The Philadelphia 76ers might have assembled the NBA’s most star-studded roster this offseason, but DeMarcus Cousins isn’t ready to crown them champions just yet.
Speaking on Run It Back TV, the former four-time All-Star said talent won’t be enough for the Sixers to overcome top Western Conference teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game playoff series.
“I think they can beat them. Can they win a series? I’m big on chemistry. I think that’s one of the things that gets overlooked in today’s game. Chemistry, camaraderie, guys enjoying being teammates, playing next to one another, having similarities, even being able to relate to one another. All of those things matter.”
“So when I think about the Spurs, I think about the Thunder, I think about groups that have had years together that have, you know, been through the fire together. The Spurs just had an incredible run as a young group. They obviously got closer, you know, through this run. They’re going to get better. So when I think about it from that perspective, yeah, I think they can win a game. But a series?”
“I think it takes more than just putting a group of talent together. The talent has to mesh. The talent has to, you know, come together and compete together. So, you know, as of right now, I would say no when it comes to a series. Once they get some games under their belt, you know, they’re battle-tested a little more, I may be able to reconsider that answer.”
It’s a rather interesting perspective after Cousins recently said this Sixers squad is the most talented team LeBron James has ever played on. On paper, it’s quite difficult to argue with that statement.
The Sixers now have a core of LeBron, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. They have added depth by bringing in veterans such as Anfernee Simons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dean Wade, giving them one of the strongest rotations in the league.
But Cousins says there is a major difference between having the best collection of players and having the best team.
Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have been developing their cores for years, and that continuity is something the Sixers don’t have.
Their core is yet to play meaningful basketball together, even though it possesses elite talent. Adding several ball-dominant stars takes time, no matter how talented they are. Every championship team faces adversity, and how teams respond depends on relationships built over months or even years of playing together.
The Thunder have spent several seasons developing one of the NBA’s best young cores. The Spurs just made an NBA Finals run as they continue building around Victor Wembanyama, and they are only expected to improve in the future.
The Eastern Conference won’t be a cakewalk either. The New York Knicks just won the NBA title and remain the biggest obstacle for the Sixers. Teams like the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics are all capable of making deep playoff runs.
There is little doubt the Sixers have assembled one of the league’s most talented rosters. The question is whether that talent can develop championship-level chemistry before the playoffs begin.
If it does, the Sixers could justify the hype surrounding LeBron James’ stunning decision to join the franchise. If it doesn’t, Cousins’ warning may prove to be true. After all, NBA history has repeatedly shown that titles aren’t won just on paper or through talent alone—they are won when teams trust each other in the biggest moments.
