If there’s any team that got notably better this offseason, it’s the Philadelphia 76ers. After a run to the East Semifinals in May, they responded by turning Paul George and picks into Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Anfernee Simons.Â
Going into the new season, the 76ers are viewed as one of the favorites in the East, but not everyone agrees on where expectations lie. For longtime basketball analyst Brian Windhorst, he knows better than to expect immediate results. In fact, he recently explained on his podcast why it could take some time for the 76ers to become the team everyone expects.
“In the last nine years, do you know how many times LeBron’s team has gone over 50.5? Twice. So LeBron hasn’t been on powerhouse regular-season teams for a while now,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective. “I think they could be an excellent team and be formidable and win about 48 games. I think winning 48 games in the Eastern Conference is gonna be a good season. Also, when LeBron changes teams, they tend to get off to a slower start. When he went to Miami, they started out 9-8. When he went to Cleveland. They started out at 19-20. He went to the Lakers, and they missed the playoffs the first year. Learning to play with LeBron takes a while.”
With averages of 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game last season, there’s no question that LeBron can still play. Even in a reduced role, he brings a lot to the table for Philly, but adding someone of his caliber often requires a lot of adjustments, and James knows this more than anyone.
So while the 76ers are being hailed as the new team to beat in the East, history says it won’t be nearly so easy. In all of LeBron’s previous stops, it took at least one year before he made a championship run. On some occasions (like his first season with the Lakers), he didn’t even make the playoffs. Even with James turning 42 in December, there’s no evidence the trend will change.
Ultimately, as much as LeBron raises everyone’s ceiling, it can take a lot of time and effort to adjust to his leadership and meet his standard of excellence. That’s not to mention the pressure that comes with being his teammate and having massive expectations attached from opening night.
Fortunately, the 76ers are showing signs of self-awareness. Many of the new teammates have already met this summer, and more meetings are planned in the coming weeks leading up to training camp. They know the process involved with integrating such massive new pieces and have already taken steps to expedite their transition.
Against teams like the Knicks, Pacers, Pistons, Cavaliers, Wizards, and Celtics, the road only gets tougher from here as the East continues to rise. How the 76ers perform remains to be seen, but patience will be rewarded with results on the court and the chance to make history as the group that brought the 76ers back to glory. It just may not be at the speed some fans are hoping for.
