On Friday morning, the long wait to see where LeBron James would be playing next season came to an end when the 22-time All-Star revealed to the world he was bringing his talents to the Philadelphia 76ers for the next two seasons. On paper, the Sixers have an unbelievable starting five of Joel Embiid, James, recent acquisition Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, and Tyrese Maxey.
However, basketball fans have seen in the past that building chemistry on a team full of stars is far easier said than done. So head coach Nick Nurse has a tall task in front of him. With that in mind, we look at five big problems Nurse will face when the 76ers arrive at training camp in the fall.
Will Jaylen Brown be able to sacrifice & keep his ego in check for Philadelphia 76ers?
jaylen brown
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7)after PhiladephiaÕs win in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
If Brown was a lovable team player all about winning and sacrifice, there is no way the Boston Celtics would have traded him this month. Especially after he and former teammate Jayson Tatum reached the pinnacle of the sport together a couple of years ago.
There have been rumors about character issues for the last few years. There is no denying how talented Brown is. But after admitting his favorite year in the league was this past one because he was the 1A for the Celtics begs the question: Can he sacrifice for the greater good on a team with Embiid, James and Maxey? A great player would, but Brown has made it seem like he is done taking a backseat to others. That’s a problem for Nurse.
Figuring out LeBron James’ role with Philadelphia 76ers
lebron james
May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
As mentioned before, the 76ers have the making of a fantastic starting five. But there is only one basketball and the four-time MVP likes to have the ball in his hands a lot. However, Maxey was fourth in the league for touches this past season because he is a talented player that deserves it. Plus, Embiid and Brown will want touches as well.
Can James still be an impact player with far fewer touches? He seemed to show that with the Los Angeles Lakers last year but was great as the focus of the offense against the Houston Rockets in the playoffs. Or can he be a point forward where his own shot is his third option? That is a problem Nurse needs to figure out fast.
Convincing Joel Embiid to be a role player in 2026-27
joel embiid
May 10, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the New York Knicks in the second quarter during game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The basketball world clearly sees that Embiid is done as an elite player in the game. But has the seven-time All-Star gotten the message? Based on how he looked for his own touches while the 76ers got their doors blown off by the New York Knicks in the semis suggests he hasn’t.
If Embiid can sacrifice his game and just be a rebounder and defensive anchor at the rim first, the 76ers will be in good shape. But he has a sizable ego of his own, and trying to convince him to be a role player on this star-studded team will be a tough task for Nurse.
Making sure VJ Edgecombe continues to develop and doesn’t regress
vj edgecombe
May 6, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) reacts to a New York Knicks fan during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
One of the best parts of the 2025-26 season for the 76ers was the emergence of Edgecombe as part of the franchise’s future. Not only is he a strong defensive player, but he showed he can be a problem on offense as well. Along with Maxey, he will be a core member of the roster going forward.
James and Embiid will be gone in a couple of years. The team can’t take their foot off the gas with Edgecombe’s development. That will be an intriguing problem for Nurse to manage this season.
Making sure Tyrese Maxey isn’t a secondary character for Philadephia 76ers
NBA: Playoffs-New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers
May 8, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) controls the ball against the New York Knicks during the third quarter of game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Maxey should absolutely be the face of the 76ers franchise. The two-time All-Star has earned it over the last few years as he has become one of the premier scorers in the NBA. But he does not have an alpha dog personality. We saw that in the semifinals when he faded into the background and let Embiid take the lead on offense.
Now, they added the huge personalities of James and Brown. Nurse can’t look at the resumes and must understand Maxey is his No. 1 offense. He also must get his veteran stars on board with that idea. That may be his biggest problem next season because if he can’t figure that out, he will waste one of the best young stars in the game.
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After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka ... More about Jason Burgos