LeBron James is back in the Eastern Conference after signing with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer. James joins an already star-studded quartet of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid to contend for the 2027 NBA championship. 76ers fans and one team executive are particularly excited to watch James and Embiid share the floor for the first time in Philadelphia.
Mike Gansey Breaks Down LeBron James and Joel Embiid’s On-Court Fit
The 76ers hired Mike Gansey as their new president of basketball operations on June 4, 2026. The New York Knicks swept the 76ers in the semifinals in the 2026 playoffs. Gansey knew he needed to upgrade the squad this summer, and he came through, acquiring Brown and James to pair with Embiid and Maxey.
ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi asked Gansey about James’ role on his new squad.
“LeBron’s a connector. That’s the one thing about him. He fits every role you possibly can. He’s gonna elevate everyone in the whole building. I know that much,” said Gansey confidently.
James possesses a unique, versatile skill set at 6 feet 9, 250 pounds. The 22-time All-Star can serve as the lead offensive orchestrator while still instilling fear in defenses with his downhill driving ability. James averages 7.4 assists for his career, and his playmaking will take a lot of pressure off Maxey, Brown, and Embiid.
These three stars can score at will, but James allows them to play off the ball more, so they do not see as many double teams.
Of course, the future Hall of Famer can still score when Philadelphia needs it. James averaged 20.9 points for the Los Angeles Lakers last season. This number might decrease because Maxey, Embiid, Brown, and James have all been high-usage, on-ball players in the past. However, there is only one ball, and this talented group must quickly mesh to reach their ultimate championship goal.
Gansey believes this gelling process will not be an issue for James and Embiid.
“When LeBron was maybe a possibility, I went back and watched some of the Olympic tape with [Embiid] and LeBron. Those two played pretty well together. We have so many different options. Any given night, anyone can be the guy. So I think once we get clicking and get gelling, it’s gonna be fun to watch,” commented Gansey.
Embiid and James helped Team USA take home the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. These players will form a dangerous pick-and-roll/pop duo in Philadelphia next season. Defenses will have to make a tough decision.
If they focus too much on James turning the corner, Embiid will hurt them with a 3-pointer from the top of the key or a strong finish off James’ pocket pass.
When the 76ers release their 2026-27 schedule, they will likely sit at or near the top of the league in nationally televised games for a reason. James, Embiid, Brown, and Maxey will be must-see TV.
