CAMDEN, N.J. — The gloomy, gray backdrop of the East coast skyline, juxtaposed with the newest arrival from the West coast, painted a poignant picture a few miles away from Philadelphia as the 76ers officially opened for business. Rain clouds hovered ominously around the facility, but, inside, the words emanating from LeBron James offered the security needed in stormy weather. 

“Everybody’s on the same page with the direction the organization, players, coaches and staff wants to be in,” James said to reporters at media day on Monday, two months after shocking the NBA world by signing with the 76ers in free agency. “We all want to put the work in, that’s most important. We’re speaking the same language. That’s exciting to be a part of.”

Advertisement

There was a refreshing sense of authenticity and understanding from James as he outlined the reasoning behind his decision to take his talents to Philly. The pieces already in place — Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown — were a natural attraction but, at 41, after nearly a quarter century in the NBA, the opportunity to win (again) at a high level proved to be the tipping point. 

But joining a new team with title aspirations comes with its side effects. LeBron is a gravitational force of his own, a draw unlike anything seen before in basketball for this current generation. His larger-than-life presence can diminish that of others or make for uncomfortable situations, something James not so subtly alluded to — which likely played a part in his decision to depart from the Los Angeles Lakers. But in discussions that ultimately led him to Philadelphia, James spoke in depth with Maxey about the other aspects that come with him and whether that could deter or detract from the rapid trajectory he was on. None of that seems to be an issue. 

“I hope I have a similar mindset as him,” Maxey said. “I believe in the work, he believes in the work. … Him being here is really cool. He’s going to uplift the entire team. I’m focused on basketball, my job — the rest, I’m not really worried about. It doesn’t bother me.”

Advertisement

Having been to the Finals 10 times in his career (and amassed four Larry O’Briens), LeBron’s obsession with winning another championship only makes this new partnership that much more interesting. The 76ers have notoriously tried — and failed — on numerous occasions to build contention-worthy groups, only to see them stumble for various reasons. Jimmy Butler. James Harden. Paul George. It’s somewhat unfair to compare them to James’ accomplishments and mileage, but the same goal of playing deep into May and June exists. 

“I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round,” James said sternly. 

The process, no pun intended, on making the 76ers work won’t come overnight, however. There will be growing pains. Outside of spot workouts here and there, this new-look group will take the floor for the very first time once training camp opens. Head coach Nick Nurse will be tasked with finding pairings that work, how to effectively share the ball between historically high-usage players and creating the trickle-down system that is suitable for all parties. 

Advertisement

Still, there are areas where James’ insertion will be felt almost instantly. Being swept in the second round at the hands of the eventual champion New York Knicks exposed the chasm that exists between the 76ers and true contenders, a difference made in part by a lack of mental advantage that the postseason beckons. If you subscribe to the notion that LeBron probably possesses the highest IQ of any player today, his in-game thought processes and how he sees the floor should be received with open arms.

“Just his approach,” new (and former) teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said. “When he shows up in the gym, he means business. He’s gonna be locked in as far as whatever goals we’ve set as a team. He won’t let anyone deter from that lane we’re trying to keep everybody in. That’s gonna be the biggest thing when we start.”

The 76ers finished just 17th in points per possession and 23rd in half-court offensive efficiency last season, disappointing marks with that roster. With any system, there’s a certain blend of talent, spacing and on-court IQ that generates shots. LeBron has historically been a positive in this aspect and his gravity — along with additions in Dean Wade (37.2% on catch-and-shoot 3s)  and Anfernee Simons (45%) should assist in Philadelphia improving on their bottom-third ranks in made and attempted outside looks. 

I’m somewhat concerned about how smoothly Brown’s spacing pairs with James, given the former’s inconsistency in off-ball scenarios — he shot less than 34% on catch-and-shoot opportunities last season — but given his all-around elite skill set, the 76ers don’t necessarily need Brown to be a bonafide spotter. Ditto with Embiid, who hovers around 35%.

Advertisement

Reconfiguring the 76ers’ playmaking structure shouldn’t be that arduous of a task, either. Maxey once again stressed the desire to play more off the ball, which aligns well with how much LeBron likes the ball in his hands. James has a funny history with bad pass turnovers, a byproduct of having the ball in your hands that much, but Nurse will need to find the sweet spot between not overloading him with responsibility and keeping the other four players on the floor engaged playmaking-wise. Both Brown and Embiid are in the 93rd or better percentile in assist rate relative to their position, which should give Nurse optionality and creativity in his schematics. 

(The reason why so much onus will be put on the offensive end is because I expect slippage defensively. The 76ers finished as a slightly below average defensive unit and their summer additions, while tantalizing, don’t scream defensive help. James will aid in their transitional stop rate, simply due to his smarts and physicality, but between Maxey, Brown and Embiid’s unfortunate luck with injuries, the 76ers might be worn thin.)

Will this be enough to move this team into the upper echelon of title challengers? The overarching umbrella of how much LeBron has left in the tank will be the underlying theme for Philly this season. We’re still talking about a player who grades out as a top-50ish talent, even at 41.

The financial commitment isn’t substantial, the new depth makes it possible to lightly load manage him (along with Embiid) to keep them in shape for the postseason and Nurse can stagger between Maxey and Brown in the meantime. Nobody who watched James dismantle Houston in the playoffs a few months ago (and kept the Lakers in games vs. Oklahoma City) questioned whether or not the future Hall of Famer still has enough in his legs to go another marathon. But this next race, possibly his last, will be the most intriguing and challenging.