LeBron James is on the verge of his Father Time-defying 24th NBA season, preparing for a highly anticipated fresh start with the Philadelphia 76ers.
While James is no longer expected to dominate the Eastern Conference this time around, his former teammate, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, is still holding the four-time MVP to championship expectations from Day 1.
Shaquille O’Neal Explains Why LeBron James, 76ers Face Immense Pressure To Win 2027 NBA Title
James’ stunning decision to join Philadelphia on a bargain two-year, $8 million contract sent shockwaves across the NBA landscape, with some proclaiming the 76ers immediate favorites to win the East.
Coming off his record-extending 22nd All-Star selection, James remains one of the NBA’s most versatile players, capable of serving as a lead ball-handler and complementary scorer for a contender.
He is set to team up with a top-tier, albeit injury-prone, center in Joel Embiid, who is just three years removed from an MVP season, 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, and one of the league’s most electric guards in Tyrese Maxey.
However, according to O’Neal, James’ presence alone raises the stakes due to his legacy as arguably the greatest player ever. The Hall of Famer added that the 76ers’ demanding fan base won’t expect anything less than a title from “King James,” even in his age-42 campaign.
“It’s still championship or bust … you know why? Because he’s LeBron James, either one, two, or three in many people’s eyes,” O’Neal said on Monday’s episode of “The Stephen A. Smith Show.” “And guess what? Philadelphia fans don’t care about his age.”
Shaq says LeBron James is under pressure to win a ring this year with the Philadelphia sixers especially with jaylen brown and tyrse maxey . And the person who’s under the most pressure is Joel Embiid https://t.co/YdYzS2BCPq pic.twitter.com/Sv9tTQiW8z
— NBA Hoops (@Thechat101) July 27, 2026
O’Neal noted that “LeBron is not doing it by himself,” highlighting his star-studded supporting cast, including Embiid, whom he acknowledged he once considered the “best big man in the league.”
The 15-time All-Star then added that the rest of Philadelphia’s starting lineup also has “something to prove,” most notably Brown after being traded by the Boston Celtics fresh off a sixth-place finish in MVP voting.
Philadelphia’s last title came in 1983, and the franchise has yet to make a conference finals appearance since 2001, repeatedly coming up short in the Embiid era. Regardless, after delivering championships to the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers, it appears James may not be let off the hook if the 76ers come up short.
“If they can pull it together, if certain guys can make certain sacrifices during certain parts of the game, it’s gonna be ugly,” O’Neal concluded.
