Can the 76ers Make All This Star Power Work?
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the few teams with higher star power going into the 2026–27 NBA season.
Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, two successful veterans, have encircled Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia following an ambitious summer spearheaded by President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey.
More Talent, More Questions
James brings four titles and nearly 20 years of NBA experience to Philadelphia, while Brown is an NBA Finals MVP.
On paper, it’s hard to dismiss the possibilities. Brown gives Philadelphia another experienced two-way wing, James brings one of the best basketball brains in NBA history, Embiid remains the focal point in the middle, and Maxey offers speed and scoring in the backcourt.
However, establishing a championship squad is not the same as assembling stars.
Each of Philadelphia’s studs has played a major offensive role for most of his career, since there is only one basketball. If the Sixers want to reach their championship peak, finding a system that lets everyone flourish may have to take precedence over individual numbers.
Five Stars, One Basketball
Finding enough points shouldn’t be Philadelphia’s top priority. Maxey has grown from a youthful supplementary guard to one of the team’s faces, while Embiid has established himself as one of the NBA’s top scorers. Brown offers another player who can attack the basket, create his own shots, and score from various parts of the court.
VJ Edgecombe adds another dimension. Edgecombe has a chance to advance further in Year 2 after being one of the NBA’s most promising young players in his rookie campaign. Philadelphia now has another weapon thanks to his agility, ability to attack the basket, and developing offensive game. Still, the additions around him also raise concerns about how many touches he’ll get for further growth.
LeBron James comes next. James adds something especially significant to our roster: playmaking, despite being 41. In the 2025-26 season, he averaged 7.2 assists per game, giving Philadelphia another player who can run the offense and create opportunities for teammates.
That might be one key to bringing Philadelphia’s unique skill pool together. James’ facilitation could open doors for Maxey in transition, Brown and Edgecombe as cutters, and Embiid in the paint, rather than expecting each star to produce on their own. Creating an attack where all five players are still threatening without needing the ball on every possession will be Nick Nurse’s problem.
Sacrifice Will Be Necessary
Jaylen Brown already seems to know what’s needed. Brown stressed winning over individual stats while talking about his August transfer to Philadelphia and admitted that sacrifice will be required on a club with this much skill. That kind of thinking can be crucial.
In his last season in Boston, Brown averaged over 28 points per game, but Philadelphia might not need him to match those figures. This might apply to every player on the roster. James, Embiid, and Maxey might all have nights when a teammate gets more chances.
Accepting those adjustments without letting individual positions get in the way of the team’s overall goal will be difficult. In the end, chemistry can be just as important as skill for a team hoping to win a title.
LeBron James Could Be the Key to Making It Work
James can change Philadelphia’s offense without becoming the team’s top scorer. Instead, he can be most valuable when he makes life easy for those around him.
Philadelphia already has several guys who can score a lot of goals. James provides Nurse with a 6-foot-9 playmaker who can find teammates when defenses crumble, attack mismatches, and start the offense. In addition to giving Maxey more opportunities to attack without coordinating the entire offense, his presence might give Embiid another way to get the ball into beneficial positions.
When Embiid is sleeping, James can also provide Nurse an alternative. Instead of building all its offense around one lineup, Philadelphia can spread its players out throughout games. James’ ability to run a franchise on his own is no longer an issue. The more crucial question at this point in his career could be how well Philadelphia can make use of what he still does at a top level.
Nick Nurse’s Biggest Challenge
Nick Nurse’s Greatest Difficulty. Most coaches would gladly accept having too many excellent players, but Nurse still has tough choices to make. Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Brown, James, and Embiid may be in Philadelphia’s starting lineup, providing Nurse with an intriguing mix of playmaking, size, athleticism, and scoring.
There is more to the rotation than just those five. While younger players like Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona, and Justin Edwards may contend for significant playing time, Anfernee Simons provides Philadelphia with another seasoned scorer in the backcourt. Nurse will need to decide which five players make up Philadelphia’s best closing lineup, how often to stagger his stars, and which combinations work well together.
Edgecombe’s development is another factor to consider. His position shouldn’t vanish just because the team signed more seasoned players after he made a name for himself as a crucial component of Philadelphia’s future during his rookie campaign. This season, one of the nurse’s most crucial duties might be handling those conflicting priorities.
The Championship Ceiling Is There
Philadelphia has been looking for the ideal combo around Embiid for years. This lineup may be its most interesting opportunity to date.
Brown and James both have championship experience. Edgecombe is another future building piece, while Maxey provides Philadelphia a well-established young star. The Sixers’ chances of winning a title ultimately depend on Embiid.
However, NBA titles aren’t awarded based on roster names. Throughout the regular season, the Sixers must stay healthy, play reliable defense, and establish roles. Above all, as the games grow more significant, their stars will need to show they complement each other. Philadelphia is talented enough to compete with anyone. How far it can go will depend on how well that talent develops into a cohesive basketball squad.
Chemistry Could Define the Season
For years, many people wondered whether the Sixers had enough support around Embiid to contend for an NBA title. That question no longer matters.
Gansey has put together a team with talented veterans, up-and-coming young players, and reliable scoring options. Philadelphia hasn’t had as many options for lineup construction and attacking opponents as it does now.
Making all those parts function together is the difficult part. Philadelphia may have one of the most formidable teams in the NBA if Embiid, Maxey, Brown, and James are ready to make sacrifices when needed and Nurse strikes the right balance among them.
The Sixers have assembled the star power; now, they need to make it a championship team.
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