Kevin Durant has high expectations for the new-look Philadelphia 76ers, and he believes LeBron James’ approach could be the key to making their star-studded roster work.
James stunned the NBA this offseason by leaving the Lakers and signing a two-year, $7.9 million deal with Philadelphia, joining a loaded group featuring Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe.
Despite all that talent, Durant believes James’ willingness to sacrifice his own numbers could turn Philadelphia into a “juggernaut.”
“He understands how to put a winning basketball team together,” Durant said.” He’s been in the league for 24 years; he should know how to understand how to do that,” Durant told his Boardroom co-founder Rich Kleiman. “I feel like for him to take a minimum says a lot about his mindset and how he’s going to come into the team.”
James has spent most of his career as the centerpiece of his teams, but that began to change during his final season in Los Angeles.
The four-time MVP occasionally operated as the Lakers’ third option alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, giving him experience adjusting his game around other high-level scorers.
That’s particularly important in Philadelphia, where touches will have to be shared between several players capable of carrying the offense.
“Everybody’s not going to average 25 points on this team,” Durant said. “But it’s going to be nights where you’re going to be the man; it’s going to be nights where you’ve got to be the second guy, but it’s going to be moving parts throughout the whole season. Everybody’s role is going to change, and I think LeBron understands that.”
Durant believes that understanding could allow James to become the “connector” Philadelphia needs rather than simply another superstar demanding the ball.
The Rockets star also believes the Sixers have enough basketball intelligence throughout the roster to “make it all work.”
With James, Embiid, Brown and Maxey now sharing the floor, there will inevitably be sacrifices.
But Durant believes James already understands exactly what that requires, and that’s a major reason he expects Philadelphia to be one of the NBA’s most dangerous teams.
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