The Philadelphia 76ers showed a strong commitment to a championship push by making several significant roster moves, including the addition of LeBron James.
After Philadelphia spent the offseason aggressively pursuing star talent, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal believes that ambition leaves the team with no room for excuses and has revealed what he expects from the revamped Sixers.
Shaquille O’Neal Makes Bold 76ers Championship Claim after LeBron James Arrival
Philadelphia appeared to have plenty of questions heading into the offseason, with another year of durability concerns seemingly ahead and the hope that its stars could finally stay healthy.
That outlook changed after the 76ers added James and Jaylen Brown to a core that already includes Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The new 76ers have the potential to become one of the league’s most compelling teams.
There will certainly be challenges, and the path to a title won’t be easy with the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder also in the mix.
However, Philadelphia has moved beyond simply being part of the championship discussion and now sits near the very top. O’Neal gave the 76ers a straightforward assessment of what should be expected from the star-studded roster.
“Championship or bust,” O’Neal said on SportsCenter. “You got the great LeBron. You got great Embiid.”
Shaq on the new look Sixers:
“Championship or bust. You got the great LeBron. You got great Embiid. It was like 3, 4 years ago Charles and I would always say how he’s the best big man. Joker has surpassed him, will be honest, making a name for himself. My question to Joel: does… pic.twitter.com/HXlgSd0vU2
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) August 20, 2026
O’Neal’s most pointed comments were directed at Embiid, who was once regarded as the NBA’s best center, but his availability has also become a major concern, as he has appeared in just 57 games across the previous two regular seasons.
That total is even lower than the number of games James played during his age-41 campaign last season.
However, Embiid has continued to perform at an elite level when he is healthy, averaging 26.9 points per game during the 2025-26 regular season.
O’Neal now wants to see that version of Embiid return to the court consistently while doubling down on his expectations for the Sixers.
“It was like 3, 4 years ago, Charles [Barkley] and I would always say how he’s the best big man,” O’Neal said. “Joker has surpassed him, will be honest, making a name for himself. My question to Joel: Does he want it back? And if he does, please show me.”
“I know LeBron wants to get one last one. Jaylen is feeling slighted. Maxey is making a name for himself, definitely the team to watch. This team was put together to win a championship now… They have all the pieces they need.”
Even James reportedly had concerns about Embiid’s durability before ultimately choosing Philadelphia. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne previously reported that the 41-year-old has long admired Embiid’s talent and basketball IQ, but raised concerns on his ability to stay healthy throughout an entire championship run.
