The Philadelphia 76ers hit the court Thursday night for a preseason matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, giving us our first real look at their new Big 5 of LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe starting together. Yeah, it’s preseason, so we can’t get *too* hyped, but this was the closest thing to the real deal we’ve seen from this squad so far. It provided a key glimpse into how this offense might run, and believe me, it’s going to be a problem for the rest of the league.
The Big 5’s First Ride Together
This was it, the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The new Sixers’ Big 5, with LeBron, Embiid, Brown, Maxey, and Edgecombe, played together for the very first time. They were on the floor for two stints in the first half against the Nets, and you could immediately see the pace they want to play with, the offensive progression they’re aiming for, and their off-ball movements. What really jumped out? These guys want to get out in transition as often as possible. Imagine Edgecombe and Maxey’s speed combined with LeBron’s absolutely excellent passing and court awareness? It’s electric. Maxey and Edgecombe looked perfectly comfortable getting open off the ball, and LeBron was finding them for assists left and right. And here’s the kicker, folks: how many young teams, like the Nets, are going to have to resort to just straight-up fouling when they’re trying to stop Brown, Embiid, and LeBron driving under the rim? It’s going to be a long season for defenders.
LeBron’s Debut Sets the Tone
This game also marked LeBron James’ preseason debut for Philadelphia after he missed their opening contest. He didn’t just step in; he helped set the tone for what this team wants to be. It’s only preseason, sure, but you get a real feel for the potential here. Now, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. There’s definitely still a lot of work to do, especially on the defensive end, and they had some sloppiness, which is to be expected with a brand new Big 5 still trying to sync up. But despite those early growing pains, it’s clear these five are on the right track. The foundation is there, and it looks solid.
It’s exciting to see this kind of firepower on the court, even if it’s just a preview. What they showed against the Nets, even with the preseason jitters, points to a thrilling season ahead as they fine-tune this absolute beast of a lineup. Get ready!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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