And while the 76ers certainly do not need any further moves, it may not stop President Mike Gansey from making one final pursuit. According to the latest intel, the pursuit could involve former 76ers star Ben Simmons, who has been out of action since the 2024-25 season. “Ben Simmons could be the protagonist of one of the most surprising comebacks of the summer in the NBA,” reported Sixers insider Diego Jimenez.

“The Philadelphia 76ers are considering adding the Australian with a one-year minimum salary contract to complete the last spot on their roster, an operation that just a few months ago would have seemed unthinkable. However, the arrival of LeBron James, the team’s lack of interior depth, and Simmons’ desire to return to the league have completely changed the scenario.”

Why this scenario might not happen

Everything would work in an ideal scenario, but one factor could prevent this from happening. ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel noted the impossibility of such a deal.

“The 76ers are only $1.8 million below their first apron hard cap. There’s been no talk of them getting rid of anyone on their current roster, and therefore, they can’t sign Simmons or someone else to a minimum,” explained Siegel on X.

Simmons had his best years in Philadelphia, which drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2016. In his four seasons with the Sixers, he became Rookie of the Year, a three-time All-Star, a one-time All-NBA selection, and a two-time All-Defensive Team member.

Simmons’ glory years

During the 2021 playoffs, when Simmons was at the heart of an ugly collapse, he forced his way out by ghosting the team and refusing to participate in any basketball activities. Eventually, a full season went by before he played again, and nobody ever thought he would return to Philadelphia.

In fact, there was serious doubt that Simmons would ever play in the NBA again. With averages of 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 43.4% shooting from the field in 2024-25, his game and production saw a sharp decline, and interest in his services has been minimal ever since.

However, his peak form should not be forgotten. Before his downfall, Simmons was easily one of the best young wing players in the league, boasting a stat line of 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game on 58.0% shooting from the field and 28% from three-point range.

In the end, Bam Adebayo still has nothing but love and respect for LeBron James as he takes his talents elsewhere. Speaking to reporters at his camp, Adebayo made it clear that everything is good between them.

“I’m cool with Bron,” Adebayo told reporters. “I consider Bron like a brother, honestly. We’ve been Olympic teammates, but even before that, we’ve always had down-to-earth conversations. I’m happy for him. You want what’s best for somebody. That’s really how you go from there.”

The Miami Heat were notably in the mix among several teams strongly pursuing LeBron James’ big-time unrestricted free agency this summer. Yet in the end, the team failed in its hunt as the four-time NBA MVP chose the Philadelphia 76ers for the next stop of his illustrious career.

James to compete against Heat in the East

James inked an astounding two-year, $8 million veteran’s minimum contract with the 76ers, giving himself the best possible chance to win his fifth ring by joining a stacked Philadelphia roster headlined by Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, and Jaylen Brown.

After James informed the Los Angeles Lakers he will not return this offseason, the Heat strongly fantasized about a potential reunion with the superstar, who led the franchise to back-to-back NBA titles through four consecutive NBA Finals appearances last decade.

Upon landing Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat strongly sought to reconnect with James behind the efforts of Pat Riley. But as things turned out, the team will find itself facing James as another key opponent from its conference rival 76ers, as anticipation cannot get any higher for the upcoming NBA season.

Adebayo and Giannis pursue dominance

Adebayo was also asked about his early conversations with Giannis Antetokounmpo. “We’re ready to get to work,” Adebayo said. “The goal is to win a championship. We have a like-minded focus. Those first conversations are really about winning.”

Antetokounmpo and Adebayo were both clearly excited at the prospect of teaming up with James, and the Heat had built their summer around that possibility. What the squad has instead is a Giannis-Adebayo frontcourt that, on paper, is the most physically dominant pairing in the Eastern Conference, alongside a roster with enough remaining flexibility to add veterans who fit.

Golden State still has a few roster spots available and could continue making smaller additions before the season begins. The Warriors could also look to add a new face, with Sports Illustrated’s Joey Akeley believing Dalen Terry could be an intriguing option.

“The 76ers just waived Terry to help make room for LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. That gives the Warriors an opportunity to take a flier on a 24-year-old wing with size (6’6″) and athleticism. If the Dubs want to fill out the roster with a more experienced wing than Lajae Jones, Terry is a decent option,” Akeley wrote.

The Warriors as an ideal landing spot

Terry is a young player seeking an opportunity, and Golden State could give him a chance to prove himself. He found himself on the outside looking in after Philadelphia needed roster space to add James and Caldwell-Pope.

Terry has earned $15 million throughout his young NBA career. The Warriors are simply looking to add depth, and taking a chance on a young player with something to prove could be the right move for Golden State.

A lack of major moves for Golden State

The Warriors have remained in their comfort zone, making no groundbreaking moves. Essentially, the franchise has opted to re-sign players already in its ranks with new contracts, bringing back Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and Charles Bassey.

Golden State Warriors‘ sole acquisition has been Yaxel Lendenborg, the No. 11 overall pick—making for an NBA offseason that has truly fallen short of expectations.

In Durant’s view, the 76ers as currently constructed are almost just as stacked as that Warriors team, and he will not make the mistake of underestimating their potential—with good reason, considering the starting five Philadelphia features.

“The last time they put three 20-point scorers on a team, they said it was unfair, which was the [Warriors] team I was on,” Durant told ESPN’s Ben Golliver. “[The 76ers] have got four 25-point scorers on this team. So, hell yeah, I think they’re going to be a contender. They’re going to be a fun team to watch. It’s going to be League Pass-worthy.”

Durant on LeBron’s situation

LeBron‘s free agency has been the biggest story of the summer, and he took special care not to let anyone know which way he was leaning. Only a select few people were involved in the process, and very few predicted he would end up in Philly.

“I didn’t know at all,” Durant said regarding the decision. “LeBron is stealth like that. I know there’s a lot of noise around him, but you never know what’s on his mind. I’m happy for him. It’s a great decision for him to go to a team that has a good chance to win. Philly is a great fan base, a great market, and it’s great for the league. There were so many eyes that were tuned into his decision.”

As far as their chances of success, there is a reason LeBron chose the Sixers out of all the other teams. With Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid, they have the most talented core in the NBA, and the King will only enhance their performance on the court. The key to making it work, among other factors, will be using LeBron in a playmaker role to set up teammates and simplify the offense.

This approach mirrors what Durant accomplished upon his arrival with the Warriors, joining a roster that featured Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala—all in their prime—alongside an unmatched depth chart in the NBA.

During an appearance on The Stephen A. Smith Show, Iverson declared Jordan as the GOAT over James, while acknowledging that fans ultimately determine their own personal consensus on who stands as the best player of all time in the NBA.

“The way I look at it, Michael is always going to be the GOAT to me … and LeBron to me, I feel like if you go in the dictionary and you look up ‘basketball player,’ you’ll see LeBron James,” Iverson said. “And the whole GOAT thing to me I think a lot of times it gets out of hand because I think a lot of times people will take away from only player and what they did, to boost up the other player.”

“That’s not what you do. I feel like a lot of times, people get caught up in the whole GOAT thing, but your GOAT is your GOAT. You have your opinion to name anyone your GOAT if you want to … you’re not wrong by saying anyone’s your GOAT. I had my fans say I’m the GOAT all the time. I don’t agree with them because I think it’s Mike.”

Allen Iverson’s explanation

A fascinating aspect of Iverson‘s response is acknowledging that his own fans have called him the GOAT. However, to him, the distinction belongs to Jordan, emphasizing that every fan holds their own answer for their own reasons. It remains a personalized distinction for every NBA supporter.

Another key point Iverson makes is that people often get caught up in the James versus Jordan debate, which ultimately serves as a subjective exercise—providing one of the more nuanced takes on the conversation.

Iverson’s reaction to LeBron joining Philadelphia

The recent arrival of James raised expectations across the board, particularly for Philadelphia fans like Iverson, who reacted enthusiastically while wishing the best for the NBA franchise.

The 76ers legend could not contain his excitement upon learning James signed with the team. “I LOVE LIFE!! GOD don’t play about me and mine,” Iverson wrote on Instagram.

A recent report from ESPN insider Shams Charania revealed that Nick Nurse could use The King at the point guard position, freeing up the small forward spot for another teammate.

Moving LeBron to this position would clearly alter the 76ers’ strategy heading into next season. Tyrese Maxey, a natural point guard, could shift to the shooting guard role, while the small forward position could easily be filled by Jaylen Brown.

The new Philadelphia that could be coming

Placing LeBron at the point would shift Tyrese Maxey to his more natural scoring role off the ball, leveraging his speed and shooting without the burden of constant playmaking.

As one of the greatest facilitators in NBA history, ranking 4th on the all-time assists list with over 12,000 career assists, LeBron possesses the elite vision needed to orchestrate the offense, drawing heavy defensive focus to open up high-value opportunities for Joel Embiid and perimeter shooters while efficiently controlling the pace of the game.

LeBron’s experience as a point guard

The last time LeBron James played full-time as a point guard was during the 2019–20 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the results were legendary. Head coach Frank Vogel put the offense entirely in his hands, and LeBron responded by leading the NBA in assists for the first time in his career with 10.2 per game, while adding 25.3 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Under his leadership at the point, the Lakers secured the top seed in the Western Conference and capped off the season by winning the NBA Championship in the Orlando bubble, with LeBron earning Finals MVP honors.

76ers’ potential lineup

Nick Nurse has managed to put together an elite starting five, one that will look to capture the fourth championship in franchise history. Pending official confirmation, this could be the potential starting lineup for the Philadelphia 76ers.

• LeBron James – PG
• Tyrese Maxey – SG
• Jaylen Brown – SF
• Jabari Walker – PF
• Joel Embiid – C

When asked if James joined Philly strictly to chase another ring, Durant didn’t hold back: “Everybody in the NBA is either chasing rings, shot attempts, or money.” Short, sweet, and straight to the point.

Bleacher Report and other major outlets quickly picked up KD’s quote, which echoes Bill Simmons’ recent warning that the James-76ers experiment could end in disaster. Of course, Durant isn’t exactly immune to criticism here, he’s made his own share of controversial moves in pursuit of titles and top-dollar contracts.

How many teams has Durant actually played for?

While KD might be throwing subtle shade at LeBron, he’s no stranger to switching jerseys. Durant has played for five different franchises in his career: starting with the SuperSonics/Thunder, then moving to the Warriors, Nets, Suns, and now the Rockets. Despite all that bouncing around, he’s walked away with just two NBA championships.

LeBron, on the other hand, has played for four teams, Cleveland, Miami, Los Angeles, and now Philadelphia, and has captured four rings along the way. His path to titles hasn’t required as much team-hopping as Durant’s, whose only two rings came during the Warriors’ legendary back-to-back run.

Just like LeBron, Durant hasn’t won a title in over five years and has struggled to get back to championship form. Even former teammates like Russell Westbrook, who currently finds himself without an NBA home, have learned the hard way how tough it is to land in the right spot to chase success.

ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania appeared on NBA Today to discuss how James reached his choice and how he is expected to fit into the 76ers’ system. “It was obvious: money was of no consequence, no significance for LeBron James in this decision to sign with the Sixers,” Charania said.

“He’s playing for the veteran minimum contract, the lowest amount that he can play for, and he decided at the outset of free agency that he was going to go somewhere where he felt he had the best chance to win a championship. No damn the money. It didn’t matter what it came with.”

A decision centered around family

Charania continued by highlighting the key figures involved in bringing about this shocking arrival, including 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, along with the lifestyle benefits and overall fit for James‘ family.

“And he spoke to a few people, importantly. Jaylen Brown spoke to Rich Paul, his agent, but Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Nick Nurse all spoke to LeBron James during the process to recruit him to get him on board with this,” Charania reported.

“And Nick Nurse was, my understanding was, the only coach who spoke to LeBron James during the process. That was very pivotal,” Charania added. “And you think about the last hurdle over the last week or so as LeBron James was sifting through the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and the Golden State Warriors and the Sixers was family going from LA all the way to the East Coast. That was a major change for LeBron James’ lifestyle.”

“So once he got Savannah, his young daughter Zhuri, Bronny, and Bryce on board, he decided on Friday to go with the Sixers,” Charania said. While multiple factors were considered before James shortlisted his choices, the final decision ultimately came down to his family’s full support for the East Coast move.

What to expect from the offense

James led the NBA in assists when he averaged 10.2 assists per game during the 2019-20 season. In a sense, the 76ers are attempting to replicate the 2019-20 championship roster framework, but with far higher-quality role players.

The top three players in fast-break field goals during the 2025-26 season were Maxey, Brown, and James. Having all three on the same squad makes the Philadelphia offense an elite threat, with James expected to fill a role similar to Draymond Green on the Warriors superteam.

ESPN’s Shams Charania on The Stephen A. Smith Show on Monday, Charania revealed details about trade talks involving Brown between Golden State and the Celtics before the league’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, noting how the pursuit of James might have differed had Golden State pulled off a deal for Brown earlier in the season.

“The Warriors could’ve got in the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes if they wanted to give up four first-round picks-ish, in that range,” Charania told Smith. “They decided not to from my understanding. Those two teams, the Warriors and Celtics, did talk about a Jaylen Brown trade around the trade deadline, and it was around several first-round draft picks, potential swaps, and seconds. The Warriors decided not to go down that route, and so that’s on them. That’s the decision they made.”

Warriors facing criticism over roster strategy

The narrative surrounding the Warriors is turning villainous as the organization shows a lack of genuine interest in upgrading the roster to maximize Curry, a legend and the greatest player in franchise history. Curry even did his part to help close a potential deal for James, but the front office failed to provide adequate help.

According to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, Curry was actively involved in trying to recruit James to Golden State, but kept his expectations in check throughout the process in case things did not work out.

Thompson suggested Curry could be growing weary of the organization’s pattern of chasing external stars rather than building around what the team already has. “I think he’s probably a little tired of the star chasing,” Thompson said. That sentiment reframes Golden State’s aggressive pursuit of James not as a simple swing-and-miss, but as part of a broader front office strategy that may not fully align with what Curry himself wants out of these final NBA seasons of his career.

Curry did not get his shot at pairing with James, and he may also be reconsidering whether chasing that kind of star pairing is even the direction he wants Golden State to pursue. However, that does not mean Curry will distance himself from the franchise given his deep loyalty, which could instead point toward a potential upcoming extension for Draymond Green.

“You’re not ring chasing when you’re the guy that creates rings,” Fisher said on Derek and Decker on 97.1 The Fan. His comment clearly echoed Shaquille O’Neal’s recent support for James before LeBron announced he was joining the 76ers on a two-year deal.

While James hasn’t faced overwhelming backlash, despite taking a significant pay cut, figures like Magic Johnson are still eager to see what he can accomplish alongside Joel Embiid in Philadelphia.

Fisher compares James to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Fisher even compared LeBron’s career moves to those of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won six NBA titles across two different franchises. James has also won titles with multiple teams, securing four rings across three franchises: Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles.

“Go back in NBA sports history… Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He didn’t chase rings. Where he went, rings followed,” Fisher said of Abdul-Jabbar, who earned his six titles with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers during a 20-season career from 1969 to 1989.

Fisher won all his rings with one franchise

Although Fisher is defending James, it is worth noting that Fisher won all five of his NBA championships with a single franchise: the Lakers. While he played for other teams like Utah, Dallas, and Golden State, his championship success came exclusively in Los Angeles.

“I think he’s going to go somewhere he can win another ring,” O’Neal noted on July 21 speaking to Mona Kosar Abdi on Extra when assessing potential landing spots for the superstar. “Maybe Miami. Maybe Golden State. Maybe even Philly.”

“Once we’re done playing, we can never play again,” O’Neal said during the sit-down interview. “You never want to retire saying, ‘I should have done this. I should have done that.’” His remarks highlight how top contenders remain viable options for players like James, who is even willing to take a historic pay cut to play again.

Why so many critics target LeBron James

“A lot of haters call it ring chasing,” O’Neal stated while dismantling the negative narrative. “But you’re supposed to chase rings. If you chase rings and accomplish getting them, that’s what we call greatness. Those who haven’t achieved greatness call it ring chasing because they haven’t achieved greatness.”

The persistent backlash against LeBron James, which includes harsh criticism from Charles Barkley, often stems from how he reshaped player empowerment in modern sports. When he made his high-profile move to the Miami Heat in 2010, critics argued that constructing powerhouse rosters diluted the traditional competitive drive of the league.

Did LeBron James ever play on the same team as Shaquille O’Neal?

Yes, LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal were actually teammates during the 2009–2010 NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland signed the veteran center in an effort to provide James with interior size and championship experience during his first stint with the franchise.

Although the pairing generated massive media coverage and fan excitement, their time together was brief and plagued by injuries. O’Neal was near the end of his illustrious career, and the Cavaliers ultimately fell short in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics, ending their single season as teammates.