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LeBron James’ Impact on the Sixers Extends Well Beyond the Basketball Court
By Sean Barnard
Published:
It typically doesn’t take long in a Sixers conversation to be reminded that this franchise hasn’t made it past the second playoff round in 25 years.
It’s been roughly 13 since the Process era began. There have been quite a few different flavors of sour postseason exits. From quadruple-bounces on the rim, unsatisfactory backup center production, passed-up open layups, and plenty in between, for one reason or another, the Sixers have consistently come up short.
But a point that sometimes gets glossed over when reflecting on these playoff shortcomings is that talent typically has not been the driving reason why the Sixers have fallen short of their championship aspirations. Failure to execute has been a consistent Achilles heel. The health of Joel Embiid is an important asterisk to be noted, but there have been championship-quality rosters that have been built around him. Philadelphia was defeated in 2018-19 by a Raptors team that went on to win the championship following one of the most improbable late-game shots in NBA history. For a brief moment, the Sixers were the odds-on title favorites after taking a 3-2 series lead over the Boston Celtics in the 2022-23 playoffs. Players like Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, James Harden, and Paul George each had their flaws, but also gave the team a puncher’s chance in a way that plenty of organizations would happily trade places.
However, it has been evident that the understanding of how to win is something that the franchise has been lacking. The biggest critics of The Process shouted from the rooftops about how infectious the expected historic losing would be moving forward. While I still will not fully bend a knee to the overall point, it is fair to assess that the franchise has not done a good enough job finding the right balance of veterans and overall structure throughout the years. There are certainly fair critiques of not putting up the proper guardrails for the biggest stars in the early stages of their careers, and there has been fallout from this. Stories have steadily leaked through the years regarding Joel Embiid’s habits and tardiness. He is not the only hopeful young star for whom this was the case, but the last one standing in Philadelphia.
This all changes following the star-studded offseason the Sixers just accomplished. LeBron James is the headline addition with four championship rings on his fingers and the clear goal of adding at least one more. But similar principles apply to former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, after he was packed up by the rival Celtics and clearly has a new fire lit under him while still being in the prime of his career. There have been some encouraging early signs on the court already between the new-look roster, and even clearer messages being sent with nearly every quote.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne recently reflected on the impact of James’ presence on the rest of the Sixers roster, with a specific point made about Embiid:
During the opening preseason victory over the Knicks, Mike Breen told a story about Embiid being late for practice and James giving him an earful because of it. The 22-time All-Star was quick to clear the air about his new teammate via his own social media:
It is sometimes presented in a way that, because James is here, there are new rules for the entire franchise. While this is a bit rich in premise, it is undeniable how the stakes have changed since James officially committed to join. This offseason started with the expectation of the roster largely running it back and allowing the George contract to gradually expire as the focus shifted to the young backcourt. But it has ended with arguably the best Sixers’ roster ever created and the team having a clear place in the true championship contending category. The stakes have changed greatly with this.
It’s fair to assess that there is an increased level of seriousness that each member of the franchise is carrying following James’ arrival. He does not necessarily set this tone with his words or actions, but by his mere presence in the organization and what comes with him. James kept the entire NBA world at bay while he sorted through if and where he would be playing basketball this season. The four-time MVP also did not mince words about why he chose Philadelphia, with this being a true championship team as the clear reason:
With this clear desire comes the understanding of how to get there. James has been the culture-setter on championship teams on three separate franchises. It requires extra work, sacrifice, and plenty of habits that Tyrese Maxey has put on display, which played a major role in him coming to Philadelphia in the first place. The circus that comes with him only magnifies the importance of the standard that James makes.
So as he flies back and forth on his completely legal helicopter and still beats each locally based player to the gym, keep note on the difference that is seen in the Sixers from top to bottom this season. On one hand, this is the end of a Sixers era as James rides into the sunset of his career and does his best to win a championship alongside the win-now stars on this team. On the other hand, this is a transition of organizational culture that will extend far beyond James’ tenure. Both Maxey and Edgecombe have been showered with praise for their sponge-like mentality and willingness to put the work in. Lining up alongside the potential greatest player of all time will only accelerate this.
James Sixers’ tenure will be judged on the results of this season and possible next. But his legacy on the franchise will be felt well beyond this.
Sean Barnard has covered the Philadelphia 76ers and general Philly Sports for over six years in a variety of roles and for multiple outlets. Currently works as a Content Writer for DraftKings Network, Sixers/NBA Insider for Philadelphia's Fox Sports the Gambler, and co-host of Sixers & Phillies Digest on Youtube. Forever Trusting the Process.