Philadelphia 76ers get Erving warning
Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius Erving praised the team’s offseason additions but stopped short of predicting a championship. In an interview published by TMZ Sports on August 23, 2026, Erving said Philadelphia would be “one of the most talented teams.”
The Hall of Famer gave the Jaylen Brown trade a thumbs-up while questioning how the rebuilt lineup will fit together. Erving highlighted the age gap between 41-year-old LeBron James and 21-year-old VJ Edgecombe as one of the roster’s key unknowns.
Jaylen Brown arrives after career year
Philadelphia acquired Jaylen Brown from Boston on July 6, sending Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round selections. Brown arrived after earning five All-Star appearances and the 2024 Finals MVP award.
Brown posted career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game during the 2025-26 season. NBA voting also placed the 29-year-old sixth in the league’s MVP race that year.
LeBron James joins Philadelphia at 41
Philadelphia signed LeBron James on July 27 after his eight-season run with the Los Angeles Lakers. NBA records list James at 41 years old, with 23 seasons of league experience before joining Philadelphia.
James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds across 60 regular-season games during 2025-26. He also earned All-NBA Second Team honors and made his 22nd career All-Star appearance.
VJ Edgecombe creates 20-year age gap
Philadelphia will pair 41-year-old LeBron James with 21-year-old VJ Edgecombe, creating a 20-year age gap. Erving directly identified that difference as one of the roster questions still needing a clear answer.
Edgecombe already brings strong production at his age. The 2025 No. 3 pick averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 75 games while starting every regular-season appearance during his rookie year.
Tyrese Maxey adds elite scoring
Philadelphia also retains Tyrese Maxey, who delivered his highest-scoring season in 2025-26. The 25-year-old guard averaged 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds across 70 regular-season games for Philadelphia that year.
Maxey made 46.2% of his field-goal attempts, 36.7% from 3-point range, and 89.2% at the line. Those figures add another proven scorer to Philadelphia’s lineup alongside James, Brown, Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe.
Joel Embiid remains central to ceiling
Philadelphia still depends heavily on Joel Embiid, whose availability remains central to its ceiling. The 32-year-old center played 38 regular-season games in 2025-26 and averaged 26.9 points per contest for Philadelphia.
Embiid also averaged 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists while making 48.9% of his field-goal attempts. NBA data showed Philadelphia posted a +5.8 net rating with him on the court during the 2025-26 regular season.
Philadelphia 76ers had middling metrics
Philadelphia finished the 2025-26 regular season at 45-37, ranking seventh in the Eastern Conference. The team averaged 115.9 points per game while allowing 116.1, producing a slightly negative overall scoring margin.
Basketball Reference ranked Philadelphia 17th in offensive rating, 16th defensively, and 18th in net rating. Those placements show the 45-win team reached May without ranking among the NBA’s top overall efficiency groups that season.
New York Knicks swept Philadelphia
Philadelphia reached the second round after defeating Boston in seven games during the 2026 playoffs. That series included a Game 7 victory before the team advanced to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
New York then swept Philadelphia in four games, averaging 124.3 points while the 76ers managed 102.0. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia in that series with 18.3 points and 4.8 assists per contest, according to NBA records.
Nick Nurse balances high-usage stars
Philadelphia now carries several high-usage scorers into one lineup, which explains Erving’s focus on fit. Erving said talent recognizes talent and pointed to head coach Nick Nurse’s role in designing an effective plan.
During 2025-26, Embiid posted a 33.6% usage rate, James recorded 26.2% with Los Angeles, and Edgecombe reached 19.6% as a rookie. Those figures show how Philadelphia combines several established offensive creators.
Jaylen Brown brings championship proof
Philadelphia added Brown after a season in Boston that showcased his expanded offensive role. The 29-year-old averaged a career-best 28.7 points while carrying greater responsibility during Jayson Tatum’s extended 2025-26 absence.
Brown also brings championship experience from Boston’s 2024 title run, when he earned Finals MVP honors. Philadelphia traded two first-round picks and two second-round selections alongside Paul George to acquire the 10-year NBA veteran.
Fun fact: VJ Edgecombe was born in July 2005, just months after LeBron James made his first NBA All-Star appearance. That means one teammate’s career milestone predates another teammate’s entire life.
New York Knicks set tougher benchmark
Philadelphia faces a higher benchmark because New York enters 2026-27 as the defending NBA champion. The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first league title since 1973.
New York finished the 2026 postseason at 16-3, matching Boston’s 2024 mark for the second-best playoff winning percentage since the first round expanded to a best-of-seven format in 2003.
Julius Erving knows Philadelphia history
Philadelphia has not won an NBA championship since 1983, when Julius Erving played on the title team alongside Moses Malone. That history gives his caution extra context because Erving experienced the franchise’s most recent championship run.
Erving’s 1983 team remains Philadelphia’s most recent champion, while the current roster combines multiple generations of stars. James is 41, Brown is 29, Embiid is 32, Maxey is 25, and Edgecombe is 21 years old.
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Philadelphia 76ers get October test
Philadelphia will begin its preseason on October 5 against the defending-champion Knicks, according to the team’s announced schedule. Later exhibitions include Brooklyn and two games against Boston, giving Nick Nurse several early lineup tests.
Those games give Philadelphia opportunities to test combinations before the regular season, although preseason participation can vary by player. Erving told TMZ Sports that he plans to attend games and remain involved with Philadelphia.
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Do you think Philadelphia’s mix of LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe can work together well enough to win a title? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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