The best role for LeBron James on the Philadelphia 76ers was debated after he signed with the team this summer, although most believe he would be best suited to play the role of de facto point guard.
On Thursday, head coach Nick Nurse indicated that he expects James to primarily do this:
This makes sense on several fronts.
James is one of the best passers in NBA history and a brilliant basketball mind, often operating as a power forward and on-court coach. He’s also 41 and has taken a step back from his primary threat with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, leaving Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to shoulder a heavier burden in that regard.
So operating as a more traditional point guard would hardly be a stretch. He has previously stated that he is ready to play any role asked of him:
It’s also a role the Sixers need.
While Tyrese Maxey has taken on the point guard duties over the past few seasons, he is actually more of a combo guard better suited to being a scorer first and a playmaker second. It’s a role he played quite well when paired with James Harden.
Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe are also capable of initiating the offense, although Brown is more naturally an iso scorer and Edgecombe is a younger player still refining his game. And while Joel Embiid is a competent passer, he certainly won’t initiate the offense from the center position like Nikola Jokić.
All of this makes James the best option to serve as primary point guard.
The Sixers’ entire season comes down to how quickly this revamped roster can develop chemistry and how much each of its stars is willing to sacrifice to make the entire operation work. If all goes well, few teams come close to the overall talent the Sixers bring. But whether it will work — and how it will work — remains a question mark heading into the 2026-27 season.
Gn sports
