“This is a fact” – Brian Windhorst points to a LeBron James trend Philadelphia 76ers fans should be wary of

The Philadelphia 76ers are preparing to start the 2026-27 NBA season with a roster that almost feels too loaded to be real. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe remain part of the core, but the Sixers have also added more firepower with four-time NBA champion LeBron James and 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.

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Not just LeBron and Brown, the Sixers have also brought in Andernee Simons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Dean Wade, and Labaron Philon Jr., among others. With plenty of new faces on the roster, there is also a lot that needs to come together before the franchise can figure out exactly what this group looks like on the court.

That is where ESPN’s NBA analyst Brian Windhorst sees something worth keeping in mind before putting high expectations on the team. He believes the Sixers may need some time to find their rhythm, and LeBron’s history with new teams is one reason.

LeBron’s history suggests a slow start for the 76ers

Speaking on the “Hoops Collective” podcast, the 48-year-old analyst pointed out that the four-time NBA MVP has played alongside elite talent before, but bringing that much talent together doesn’t automatically mean everything will work from the opening night.

“This is a LeBron fact. When LeBron has arrived, his new teams haven’t… It’s taken a while. Now, I’m not arguing that 2014 LeBron is the same as 2026 LeBron,” Windy

“Also, there’s some dynamics this team that are different, but just keep that in mind as you evaluate what the Sixers are going to be, especially out of the gate.”

Windy also laid out some history behind the point. When LeBron joined the Miami Heat in 2010, they started the season 9-8 before finding their mojo. His return to Cleveland in 2014 also came with a below .500 period, with the Cavs opening the season with a 19-20 record. Moreover, the 2018-19 Lakers missed the playoffs altogether.

But none of those situations are exactly the same as what LeBron is walking into in Philly. He is 41 years old and has spent the last couple of seasons adjusting his role depending on the players around him. James is expected to take the point guard role with the Sixers with his ability to control an offense and create shots for others.

Still, Windhorst’s point is more about giving the Sixers some time to figure out rather than expecting the roster to look dominant from the get-go.

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Shumpert sees a different problem waiting in Philly

While Windy is asking fans to wait for the Sixers roster to come together, former LeBron teammate Iman Shumpert recently suggested that the arrival of King James will change how the team is viewed.

Shump believes players like Embiid and Maxey may sometimes have to contend with the perception that any success will be attributed to the biggest name on the roster.

“Tyrese Maxey is gonna have to deal with. Embiid is gonna have to deal with. If y’all win, Bron did this. That mental battle, that’s hard as hell,” Shumpert said. “That’s the biggest problem, I think, a lot of players have to deal with. When somebody comes, you have to change, ego-wise.”

Iman might have seen that dynamic up close, but LeBron’s role during the later stages of his career has also changed. King James has shown focus on elevating the players around him rather than needing to control every part of an offense himself.

Last season with the Lakers, LeBron accepted a role behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for the first time in his career. Now with the Sixers, Maxey, Embiid, and even Edgecombe might have to give up some of the spotlight with James on the roster.

But that also means LeBron will naturally attract much of the attention when things do not go as planned.

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This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 4:06 AM.