Oct 16, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Jaylen Brown (7) and Boston Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez (28) go for a loose ball during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Oct 16, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Jaylen Brown (7) and Boston Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez (28) go for a loose ball during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
It’s a new season and a whole new look for the Philadelphia 76ers. Following their loss in the Eastern Semifinals last May, the franchise set out to improve their title odds, resulting in the additions of Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Anfernee Simons (among others).
Going in, expectations couldn’t be higher for the 76ers, but it hasn’t been an encouraging start this preseason, with the team going just 1-3 over four games. Still, despite the early growing pains, there is still a sense of overwhelming excitement about their potential. In a chat with the media following Friday’s loss, Jaylen Brown spoke plenty of good things about the Sixers, giving special attention to LeBron James, in particular.
“It’s incredible to see his work ethic and to see his process,” said Brown, via Jeff Skversky. “That’s the greatest player to play the game, so it’s an honor.”
Jaylen has always held tremendous respect for LeBron, and he considered him one of the GOATs long before they became teammates. Now that they’re teammates, Brown is getting a first-hand look at what makes the King so great. As he predicted, it’s more than sheer talent that keeps him relevant— it’s his superior will and work ethic in all aspects of the game.
Of course, Jaylen is also playing with Joel Embiid for the first time, someone he’s beaten multiple times in the playoffs. It’s a different feeling being on the same side now, but Brown is not taking his game for granted.
“This big fella is making strides, getting better each and every day,” Brown said. “We’ve been pushing him on offense and defense, and I think he’s been meeting the challenge. Just continuing to get better and better with pace, quick decisions—all that type of stuff, defensive mentality. It’s great to see him out there because he can dominate the game.”
As the early results have shown, the 76ers are still a work in progress. Incorporating this many new pieces is never a quick or easy process, but you have to commend the group for their remarkable display of patience and teamwork. Naturally, there’s still a lot of work to be done, not least of which is getting everybody on the same page with the game plan.
“Individually, I’ve made my strides, just getting familiar with the system and familiar with the city and the facility and all of that; getting settled in my place with the group,” Brown added. “I think we’re just setting the mentality that we need to set. We need to just inch closer every single day. So, we just have to continue to emphasize the type of mentality that we want to have.”
Admittedly, the new-look 76ers haven’t looked very remarkable so far. Their play has been messy and uncoordinated, offering little more than glimpses of what this team can be at its best. Jaylen Brown, however, remains confident in what they’ve built, and he trusts guys like LeBron James and Joel Embiid to carry them to the depths of the NBA playoffs.
In the meantime, Jaylen will take in everything he can from his new teammates in an effort to grow and elevate his own game. After averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 47.7% shooting last season, he’s already set the bar high, but there’s reason to believe he can reach another level with an expanded role and a stacked supporting cast.
Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media.