LeBron James’ Former Teammate Isn’t ‘Convinced’ New-Look 76ers Can Be a ‘Championship Team off the Rip’
· Yahoo Sports
The Philadelphia 76ers have been the talk of the NBA since adding LeBron James to their star-studded starting lineup, with some proclaiming them the new Eastern Conference favorites.
However, James’ former teammate Iman Shumpert still isn’t sold on the new-look 76ers posing a legitimate threat in the 2027 NBA title race.
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Iman Shumpert Questions 76ers’ NBA Championship Outlook After LeBron James Signing
In addition to landing James on a team-friendly two-year, $8 million contract, the 76ers turned heads this offseason by acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics at what many deemed a steep discount.
Philadelphia now boasts two elite shot creators and transition scorers on the wing, with James also expected to take on a primary playmaking role. The star duo joins dynamic scoring guard Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, who, when healthy, remains firmly entrenched in the conversation surrounding the NBA’s top big men.
Still, Shumpert, who spent parts of four seasons with James on the Cleveland Cavaliers and contributed to their 2016 championship, has doubts about the 76ers’ Big 4’s ability to hold up for an 82-game regular season and deep playoff run.
“When I actually take a look at the roster and how things stack up, I don’t think I’m so convinced that this is just a championship team off the rip,” Shumpert said on Tuesday’s episode of “Shump Street with Iman Shumpert.”
“I think they become dangerous, but they’re still going to have to compete with the youth of this league, and that’s going to compete against LeBron’s age, Embiid’s health. They gonna lean a lot on Jaylen Brown.”
Though James has stayed remarkably healthy throughout most of his storied 23-year career, his age has started to catch up to him in recent seasons. The 41-year-old appeared in only 60 games in the 2025-26 campaign, marking the fifth time in his eight-year run with the Los Angeles Lakers that he played in 60 or fewer contests.
Meanwhile, Embiid has long been labeled one of the NBA’s biggest injury risks, having suited up in 39 or fewer outings in each of the last three seasons, largely due to knee troubles.
If either or both miss extended time in the 2026-27 season, the 76ers have shaky frontcourt depth at best, with Dean Wade and Adem Bona currently slotted in as their backup power forward and center. Such a scenario would put added pressure on Maxey, Brown, and second-year guard VJ Edgecombe to pick up the slack in the increasingly daunting East.
To Shumpert’s point, many of Philadelphia’s top challengers for next year’s title, including the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and defending champion New York Knicks, boast superstar players well under or approaching 30.
Regardless, if the 76ers’ revamped core can build chemistry and enter the postseason relatively healthy, their immense talent should give them at least a puncher’s chance against any opponent.