The Philadelphia 76ers are absolutely making waves, with Law Murray from The Athletic dropping them at fourth in his latest power rankings. This isn’t some quiet blip, either. We’re talking about a team now trailing only the reigning champion New York Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Remember when LeBron James first signed? Murray had them fifth back then, also behind those three teams and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Clearly, something big shifted in the league’s perception, and it’s got everyone buzzing.
The LeBron Effect and All-Star Power
What’s the deal? Murray, for one, is already raising expectations for Philly, something he said he wouldn’t do last month. Why the flip? He says simply, they “have their team in place.” LeBron James is definitely the player the broadcast partners are hyping, but don’t sleep on Brown. This dude was an All-NBA selection last season, seriously! He was the 2024 NBA Finals MVP and he’s stepping into that George salary bracket. The big question for him is showing that defensive level he had when he snagged that MVP. LeBron himself? He’s expected to be the ultimate connector, making that offense just flow for everyone, especially Tyrese Maxey. It’s a direct upgrade, with James replacing Kelly Oubre Jr. Plus, the bench looks strong. Wade is in for Watford, Simons takes over from Grimes, Caldwell-Pope replaces Terry, and Philon is a straight-up upgrade for the recently retired Lowry. Talk about depth, right?
The Hurdles and High Hopes
But hold up, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The 76ers still have some real vulnerabilities. The biggest one? Joel Embiid. His availability, and how often he’s on the court, is a massive question mark that could derail everything. Head coach Nick Nurse has his work cut out for him, no doubt, with “some things to figure out.” But you can’t deny the talent level. Ricky O’Donnell from SB Nation is also bullish, putting them fifth in his rankings, behind the Thunder, Spurs, Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. He likes the T-Wolves’ playoff upside, even if he doesn’t see them as the fourth-best regular season squad. That’s a strong vote of confidence from a guy who’s a bit of a LaMelo Ball fan, seeing him as a borderline top-20 player when healthy. Of course, that “when healthy” qualifier applies to Embiid too. Even with the questions, this team has more talent than last season, and they were good enough to win a playoff series last spring. We saw Embiid, VJ Edgecombe, and Maxey celebrating after taking Game Seven against the Celtics on May 2, 2026. That’s a squad that knows how to win when it counts.
So, what does it all mean? The 76ers, even with Nurse figuring things out and Embiid’s health looming large, are loaded. They have a playoff series win under their belt from last spring, and they’ve undeniably stacked more talent on the roster. It’s early, but the expectations are sky-high, and if they can click, the rest of the league is going to be in for a wild ride. Keep an eye on Philly, because this new-look squad is out to prove they’re legit.
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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