RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. In the next NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers will debut a starting lineup featuring two former NBA MVPs in Joel Embiid and LeBron James and two former NBA Finals MVPs in James and Jaylen Brown.
That starting lineup features four All-Star players with Brown, James, Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey, playing alongside an emerging young guard in the 76ers' 2025 first-round pick, VJ Edgecombe.
On paper, they look like a formidable opponent, and many people are already discussing them as serious contenders for the NBA championship. How quickly some forget about the reigning champion New York Knicks, and runner-up team, the San Antonio Spurs.
Magic Johnson recently reacted to the 76ers adding Brown and James, saying that while it makes the team "one of the best teams in the NBA and the biggest threat" to the Knicks, there are some things he's still wondering about.
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"I have two big questions for Philly: one is on the defensive end, and two is their team chemistry. If they answer those two... watch out!" Johnson wrote in his X message .
He mentioned in his remarks that he was curious to see what 76ers head coach Nick Nurse "draws up" for the offense, mentioning that all four of the stars are "used to having the ball in their hands."
This was already Maxey and Embiid's team, with Edgecombe starting to emerge in Philly. Now, two new stars enter the team dynamic, so will it bring issues?
It's a good point, as Brown was effectively the Boston Celtics' leader last season as he helped the team remain serious contenders in the Eastern Conference amid Jayson Tatum's recovery and rehab. Tatum played less than a quarter of the season, and the team still achieved the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
A lot was made of Brown wanting to leave Boston for a situation where he could lead another team as its main star. That didn't happen when he was traded to the 76ers, where he is one of four stars in the starting lineup.
Earlier in his career, James was regularly the player the offense went through, but that wasn't the case in recent seasons with the Lakers, as he was more of a second or third option behind teammates Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. He seems to have very little issue with other roles and doesn't seem nearly as concerned with scoring as much as earlier in his career.
Chemistry is also a big deal, and one would think that the five guys in the starting lineup are professionals and working together for the common goal of a championship. However, when egos get bruised or wins aren't stacking up, conflicts have occurred between players on even some of the best teams in the league's history.
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