Heading into his Philadelphia 76ers stint, LeBron James has left many NBA fans wondering how he'll fit into a lineup full of stars who typically thrive on high usage. Considering the league has seen its fair share of failed super teams, it's not exactly crazy to question the fit in Philadelphia.
One of the most respected players that the game has seen recently dished his positive thoughts on the fit, though. Former Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson believes that LeBron is the ideal addition for the roster that the Sixers have put together.
In the eyes of Magic Johnson
Speaking with Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson, Johnson believes that LeBron's role will be made simple.
“Well, it’s going to be easy when you’re a playmaker, you know,” Johnson told Robinson this week. “He gets everybody involved in the game; he gets people easy buckets and shots. ... When you think about Maxey, Embiid… all those guys, now Jaylen Brown. One thing that he knows how to do is also bring everybody together.”
James carries a high IQ for the game. Despite not being billed as a point guard, he's still recognized as one of the best passers of his time. Just last season, he averaged more assists per game than the 76ers' primary point guard, Tyrese Maxey.
That's not to say that the ball needs to be in LeBron's hands exclusively next year, but it just goes to show how valuable he'll be as a playmaker in 2026-2027, while playing with an ultra-talented lineup.
Last season with the Lakers
At 41, LeBron put up All-Star numbers. Most believed he would get in the big game by default either way, but the production warranted the NBA's decision to get the veteran forward back on the All-Star stage for the 22nd time in his career.
In 60 games, James saw the court for 33.2 minutes per game. He shot the ball at a 51.5% clip, and hit on 31.7% of his shots from beyond the arc. During his final effort with the Lakers, LeBron posted averages of 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists.
Throughout the Lakers' 10-game postseason stretch, LeBron's production went up a notch. He shot 45.9% from the field, averaging 23.5 points per game. He also produced 7.3 assists per game and came down with 6.7 rebounds per game.
Most believed that LeBron was worth the $52.6 million he made with the Lakers last season. Now, the Sixers got him for just $3.8 million.
Add us as a preferred source on Google