3 reasons 76ers should fully embrace 'Point LeBron' after massive signing

Last week, the Philadelphia 76ers sent shockwaves through the NBA by winning the LeBron James sweepstakes. With things being official now, the team can begin preparing how to best deploy their new star-studded lineup.

LeBron brings a lot of things to the Sixers, including versatility on the floor. Given his elite-level basketball IQ, the four-time MVP is capable of playing just about anywhere on the floor. In the early days following news of his decision, many expected him to slot in at power forward. However, recent chatter has suggested LeBron might also be deployed at point guard throughout the 2026-2027 season

LeBron has played point guard throughout his legendary career, and the Sixers would be foolish not to maximize all his talents. In fact, there are multiple reasons why they should fully lean into him being the primary conductor of the offense.

Why the 76ers need to embrace 'Point LeBron' this season

1. Freeing up Tyrese Maxey

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the Sixers signing LeBron is Tyrese Maxey. Since the departure of James Harden, he has taken over the reins as the team's lead ball-handler. While he's ascended to an All-NBA-level talent doing so, sharing the backcourt with LeBron could help free him up even more.

Since turning pro, what has made Maxey such a special talent is his ability to score in bunches. He's always been more of a score-first guard, and now he has a chance to get back to that.

This doesn't mean that Maxey should never be deployed at point guard, but having LeBron take some playmaking duties off his plate could aid him throughout the course of a long season. When sharing the backcourt with Harden, his scoring saw a sizable uptick. With arguably one of the game's best playmakers setting the table for him, the Sixers star could pick apart defenses and maybe even have a shot at the scoring title in 2027.

2. LeBron James' track record as a full-time PG

Amid the Sixers adding another star-level player to the mix, one potential issue regularly brought up is that there is only one ball. That said, deploying LeBron at point guard might be a way to keep the 22-time All-Star engaged on the offensive end.

The last time we saw LeBron play point guard full-time was with the LA Lakers during the 2019-2020 season. Along with leading the team to a championship that year, he also posted a career-high 10.2 APG.

Upon taking the floor in Philadelphia, LeBron will have a much stronger supporting cast than he did that season with the Lakers. Sharing the floor with the likes of Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe, he should easily be able to post another double-digit assist average.

3. Giving the lineup more size/versatility

If the Sixers play LeBron at point guard, it allows them to put another big body on the floor. One candidate would be Dean Wade, who provides more length and shooting at the power forward position.

This potential lineup gives the Sixers four players on the floor 6-foot-6 or taller. There could be some defensive concerns about a LeBron-Maxey backcourt, but overall, the size and versatility would help them hang against just about every lineup in the league.

Edgecombe makes the move to the bench in this scenario, but slotting in as the sixth man could benefit him as well. It gives him the chance to be the primary creator for the second unit, and more importantly, still have the ball in his hands. This benefits him and the team long-term, as continuing to develop the former No. 3 pick is essential.

After a brief period where small-ball was all the rage, size has begun to make its way back into the NBA. Looking at the teams they'll have to compete with in their quest for a championship, having an abundance of length and switchability will be essential.

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