LeBron James hit the court with his new 76ers teammates against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, and even in just 18 minutes of preseason action, he dropped a stat line that showed exactly what this 2026-27 season is all about for Philly: unselfish playmaking.
The Big 5’s True Power Move
Everyone’s been hyped about the Philadelphia 76ers’ new Big 5, and yeah, they are offensively formidable. But seriously, people aren’t talking enough about how this season is gonna be a straight-up playmaking clinic for LeBron James. Why? Because of all the options he’s got around him on this roster.
Think about it: Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and V.J. Edgecombe. These guys can all score the rock, like, all of them. What’s even better? They thrive in off-ball situations. So when James has the ball and is ready to create, he knows for sure his teammates will be dialed in and ready to take the shot the second they get it. This isn’t just about talent; it’s about synergy.
Unselfishness on Full Display
That preseason game against the Nets was just a glimpse, a preview of what’s coming, but James already showed he’s locked in. Yeah, he only played 18 minutes, but he stuffed that stat sheet like it was Thanksgiving dinner: 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Those five assists? They scream “primary playmaker.” With options galore, his unselfishness is gonna be their biggest strength.
While the other guys are elite scorers, they aren’t exactly known as elite passers. And that’s totally fine, because James is here to pull all the strings on offense. He’s the maestro for this orchestra, and you gotta feel good about that kind of leadership.
What Robin Lopez Nailed About LeBron
Former NBA center Robin Lopez summed it up perfectly. He said, “We’re talking about a player who has an argument to be the greatest player of all time. He’s coming into this roster with other greats, and we saw his willingness to take that backseat last year in Los Angeles. This whole team will benefit from his unselfishness, but also his cerebral-ness.”
Lopez is totally on the money here. Most of the NBA world knows James will be an incredible playmaker and leader for this squad. Seriously, it’s gonna be a massive challenge for most teams to try and stop these 76ers. That’s gonna be a combo of their sheer talent and James conducting their offense at his absolute best.
With James orchestrating everything, the 76ers look set to perform as a serious contender. Keep an eye on how that unselfishness translates throughout the season, because it could be what truly elevates this already stacked roster.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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