While most fans in the stands at Madison Square Garden are looking forward to the New York Knicks lifting their first NBA title banner in 53 years on Tuesday night, there will be a minority excited for this new chapter with the Philadelphia 76ers, which will feature the league’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, during the 2026-27 season.
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which → look → season
Expectations are just as high in Philadelphia as they are in New York this season, especially with James joining the likes of Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe on a team that could do damage in the Eastern Conference.
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that → join → Conference
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The Knicks are still the team to beat – they are the reigning champions after all – out of the East, but the 76ers are another early-season favorite to win the conference because of the star power.
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76ers → beat → power
We’ve seen so-called "super teams" come and go throughout sports, and James was a part of one that ended up seeing success with one during his Miami Heat years.
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that → see → years
Could the same thing occur in Year 24 in the NBA, this time in Philly?
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thing → occur → Philly
Either way, one NBA legend believes this is a dream scenario for the league, granted things turn out the way they’re supposed to on paper.
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they → believe → paper
"Lebron in Philly is exactly the kind of storyline that the league thrives on," Carmelo Anthony told OutKick, while highlighting his role in DraftKings new campaign for the NBA season.
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Anthony → thrive → season
"You got a guy who’s done everything in this game of basketball.
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who → get → basketball
He’s now in a new city with a hungry, starving fan base that was almost there a couple of seasons ago.
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that → ’ → seasons
So, that didn’t go anywhere.
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that → go → ?
They’re not so far beyond that point.
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They → ’re → point
They still understand the process.
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They → understand → process
"So, if they figure it out with the fit and time, they figure it out early, to me that’s important.
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that → figure → me
They’re a problem for everyone in the East, including New York.
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They → ’re → York
Because they’re not going to let off the gas if they are healthy."
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they → go → gas
James figures to be a catalyst of sorts in this 76ers juggernaut, though there are questions surrounding his regular-season availability – he turns 42 in December – and what role he will play given the All-Star options around him.
As we saw with the Los Angeles Lakers, James didn’t mind wearing different hats.
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James → figure → hats
He played the leading scorer role if needed, facilitated as a pseudo point guard in some cases, and simply moved around the court to allow space for another star that was getting hot on the offensive end.
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that → play → end
Philadelphia has 5 strong scorers when they tip off on Tuesday night in Manhattan, which is why the thought of this team fully healthy throughout the season is intriguing.
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thought → have → season
It’s also why some believe James is simply setting himself up for one more final push for a fifth NBA title ring.
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James → ’ → ring
This group, in his eyes, is ready to make that run, so could this be his final year in the NBA?
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this → make → NBA
"Now, I haven’t spoken to him about that part of it.
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But I would say just observing from afar and comprehending where he’s at mentally, he loves the game of basketball," Anthony replied when asked that exact questions.
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Anthony → say → questions
"He also loves challenges, right?
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He → love → challenges
I think this is a challenge that he distilled into himself that he’s willing to take on.
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he → think → that
He understands that this is Year 20-something in the league, and he’s not going to be able to do it the way [he did in the past].
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he → understand → past
He understands all of that.
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He → understand → that
I don’t think he’s coming into Philly with that mentality.
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he → think → mentality
I think he’s coming I with, ‘I know I have a high-impact guard in Tyrese [Maxey].
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I → think → guard
I know I have a high-impact shooting guard in Jaylen Brown on both sides of the basketball.
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I → know → basketball
I know I have, when healthy, arguably the best big man in the game of basketball in Joel Embiid.’
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I → know → Embiid
He’s seeing all of these pieces – we got a young, explosive V.J. Edgecombe that he’s going to get better from an intellect standpoint.
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he → see → standpoint
He’s going to learn the little intricacies of the game of basketball that LeBron understands.
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LeBron → go → that
He’s going to teach that to him.
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He → go → him
"I just like Philly, if they get it right and the fit and time, and they get it right early, they’ll be in the driver’s seat.
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they → like → seat
"
STAYING MELO WITH DRAFTKINGS
While Anthony is looking forward to what the Knicks do this season, he’s excited for his partnership with DraftKings and being a part of its campaign ahead of the season.
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he → stay → season
"We got a great campaign, man.
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We really came together, and I got to give a shoutout to DraftKings and that creative team for putting that concept together," he said.
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he → come → concept
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
