![Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) celebrates with guard Tyrese Maxey (0) and guard Vj Edgecombe (77)] following their win over the Boston Celtics in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_21,w_3774,h_2122/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ReutersImages/mmsport/98/01m0qapbt4xm7gkdc73j.jpg "Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) celebrates with guard Tyrese Maxey (0) and guard Vj Edgecombe (77)] following their win over the Boston Celtics in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden.")
After making one of the NBA’s biggest blockbuster moves of the offseason for Jaylen Brown, and signing the most notable free agent on the best value contract in the league’s history with LeBron James, the Philadelphia 76ers have arguably the best starting five in the NBA on paper.
Yet, when it comes to a rundown of rankings of the top duos in the NBA, the Sixers just crack the top five. It’s hardly a slight. In fact, the Sixers have too many superstar combos that they are the only team on the list that can’t have one pinpointed.
The best problem to have
“Any combination could prove to be their best duo on any given night,” CBS Sports’ John Gonzalez wrote in his explanation, while ranking the Sixers at No. 5. “As Brown said at his introductory press conference, it doesn't have to be anybody's team.”
The key word of the offseason for the 76ers going into the 2026-2027 campaign is “sacrifice.” If everybody has the same goal, then they can’t focus on playing hero ball to get them there. LeBron James made the biggest financial sacrifice of his career by choosing to join the 76ers on a minimum salary just one year after collecting over $50 million from the Lakers.
Technically, nobody else is playing for a big payday for the 76ers in 2026-2027. Tyrese Maxey landed his max deal two offseasons ago. Jaylen Brown is extension-eligible, but he’s still got three years left on a five-year, $285.3 million deal. Joel Embiid’s massive three-year extension is just beginning, while VJ Edgecombe is only heading into his sophomore season. There isn’t any financial incentive on the table for this year’s starting five. So, the ideal level of buy-in for the Sixers should be easy to achieve.
Who could be better?
The Oklahoma City Thunder just won a championship two postseasons ago, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams being core members of the group. They come in at No. 4. The New York Knicks’ guard-center combo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns could be rivaled by Joel Embiid-Tyrese Maxey, but the higher group (No. 3) just won a championship. It’s hard to debate.
The Denver Nuggets still have an intriguing duo in every-year MVP candidate in Nikola Jokic, and the finally-an-All-Star guard in Jamal Murray. This one might be a little too high these days, but again, championships give duos higher placement by default. As for the top dogs in San Antonio, the Spurs have the No. 1 combo mix with Victor Wembanyama and/or Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
They haven’t reached the championship yet, but they got a taste in 2026. Let’s face it: Wemby is the NBA’s darling. That’s not going to change anytime soon. Everybody above the 76ers has proven something. Now, this loaded Philly roster enters the new league year with sky-high expectations and will face plenty of pressure to find a combo that could shoot up this rank.
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