Dream Team: This Is What Philadelphia Will Look Like in the LeBron James Version
The Sixers have become one of the strongest teams in the NBA overnight. LeBron is expected to start alongside Brown, Maxey, and Embiid — will this be enough for the King's fifth championship?
The surprising signing of LeBron James not only shook the NBA, but also turned Philadelphia into one of the top contenders for the championship. After a summer in which they also added Jaylen Brown, the Sixers' roster suddenly presents one of the dream lineups in the best league in the world.
According to estimates in the United States, this is how Philadelphia's starting five is expected to look in the 2026/27 season: Tyrese Maxey at point guard, V.J. Edgecombe as shooting guard, Jaylen Brown at small forward, LeBron James as power forward, and Joel Embiid as center.
Even before LeBron arrived, Philadelphia planned to start Dean Wade at the number 4 position, but now, as expected, he is likely to move to the bench and provide the team with significantly more depth. This change is supposed to solve one of the Sixers' weaknesses, as they suffered from a lack of backup frontcourt players.
LeBron, who even at age 41 continues to be one of the most complete players in the league, is no longer considered as consistent a three-point shooter as he once was, but he is still capable of contributing in almost every area on the court. His ability to manage the game, pass, grab rebounds, and generate points in a variety of ways is expected to integrate well alongside the stars already on the team.
One of the biggest advantages for Philadelphia is that LeBron will not have to carry the team on his shoulders. Unlike various periods in his career, he is joining a roster where Embiid, when healthy, is the first offensive option, Maxey is one of the most dynamic guards in the league, and Brown arrives after a summer in which he was defined as the club's major acquisition.
However, Philadelphia is aware that Embiid is not expected to play in every game of the regular season. In cases where the center rests or is absent, LeBron is expected to take on a more significant role in the frontcourt, while Dean Wade or Adem Bona will enter the starting lineup, depending on the matchup.
In the backcourt, the Sixers also look particularly deep. Alongside Maxey and Edgecombe are Anfernee Simons and Lavron Philon, so LeBron is expected to integrate mainly into the frontcourt and provide the balance between inside and outside play.
Philadelphia's backcourt looked deep and dangerous even before LeBron's arrival, but now it is hard not to see them as top contenders for the title. It is not for nothing that Philadelphia's chances of winning the upcoming championship jumped to 12.3% on Polymarket, and it is now ranked third after Oklahoma City and San Antonio. Beyond the clear upgrade he gives the Sixers, James also strengthens the frontcourt and helps create balance against the team's high-quality guard roster.
Despite his age, LeBron still posted impressive numbers last season: 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals on average in 60 games, alongside 51.5% from the field. This ability earned him an All-Star selection for the 22nd consecutive time.
If all the stars remain healthy, Philadelphia presents for the first time in years a roster that looks capable of going head-to-head with any opponent in the East. With Embiid, LeBron, Brown, and Maxey in the same starting five, quite a few commentators in the United States have already defined the Sixers as a "dream team" and one of the biggest attractions of the upcoming NBA season.
