LeBron James and the Sixers: three scenarios for his first year in Philly
LeBron James returns to the Eastern Conference after eight years. ClutchPoints imagines three possible scenarios for his first season with the Philadelphia 76ers
The extremely long and highly talked-about LeBron James free agency has officially come to an end with a signing that shook the foundations of the NBA, as James landed with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract.
Approaching his 42nd birthday (which he will celebrate in December), James is returning to the Eastern Conference after eight years away. He made his move back just as the top teams in the conference strengthened themselves in pursuit of the top spot.
The Knicks will defend their title with the same core led by Jalen Brunson, the Cavaliers have improved their supporting cast, while the Heat and Celtics were among the biggest players in the market with the additions of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade.
In Philadelphia (where, according to rumors, he will record a “The Last Dance” of his own), LeBron will find a situation similar to the one he had in L.A., where he had handed over the spotlight to Luka Doncic. On the other side of the country, the Slovenian will be an opponent, while James will be surrounded by one of the most complete cores in the league: Maxey, Brown, Edgecombe and Embiid.
ClutchPoints analyzed three possible scenarios for the upcoming season of the four-time NBA champion.
LeBron averaging double-digit assists
In a lineup featuring elite self-sufficient creators off the dribble like Embiid, Brown and the young talent V.J. Edgecombe, James will embrace the role of “connector” and tactical playmaker. Rather than hunting for his own shots, he will use his legendary court vision to operate as a true point guard: feeding Embiid inside, creating transition opportunities for Brown and executing deadly dribble handoffs for Maxey. Just like during the Lakers’ 2019-20 championship season, LeBron will once again average more than 10 assists per game.
Fewer than 20 points per game, but with 70+ appearances
With a trio of stars like Embiid, Maxey and Brown capable of combining for more than 83 points per night, LeBron’s scoring workload will inevitably drop to historic lows, falling below 20 points per game for the first time since his rookie season. However, this sacrifice in the box score will allow him to preserve his energy: by managing his physical workload in the best possible way, James will surpass 70 games played in the regular season, his highest total in recent years.
76ers reach the NBA Finals
Aware of the incredible number of superteams in the Western Conference (with the Thunder and Spurs leading the way), LeBron identified the East as the best path to return to the top of the NBA world. Even in a conference full of challenges (from Haliburton’s return to Toronto and Miami’s roster moves), James’ experience and the Sixers’ complete roster will prove decisive in the playoffs, carrying Philadelphia all the way to the NBA Finals.