With LeBron James now being part of the loaded Philadelphia 76ers lineup, the team is now pegged as one of the most compelling contenders for the championship next season. The sheer volume of scoring talent they have can be overwhelming, but to reach their pinnacle in the upcoming campaign, they might actually want The King to hit a certain career-low –– in the scoring department, at that.
In his 23 seasons in the league, LeBron has never averaged less than 20 points per game. However, things could very well change on that front next season, as the 76ers will have too many mouths to feed on the offensive end. That being said, such an outcome might actually be what the team needs from James, as that would entail that he has shifted his focus on playmaking and not scoring.
LeBron James could turn in a career-low in scoring next season, but the 76ers will gladly take it
Between Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, James, and VJ Edgecombe, the 76ers have five players who could explode for a high-scoring game at any night. But of those five, LeBron is arguably the most impactful, even without the need to put the ball in the hoop, thanks to his generational playmaking skill.
The 76ers simply do not need James to be a score-first anchor next season. If anything, the biggest benefit from having LeBron is the playmaking boost he provides. Of course, that does not mean that he will no longer actively hunt for his shots, but for the most part, it would be a more optimized use of their roster if he takes a step back on the scoring end and allows the others to feast as a result of his table-setting.
The dynamic would be different during crunch time. Naturally, the 76ers will want James to be a more proactive force in scoring during high-stakes periods, but his main job for the team next season is to set the tone by primarily generating shots for others.
This past season, James took on a secondary role in both scoring and playmaking with Luka Doncic leading the way. But with the 76ers not having a primary playmaker of that level, LeBron will be the one manning the nominal point guard spot in the starting unit. With his emphasis expected to shift, he is likely to finish the season averaging south of 20 points a night.
LeBron James' greatness in what could be his final season in the NBA will not be defined by his usual takeover moments as a scorer. Instead, by taking a backseat and focusing on being a playmaker, the 76ers could find themselves competing for basketball glory in June, as The King is one player who can unlock the blitzkrieg of talent Philadelphia has.
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