Thunder stay No. 1 in post-LeBron NBA power rankings

James joined Philadelphia for two years and $8 million.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 251 min read

What happened: The Philadelphia 76ers' addition of LeBron James prompted a new ranking based on 2026-27 championship chances. James joins Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid in the projected lineup.

Why it matters: James chose Philadelphia in pursuit of a fifth championship. The title case hinges on Brown and Embiid adapting alongside several ball-dominant creators.

By the numbers: Philadelphia's projected starters combined for a 140% usage rate last season. Brown shot 33.1% on 2.5 catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts per game.

What to watch: Training camp will offer the first look at Brown's off-ball role and the lineup's defensive balance.

Sources

SBNation NBA 2026-07-25T12:01:27.163387+00:00

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