Before Tuesday night, I thought the Philadelphia 76ers were a basketball experiment waiting to go wrong. LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey are an absurd collection of talent, but talent alone doesn’t win championships. Sometimes it creates a team with four stars, three basketballs’ worth of offensive ambitions, and absolutely no idea who should take the final shot.
Then the Sixers went into Madison Square Garden and beat the defending champion New York Knicks 106-100.
It was one game. Nobody should be handing Philadelphia a championship parade permit in October. But the opening-night performance showed something that wasn’t necessarily obvious on paper: these guys might actually understand how to play together.
LeBron Doesn’t Have to Be LeBron Every Possession
My biggest concern with adding James was that Philadelphia already had players who needed the ball. Maxey is at his best attacking defenses, Brown needs opportunities to create offense, and Embiid operates primarily in the half-court. Adding another ball-dominant star seemed like a recipe for diminishing returns.
Instead, James looked comfortable facilitating without dominating every possession. He finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, allowing Maxey and Brown to shoulder more of the scoring burden. His ability to organize the offense, make quick decisions, and capitalize on transition opportunities could be exactly what this roster needs.
Brown is another important piece. He’s not an elite perimeter shooter, but he’s an excellent two-way wing who can create his own shot and defend difficult assignments. His athleticism helps balance a lineup featuring an aging James and an Embiid whose mobility remains a concern.
Embiid wasn’t particularly efficient against New York, shooting 4-for-15, but he still finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. His defensive impact was arguably more important. If he stays healthy and remains effective on both ends, Philadelphia’s ceiling changes dramatically.
And Maxey? He’s the engine. His 28 points led everyone on opening night, and his ability to beat defenders, attack in transition, and force defenses into rotation is what makes the other stars more dangerous. As long as he remains aggressive, the offensive hierarchy can work.
Anfernee Simons Could Be the Missing Piece
Here’s where things get particularly interesting: Anfernee Simons might be the X-factor in Philadelphia’s entire season.
The Sixers don’t need another superstar demanding 20 shots every night. They need someone who can create offense when the stars sit, punish defenses for helping off the perimeter, and provide an immediate scoring spark when the offense goes cold.
Simons has the skill set to do exactly that. He scored 13 points in 25 minutes against New York, knocking down three three-pointers. If he can develop into a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate, Philadelphia could have one of the league’s most dangerous offensive rotations.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also provides valuable experience, perimeter defense, and shooting, even if his outside shot can fluctuate. Second-year standout VJ Edgecombe brings athleticism and defensive potential, while giving the team another player capable of attacking the basket.
Those contributions matter because championship contenders need more than four recognizable names. They need role players who understand when to shoot, when to defend, and when to let the stars work.
The Problem Hasn’t Disappeared
Of course, there are reasons to remain skeptical.
Philadelphia shot just 27.5% from three against New York, making 11 of 40 attempts. That is a worrying number for a team whose opponents will have every incentive to crowd the paint and challenge its perimeter shooting.
There are also legitimate questions about James sustaining his effectiveness at 41, Embiid’s availability, and whether the defense can consistently survive against elite guards. The Sixers defended well down the stretch against the Knicks, but one strong defensive performance doesn’t erase an entire season’s worth of potential matchup problems.
And then there’s the human element. What happens when Brown has a cold shooting night? What happens when Maxey wants to take over, Embiid wants the ball in his preferred spots, and James believes he sees a better option? The willingness to accept different roles matters a lot more when the team loses three straight than when it’s celebrating an opening-night win.
The Ceiling Is Higher Than I Expected
I went into the season believing Philadelphia’s roster was fundamentally flawed. After watching the opening-night win, I’m less convinced.
If James continues facilitating rather than monopolizing possessions, Brown embraces his two-way role, Maxey remains the primary offensive engine, and Embiid stays healthy, the Sixers have a legitimate chance to emerge from the Eastern Conference.
Simons might ultimately determine whether they become a contender or simply another talented team with an early-season sugar high.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are formidable obstacles, and Philadelphia still has plenty to prove. But the early returns suggest this roster might work better than the names alone would indicate.
The Sixers haven’t proven they’re a superteam yet. They’ve simply given us a reason to reconsider whether they’re a superproblem, and if Simons becomes the sixth-man weapon this roster needs, Philadelphia could be a lot more dangerous than I expected.
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