together.

    “I didn’t know he was this tall,” Maxey said. “You play against a guy two or three times a year, but you don’t really realize until you’re seeing somebody every day — he’s tall. He’s really tall.”

    LeBron James’ goal in Philly is clear: ‘I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round’

    Wade, listed at 6-foot-9, will be utilizing that height off the bench to bolster the Sixers defense. His arrival from Cleveland was a part of the team’s plans before the Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown and landed LeBron James. Now that both Brown and James are here, Wade figures to be an ideal bench piece to complement this group. He’s a low-usage shooter, but someone who can knock down open threes (36.7% for his career), and he is a defensive standout who can take on a team’s best player, thanks in part to that height.

    “That’s what’s going to separate us on the defensive end, too, we have so many great defenders, great help side defenders and great on-ball defenders,” Wade said.

    Wade came to the Sixers thanks in part to his relationship in Cleveland with president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who previously served as the Cavaliers general manager. Gansey and Wade bonded early over their shared rivalries from the Big 12 (Gansey went to West Virginia, Wade Kansas State) and the undrafted Wade steadily carved out a role for himself with the Cavaliers with his commitment to defense.

    He credited two coaches of his there, Josh Broghamer and Chris Darnell, with instilling the value of defense in him — not just how defense could affect a team, but how he could help him find a role in the NBA. So he got in the weight room and kept developing his lateral quickness so he could stay in front of his man.

    “They were like, ‘The one thing that’s going to keep you on the floor is defense,’” Wade said. “‘You’re big. You move lateral, you’re quick enough that you can stay in front of people.’ And I think they’re like, ‘If you want to play, you want to stick in the NBA, you got to do that. You know, every team has scores, people that can create. You got to be different.’”

    The star-studded Sixers take their first steps, starting with a ‘vision’ presentation from Nick Nurse

    Wade, who averaged 5.8 points last season, said one of his goals this season on offense was to make sure he gave his teammates space to create and do their thing. He wouldn’t be hunting for his own shot. Maxey said he was going to encourage Wade to shoot more.

    “He’s also somebody who knows how to play a role, and he knows how to star in his role, too. He doesn’t deviate,” Maxey said. “[I’ll] be on him this year about shooting the ball. I want him to shoot a lot of threes. He can shoot the ball.”

    Dean Wade (45) during Sixers media day on Monday.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    When told what Maxey said, Wade flashed a smile, as if he has heard 1,000 times in his career that he has the green light to shoot the ball more.

    “They pay me to shoot the ball when I’m open and play defense, so I have to do that,” Wade said. “Coach [Nick Nurse] has been on me a few times already, so it’s something that I’ve been told before. It’s not like I hate it; it’s better to shoot than stop shooting, but it will come along when you get into the flow of games and getting repetition, and time with each other.”

    Among his initial impressions so far at camp, Wade said both Jaylen Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope think the game similarly to him, and he has also been impressed with the maturity of VJ Edgecombe, even though the second-year guard is only 21 years old.

    “I love the way he plays. I really do,” Wade said. “So anytime I get out there on his team, like I love it because man, he’s flying around in transition, making the right cuts. He’s sacrificing shots for people, and … he plays the right way.”

    Dealing with ‘noise’ part of Sixers season, even that from LeBron James’ helicopter

    Which sounds a lot like the way Wade plays.

    “I’ve been in the gym quite a bit with everyone,” Wade said. “The biggest thing coming in is being yourself. Especially, in training camp, just come out, be who you’re going to be all season and let everyone learn what you do.”

  • The star-studded Sixers take their first steps, starting with a ‘vision’ presentation from Nick Nurse

    The star-studded Sixers take their first steps, starting with a ‘vision’ presentation from Nick Nurse

    Nick Nurse began the 76ers’ 2026 training camp the same way he always has: With a 30-minute presentation of his “vision” for the season before players and coaches hit the practice floor.

    It is safe to assume Nurse sees immense potential in the group that, after adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown during a stunning offseason, finally assembled in an official capacity Tuesday. Now they have begun their initial steps to put together this star-studded puzzle, including a practice Nurse described as competitive and defense-focused.

    “From start to finish, the intensity never dropped,” standout second-year guard VJ Edgecombe added.

    For now, outsiders must take the Sixers’ words for it. The massive media contingent was permitted to enter the gym only at the end of the practice and, by then, Edgecombe and newcomer Anfernee Simons were the only notable players still on the court going through individual shooting work.

    Dealing with ‘noise’ part of Sixers season, even that from LeBron James’ helicopter

    James emphasized during Monday’s media day that the revamped Sixers cannot expect to make “instant oatmeal,” that it takes “uncomfortable” repetition and “collective sacrifice” to turn on-paper talent into on-court contention. When James has changed teams during his historic 24-year career, they have traditionally gotten off to mediocre-to-shaky starts while figuring out roles and rhythm in real time. The goal, of course, is for the Sixers to be peaking in mid-April, not late September, as part of a suddenly deep Eastern Conference headlined by the defending champion New York Knicks.

    Yet weeks before arriving in Camden, James and several other players attempted to begin building their foundation as Sixers.

    Edgecombe boasted Monday about creating a get-to-know-you group chat when the Sixers traded for Brown — but had to ask All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey to add James once he signed later that month. Though Maxey has consistently spent summers working out with James, a fellow Klutch agency client, this year they could experiment with two-man actions to run as teammates and drill nuances such as angles and the timing of cuts. Brown joined for some sessions that circulated on social media. Maxey also linked with Edgecombe and Simons for on-court work.

    “That’s pretty dope in the summertime,” Maxey said. “That’s not common. … [We] tried to build that camaraderie early, and I think it’ll help us in the long run.”

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe talks with members of the media after practice.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    The excitement from outsiders for training camp’s start also permeated the Sixers’ staff conversations leading up to Tuesday, Nurse acknowledged. The team chose not to go off-site for this week’s practices, with the coach half-joking that they are “still trying to recover” from last year’s preseason trip to Abu Dhabi.

    Tactically, Nurse focused Tuesday on defensive fundamentals such as quickly setting up in transition and ending possessions by blocking out for a rebound. Those principles feed into his philosophy to win the possession battle by forcing turnovers and crashing the glass, and would be a welcomed complement to the Sixers’ offensive firepower.

    And throughout Tuesday’s session, Nurse said, players’ “individual qualities [got to] shine at different moments.”

    Former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid was a full participant, which Nurse called “very, very good news” compared to how his health has entered previous training camps. James was a vocal “example-setter,” the coach added, while Brown looked like the All-NBA wing the Sixers recently competed against in the playoffs’ first round. Edgecombe said he did not move as timidly as in his first training camp last year.

    “I want these guys to be who they are,” Nurse said. “I want them to not have rigid roles.”

    LeBron James is here because of Tyrese Maxey. That says something about both of them.

    Perhaps nothing will be more valuable than the repetitions of the coming days and weeks, allowing players to organically learn teammates’ tendencies. Nurse is sure to tinker with various lineup combinations, acknowledging again Tuesday that the aging (and injury-conscious) James and Embiid will miss games throughout the season. On-the-floor communication and collaboration, between teammates and coaches, will lead into post-practice film study.

    Those are all components of the initial steps for this star-studded roster with soaring outside expectations and attention. And with Tuesday’s much-anticipated “vision” presentation and first practice complete, Nurse stressed the need “to get up tomorrow, like 98% as excited as we did today.”

    “It’s going to be hard to get as excited as we all were today, right?” Nurse said. “But we need to come back, and we need to keep climbing that mountain. That’s a daily process.”

  • LeBron James stays cagey and lauding Tyrese Maxey’s work on the phones: Five takeaways from Sixers media day

    LeBron James stays cagey and lauding Tyrese Maxey’s work on the phones: Five takeaways from Sixers media day

    The long wait to see LeBron James in a Sixers jersey ended. Joel Embiid got back to his Troll Embiid roots. And Tyrese Maxey’s role in the Sixers’ offseason became even more amplified.

    Here are five takeaways from Monday’s media day.

    LeBron doesn’t commit to a ‘final decision’

    James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option to join the Sixers in July. And when he described his move to the Sixers in his initial announcement, James called it his “final decision.” But when asked if this would indeed be his final contract, James said: “We’ll see what happens.”

    James acknowledged that he’s entering his 24th season and said he needs to give himself grace.

    LeBron James is focused on 'living in the moment' with the Sixers
    Video: LeBron James is focused on ‘living in the moment’ with the Sixers

    “Honestly, I’m just looking at it, every single day, on how I can be the best version of myself for this franchise while I’m here,” he said. “I don’t want to speak into the future right now. I would be doing a disservice to myself on just living in the moment, especially knowing that I am where I am in my career.”

    LeBron James’ goal in Philly is clear: ‘I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round’

    Embiid is still trolling

    Embiid followed James on media day, and their handling of the dais couldn’t have been more different. James’ first public address was fairly serious, with the discussion centering on his legacy, his deep relationship with Maxey, and where he sees himself in the future.

    Embiid was similarly asked serious questions. He handled them differently. At one point, he paused before flashing a smile and blurted, “I’m trying to figure out if I want to troll or not.”

    When he wasn’t having a little fun and pretending that he didn’t help recruit James, Embiid was honest about his health and how refreshing it was to finally have a surgery-free offseason.

    LeBron James on how much Tyrese Maxey played a factor in his decision to choose Philly
    Video: LeBron James on how much Tyrese Maxey played a factor in his decision to choose Philly

    Maxey’s role in landing LeBron can’t be overstated

    Maxey’s recruitment of James started years ago.

    Maxey spent time in the gym with James before his rookie season and admitted that he shot a text to James a few years ago even though it was clear the future NBA Hall of Famer was set to return to the Lakers in free agency. Maxey joked that he knew it was a long shot but still asked James if he was interested in “coming back to the Northeast.”

    Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey receive information from the photographer during media day.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    Those moments paid off this summer. When the Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown and James made it clear he wouldn’t return to Los Angeles, things became more serious. Those conversations took a different shape and happened more often, according to James, who said he didn’t have just one conversation about Philly with Maxey.

    James was clear that his relationship with Maxey played a pivotal role in his decision to join the Sixers. So did the presence of Brown and conversations with Joel Embiid, a former Team USA teammate of James who joked at media day that they didn’t speak this summer.

    Yes, the Iverson-era black Sixers jerseys are back. Here’s what else LeBron James and Co. will be wearing.

    “Our relationship, when I broke a lot of the teams and franchises down I could possibly play for, he was one of the main deciding factors.”

    Maxey’s role in adding James was lauded all summer. Yet he was still surprised it happened.

    LeBron James on Philly sports fans: 'They know ball'
    Video: LeBron James on Philly sports fans: ‘They know ball’

    “I see him in the summertime every year,” Maxey said, “but to see him here in Camden, New Jersey, in the facility with a Sixers jersey on, it’s a cool experience.”

    After hearing James speak, Maxey’s part in making that happen can’t be overstated.

    Sixers stressing camaraderie

    The Sixers are bringing together a lot of new players, with James, Brown, Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all joining the franchise this summer. Unsurprisingly, it was common for players to mention off-court camaraderie and the importance of team building.

    James, Brown and KCP, who have all won NBA titles, spoke about the issue at length. And while Maxey hasn’t won the big one yet, he played a particularly outsized role in gathering teammates even before the season started. He recruited James, worked out with Simons in Texas, spent time with VJ Edgecombe, among other activities this summer.

    Jaylen Brown adjusting in ‘phases’ to his new home with the Sixers

    VJ won’t be asked to ‘sacrifice’

    The Sixers have referred to their starting lineup as the Big Five, yet the common refrain has been that second-year star Edgecombe will need to sacrifice.

    Several Sixers players dispelled that notion on Monday, starting with James. He asked why Edgecombe would need to sacrifice and recognized that the word can carry a negative connotation.

    VJ Edgecombe during a photo shoot at Sixers media day at the Penn Medicine Training Complex in Camden on Monday.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    Maxey said similarly that the Sixers might need different things from Edgecombe on different nights, but admitted that will apply to several players.

    “I’ve been hearing that things are going to change for him,” James said. “I don’t understand why things would change for him … I don’t think his role should change.

    “With the group of guys we have, no one mentioned that everyone’s role will probably be different. And that’s for the greater good, if we want to accomplish something that’s really, really important. If we say that we want to do something special, there will be a collective sacrifice.”

  • Which member of the Sixers’ Big 5 will have to sacrifice most?

    Which member of the Sixers’ Big 5 will have to sacrifice most?

    The 76ers are entering the 2026-27 season with an embarrassment of riches. LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe have formed a group that president of basketball Mike Gansey dubbed the “Big Five.”

    They’ve said and done the right things this summer, from team workouts during the offseason to discussing their willingness to give for the greater good.

    During a recent interview, Maxey was asked about Edgecombe potentially needing to sacrifice in his second season. Maxey rejected the idea and said every player on the team will need to take a step back. But that made The Inquirer wonder: Who will sacrifice the most this season?

    With that in mind, our Sixers team offers insight on who will need to embrace the most change in order for this star-studded roster to succeed.

    Chris Hine, Sixers beat writer: Joel Embiid

    Never in his NBA career has Embiid had a usage rate below 32.9%, the statistic that calculates how often a team’s possessions end with the player generating a shot attempt, committing a turnover, or going to the free-throw line. Everyone else in the Sixers’ starting lineup has had fluctuations in their usage throughout their careers, while Edgecombe posted a usage rate of 20.1% as a rookie. Brown won a championship in 2024 alongside a higher-usage player in Jayson Tatum, while James had a career low in usage last season while ceding possessions to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves with the Lakers.

    In other words, Embiid hasn’t often had to play in the NBA while not being the focal point of the offense or having the ball in his hands a lot. That likely will have to change this season. The seven-time All-Star center will have to make adjustments on how to impact the game more offensively while taking fewer shots and using the gravity he draws to generate good looks for his teammates.

    Joel Embiid and LeBron James first played together as teammates in the 2024 Olympics. AFP via Getty Images

    If his 2024 Olympics performance alongside James is any indication, though, Embiid has shown he is willing to do that in the name of winning. Perhaps a lower usage rate in games also equates to less wear and tear on his body over the course of the season and will allow him a better chance of being in peak form come playoff time.

    One of the luxuries for this Sixers team is that anyone in the starting lineup is capable of carrying the team at any given moment, on any given night. There will still be nights on which Embiid does that, but perhaps not as much as he has had to throughout his career.

    DeAntae Prince, Sixers editor: Tyrese Maxey

    Maxey was selected with the No. 21 pick in the 2020 NBA draft as a backup point guard to provide support for Ben Simmons and Shake Milton. During the subsequent regular season, he also played fewer minutes than Seth Curry and Furkan Korkmaz.

    Let that sink in.

    Of course, he did provide a few flashes that postseason and had a breakout of sorts in his second season, but the expectation still wasn’t for Maxey to become an All-NBA-caliber player. That changed in his fourth season, when he averaged 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds and was named an All-Star (alongside Embiid) and Most Improved Player.

    No matter his role, VJ Edgecombe can’t wait to play with his new Sixers teammates

    Since then, Maxey has become the franchise, making good on the nickname Embiid gave him early in his career. Now an All-NBA player and two-time All-Star, Maxey served as his team’s unquestioned leader for the past two seasons as Embiid and Paul George struggled to stay on the court. This offseason brought about more change with the additions of James and Brown, and no player on the roster will experience a bigger change to their existence than Maxey.

    What does all that mean for him? He will be asked to share more than ever since becoming a star with the Sixers. He will share the ball, leadership responsibilities, and accolades. He will be point guard for a new “Big Five″ in Philly after finishing fifth in NBA scoring at 28.3 points and maintaining a 28.6% usage rate, which sat among the top 30 players in the league last season. Brown, at 35.1%, was third behind Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo. James wasn’t far behind Maxey at 27%.

    Add that Brown, a former Eastern Conference and NBA Finals MVP, was tasked with helping lead the Sixers by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment president of sports Bob Myers and that James, one of the best players in NBA history, has been lauded for his ability to lead since he was a teenager. It will be Maxey’s job to keep Brown, James, and Embiid happy and continue to nurture the development of Edgecombe. Still, after getting the keys to the franchise, Maxey will need to hand a piece of it back.

  • No matter his role, VJ Edgecombe can’t wait to play with his new Sixers teammates

    No matter his role, VJ Edgecombe can’t wait to play with his new Sixers teammates

    VJ Edgecombe weaved his way around the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center, interacted with the kids at his ProCamp, and stopped to say hello or grab a quick selfie with almost all those in attendance at his event on Saturday.

    A smile hardly left his face as he dunked on campers and participated in some knockout and dribbling drills. That upbeat personality and love for the game are what fans hope burn in the young 76ers guard for a long time.

    One of the concerns with the addition of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in this momentous offseason is how those moves may affect the trajectory of Edgecombe, who at 21, will be entering his second season but could see a significant shift in his role. To hear Edgecombe talk at the camp, that’s not really a worry for him. Any chatter that his development may stall or he might grow unhappy with a reduced role is just talk.

    “I mean, it don’t matter what happens, there’s always going to be someone that has something to say,” Edgecombe said. “But I just want to win. I’m going to still be aggressive, still be myself. If that comes with less shots or more shots, who knows. I don’t know how the course of the game is going to go. I’m just excited to play alongside my teammates. I think we have a chance to do something really special.”

    Sixers hiring assistant coach Phil Handy, a veteran with deep ties to LeBron James

    Edgecombe averaged 16 points on 13.7 shot attempts last season. In the wake of James signing with the team, Edgecombe told ESPN he was just focusing on getting up as many shots as he could this summer, since there were going to be opportunities for open jumpers with the talent around him. He said he has to make defenses respect him (he shot 35.4% from three-point range) to help the offense function and make life easier for his new teammates.

    “It’s fine if they don’t respect me, I’ll just get a bunch of open shots,” Edgecombe said. “I’m just working. That’s the main thing for me. That comes with work. Whatever I want I got to work for it. I’m willing to do that.”

    After James signed, Edgecombe posted himself recreating one of James’ iconic memes, the one with the caption: “Smiling through it all, can’t believe this is my life.”

    That’s because Edgecombe was about to become teammates with his “favorite” player, one who will be twice his age once James turns 42 in December. The first time James FaceTimed with him, Edgecombe said he was starstruck. That feeling hasn’t gone away as the summer has progressed.

    “It’ll probably go away once we’re together in the locker room or something,” Edgecombe said.

    “But I mean, our relationship [has] been growing. We talk. I always ask him questions, just trying to learn a lot.”

    He admitted he’ll have to rein in how often he picks James’ brain.

    “[I’ll] have a bunch of questions, so I’m going to have to control myself when it comes to asking questions,” Edgecombe said. “I’m totally excited. It’s such a blessing. I’m going into Year 2, playing alongside my favorite player ever.”

    There’s still a lot to figure out for Edgecombe and the rest of the new-look Sixers, but it has been a summer filled with good vibes, from various combinations of the team posting workout videos to initiating their group chat and getting to know each other better via text.

    There will be an adjustment period for Edgecombe and his game, but it’s also an rare opportunity for a player at this stage in his career.

    “That’s the main thing for me — just learning, getting to know them,” Edgecombe said. “They’re all great persons. Down to earth, [they’re] not acting super big-time like they are, but they’re really a bunch of humble men. I’m just glad to be around them.”