LeBron James‘ latest move to the Philadelphia 76ers has reignited the debate around NBA superteams, and former teammate Chris Bosh believes that’s exactly the point.
Speaking on Raw Sports, Bosh said LeBron’s move might prove the superteam model can still deliver championships in today’s NBA.
“Tough town. The media is about to be crazy, especially with Jaylen and LeBron being there and keeping the superteams alive. That’s what I think LeBron James’ purpose is right now—to keep the superteams alive. We’ll see how it goes next year.”
It is a different look from the two-time champion, given how the league has changed under the NBA’s apron system.
The era of just adding two or three superstars to one team no longer guarantees titles. And the belief around the league is that the superteam era is dead.
The New York Knicks, reigning NBA champions, are a prime example. They certainly have plenty of talent, but it wasn’t built overnight. Jalen Brunson arrived in 2022 and developed into a superstar. OG Anunoby was added later in 2023, while Josh Hart developed into one of the team’s most important role players. Karl-Anthony Towns arrived in a blockbuster trade in 2024, while Mikal Bridges was also added during the same period.
But the Knicks didn’t win immediately. It took time for them to build chemistry, for stars to buy into their roles and then reach the mountaintop.
Compare that to the Phoenix Suns‘ experiment with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
The Suns had three max-contract stars and looked like a superteam on paper, but they never came close to meeting expectations. Injuries played a significant role, but so did roster construction, depth, and coaching instability. The Suns did not have a proper point guard or the required depth to fill in the gaps. And they failed to even get past the first round in their two seasons together.
That failure highlighted an important lesson in today’s NBA.
Simply adding stars is no longer enough. Teams need quality role players, depth, and stars willing to sacrifice individual numbers for team success.
LeBron understands this as well as anyone.
His Miami Heat teams weren’t built solely around himself, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. They also relied heavily on players such as Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, and Mike Miller.
The same formula worked in Cleveland, where key contributors like Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Richard Jefferson, and Channing Frye helped win a championship.
The Philadelphia 76ers are another iteration of that same formula. They already have a former MVP in Joel Embiid, even though health remains a big concern. Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown are All-NBA players. And V.J. Edgecombe is one of the league’s best young guards. On paper, they have the most talented starting lineup in the NBA.
Unlike previous stops, however, LeBron isn’t expected to carry the offense.
According to Rich Paul, LeBron will take on a Draymond Green-type role and will need Embiid, Maxey, and Brown to shoulder the scoring pressure.
Instead of dominating possessions, he’ll focus on orchestrating the offense, creating opportunities for teammates, and helping younger stars maximize their potential.
Despite the talent in the starting lineup, Philadelphia still has major questions to answer. The starting lineup is loaded with talent, but depth remains a concern. Recent championship teams have shown the importance of quality bench players, defensive specialists, and role players willing to take on limited responsibilities.
That is one of the main reasons many recent superteams have fallen short.
Bosh’s comments can be seen as praise for LeBron’s ability to build championship-caliber partnerships. Throughout his career, LeBron has consistently convinced star teammates to take on clearly defined roles while maximizing the players around him.
Whether this formula still works under the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement remains to be seen. The second-apron restrictions have made it difficult for teams to build expensive, star-heavy rosters, and the league hasn’t had a repeat champion in eight years.
Most recent contenders have relied on internally developed talent, continuity, and chemistry.
The Sixers will now attempt to prove that a modern version of the superteam can still succeed in today’s NBA. If LeBron, Embiid, Brown, and Maxey are willing to sacrifice individual numbers while the supporting cast takes on its role, Bosh’s prediction could prove accurate. If not, Philadelphia could become the latest example used to argue that the traditional superteam era is over.
