The Philadelphia 76ers opened a new chapter at their 2026 Media Day, with LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid now forming a star-studded core in Philadelphia. With the Eastern Conference becoming increasingly competitive, the Sixers believe they have assembled enough talent to make a deep postseason run. But as James stressed throughout the day, talent alone will not be enough. Building chemistry, accepting reduced roles, and staying healthy will be crucial if Philadelphia is to turn its star power into success.

Key Takeaways

• Tyrese Maxey played a major role in convincing LeBron James to join the 76ers, with their relationship dating back to 2020.
• Joel Embiid arrived at Media Day noticeably thinner but kept the details of his weight-loss program private as he focuses on staying healthy.
• LeBron James stressed that all four stars must embrace sacrifice and accept fewer shots to give the team its best chance to succeed.
• Tyrese Maxey is preparing to spend more time off the ball, taking advantage of a deeper roster featuring James and Jaylen Brown.

Maxey Played a Major Role in Bringing LeBron to Philly

James made it clear that his relationship with Tyrese Maxey was one of the biggest factors behind his decision to sign with the Sixers. The veteran superstar said he had several teams in mind but repeatedly spoke with Maxey about his career, the franchise's direction, and how James would fit into the team.

"I had a group of teams that I was interested in," James said, explaining that he "picked his brain" about how Maxey viewed his career and the future of the franchise. James also wanted to understand how Maxey felt about adding a player of his profile to the roster, acknowledging that his presence can sometimes bring challenges alongside the obvious benefits. After breaking down the teams and franchises he could potentially join, James said his relationship with Maxey became "one of the main deciding factors."

Their connection goes back to 2020, when Maxey was preparing for the NBA Draft while James was getting ready for the continuation of the 2019-20 season inside the bubble. Maxey initially changed his workout time from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. so he could work around James' schedule after Rajon Rondo brought the two together. The following year, Maxey managed to get James back to a 6 a.m. start.

"And then now it just became a thing," Maxey said. "Every single summer, we get back in the lab."

Now, seeing James in Camden, New Jersey, alongside him is a very different experience. "I see him in the summer time every year, but to see him here in Camden, New Jersey … It's a cool experience," Maxey said.

Maxey had previously tried to recruit James to Philadelphia two years ago, but the pitch went nowhere. This time, however, the situation changed significantly. After the Sixers acquired Jaylen Brown in early July and with James' future in Los Angeles appearing increasingly uncertain, Maxey decided to make another approach.

"Once we got Jaylen, I was like, 'OK, this gets interesting,'" Maxey recalled. After hearing that James did not want to return to Los Angeles, Maxey reached out again. James eventually called him, and the conversation gave Maxey reason to believe the move could happen.

Joel Embiid Keeps His Weight-Loss Program Private

Joel Embiid was noticeably thinner at Media Day, but the Sixers star was unwilling to reveal the specifics behind his weight loss. "I feel good," Embiid said. "I won't get into, you know, all the details of what I did, but felt like I did the right things to put myself and the team in a position to succeed."

With Brown and James now joining the roster, Philadelphia should have more production during the games and minutes Embiid misses than it has in recent seasons. Still, Embiid's impact when he is available remains enormous. Across his 10 seasons with the Sixers, the team has outscored opponents during his minutes on the bench in only one season, 2019-20.

Including the playoffs, Philadelphia has been 11.2 points per 100 possessions better with Embiid on the floor over the past 10 years, posting a plus-8.0 net figure compared with minus-3.2 when he sits. During those 10 regular seasons, the Sixers have produced the equivalent of a 53-29 record when Embiid plays and a 33-49 record when he does not.

His mobility on defense has been a concern in recent years, while his willingness to play big on offense remains important. Above all, however, the Sixers need their franchise center available, particularly when the playoffs arrive.

"Obviously, you got to build it up because you want to be at your peak in April, May," Embiid said. "I want to play as much as possible. We got a plan and we got to execute it." That plan centers on staying healthy and reaching his best level when the postseason arrives. Over the last three years, Embiid has appeared in just 42% of the Sixers' games.

Sixers' Four Stars Must Embrace Sacrifice

With four major stars sharing the floor, reduced usage and fewer shots are inevitable. James believes that should not be viewed negatively.

"If we want to accomplish something that's really, really important, like if we say that we want to do something special, there will be a collective sacrificing in a good way," James said.

For James, giving up a few shots can create energy for the less visible parts of winning basketball. That could mean sliding over to take a charge, fighting for an offensive rebound, making the extra pass, getting back on defense, or producing a chase-down block. Those contributions may not always appear in the box score, but James believes they can make the difference between a talented team and one capable of achieving something special.

LeBron Warns Sixers: Chemistry Takes Time

Philadelphia's new-look roster has plenty of individual talent, but James knows building the chemistry needed to compete at the highest level will not happen instantly.

"It's going to take time," James said, comparing the process to the difference between basketball and "instant oatmeal." For James, becoming a great team requires daily repetition and a willingness to repeatedly do things that may not feel comfortable.

James believes embracing that process is the fastest way to build a successful team. Without it, he warned, the Sixers could simply become another team that looked impressive on paper before falling short in the playoffs.

Maxey Ready to Become More Dangerous Off the Ball

Tyrese Maxey is already an accomplished shooter, but his role could change significantly with James and Brown now alongside him. Last season, just 40% of Maxey's three-point attempts came off the catch. That ranked 14th-lowest among 305 players who attempted at least 100 threes.

His efficiency also showed the potential benefit of more catch-and-shoot opportunities. Maxey shot 41.8% from three on catch-and-shoot attempts compared with 33.3% off the dribble.

With more ball-handlers around him, Maxey expects to have greater freedom to work without the ball. "I think I'm pretty comfortable playing in any type of situation at this point in my career," he said.

The new roster should allow Maxey to spend more time running in transition rather than always bringing the ball up himself. With James, Brown, Process, VJ, Anfernee Simons, and Labaron Philon among the players capable of initiating offense, Maxey sees an opportunity to diversify his role.

He will still operate with the ball through pick-and-rolls and other actions, but more off-ball movement could unlock another part of his game.

For Philadelphia, the challenge now is turning that collection of talent into a cohesive unit. Media Day made one thing clear: the Sixers have plenty of star power, but the path to a deep playoff run will depend on health, sacrifice, chemistry, and the willingness to embrace new roles.