Traffic Jam: Can Philadelphia's Star-Studded Five Work?
With LeBron, Embiid, Brown, and Maxey, the Philadelphia 76ers have assembled an unprecedented roster of players who must have the ball in their hands. History shows it's possible, but requires sacrifice. Who will give up their ego?
Last season in the NBA, there were only 37 players who touched the ball at least 68.4 times per game. Almost 15% of them will play next season for the Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey touched the ball 95.3 times per game last season; his backcourt partner, VJ Edgecombe, did so 70.5 times; LeBron James — the team's newest addition — with 70.1 times; Joel Embiid — the center and face of the franchise for the last decade — touched the ball 69.4 times per game; and Jaylen Brown, who wanted a "team of his own," touched it 68.4 times in his last season in Boston.
Usage data — an index that examines what percentage of a team's possessions ends with a specific player (via field goal attempt, drawing a foul, or turnover) while he is on the court — also shows that four of the five starters for the Sixers in the upcoming season were ranked in the league's top 25. Brown, in a season where he did not play alongside Jayson Tatum, recorded a usage of 36.2% — second in the league after Luka Doncic. Maxey was at 29.4% (15th place), and LeBron at 27.2% (24th place, as the third player on a Lakers team that began to be built around Doncic and Austin Reaves). Embiid does not appear on the lists because he did not play enough, but in those where he did, he recorded 33.3% — one of the highest in the league.
All the players in Philly are smart enough to understand that they must change their style of play for this to work. It is also clear that LeBron and Maxey — who are represented by the same agent (Rich Paul) and have been training together for several years in the summer — can get along on the court. But how much can a team with so many players who must have the ball in their hands succeed? Historically, cooperation between two stars with high usage percentages (usage of more than 25%) on the same team can be tactically complex, but completely solvable when they are accompanied by sufficient spacing and defensive balance.
An examination reveals that in the last decade, there have been several particularly successful teams in such a format. Golden State, of course — whose architect, Bob Myers, is currently on Philadelphia's professional staff — is the best example of all. Steph Curry held a usage of 30%-31% in his seasons alongside Kevin Durant (28%-30%), but it should be noted that the two stars alongside them were complementary players by nature. Draymond Green functioned as an excellent defensive playmaker, and Klay Thompson was the greatest "catch and shoot" player in history and an elite defender. Curry and Durant were likely the most efficient duo in history with such high usage percentages. Curry's gravity without the ball and his willingness to sacrifice touches allowed Durant to operate in isolations without damaging the Warriors' fluid offensive style.
In 2024, the Celtics won the championship with Tatum (29.6%) and Brown (28.5%). It worked thanks to the fact that both wings took on a heavy offensive load, but were also tremendous on defense and surrounded by decision-makers who spaced the floor (Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis) and moved the ball well. Boston looked its best when the two took turns leading the offense, without stalling it. LeBron's Cleveland (31.4%) and Kyrie Irving (29.5%) also recorded historic seasons, including an unforgettable championship in 2016. This happened mainly because the skills of the two complemented each other in isolation situations in clutch moments; LeBron as the best point-forward in history, and Kyrie as a creator from all ranges. Kevin Love, on the other hand, was forced to cut his usage from 28%-30% in Minnesota to just 23% in Ohio.
By the way, LeBron was part of another successful duo in 2020, when he played alongside Anthony Davis (31.5% versus 29.3% for the center). The Lakers won the championship not least because LeBron functioned as a point guard in every sense (leading the league in assists), while Davis cooperated with him in the post and in the pick-and-roll. Both were surrounded by excellent defensive players who do not need the ball, such as Alex Caruso, Danny Green, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. It can be said that Denver in 2023, with Nikola Jokic (27.2%) and Jamal Murray (27.3%), also succeeded thanks to the uniqueness of the center and his telepathic cooperation with the Canadian point guard — with a supporting staff around them that understood its role exactly.
But here it must be said again: all these successes included only two players with a usage of 25% or more. The rest of the roster, including the starters, accepted a very defined role of defense, creating spacing, and movement on offense. In the Philadelphia of 2026/27, Edgecombe is perhaps the only starter who can function in this capacity — but he is very young. In addition, it must be taken into account that LeBron took the biggest pay cut in NBA history this summer (from 52.63 million dollars in his last season with the Lakers to just 3.88 million — a sacrifice of nearly 49 million dollars). With all his immense basketball IQ, it is hard to see him also sacrificing the touches of the ball he needs to control games, as he has always done. What is clear is that someone in the starting five will have to give up their time with the ball and lower their shot volume. Who will do it? Maxey, the rising star? Embiid, the face of the club? Brown, who left Boston precisely to be on a team "of his own"? Or LeBron, who has played with the ball in his hands throughout his life? The challenge for coach Nick Nurse this season will not only be tactical-professional, but also human.
