The Philadelphia 76ers have suddenly been pushed into the championship conversation after adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, but not everyone is ready to hand them the crown. Shaquille O'Neal has made it clear he sees this as a championship-or-bust season in Philadelphia, while Iman Shumpert isn’t buying the idea that the 76ers should already be treated like the league’s top dog.
That kind of hype makes sense on paper. Bringing in two Finals MVPs changes the whole look of a roster, and it has naturally raised expectations for the 2027 championship.
The players already in Philly seem to welcome the spotlight, too. They even actively recruited James, which says plenty about the culture there, and it appears the interest in learning from the four-time Finals MVP runs deep, including with sophomore guard VJ Edgecombe.
Still, Shumpert thinks people are getting too far ahead of themselves. On Shaq’s The Big Podcast, he pointed to the New York Knicks as a major reason the 76ers can’t be crowned too early.
"Jalen Brunson leads the fourth quarter scoring for the past five consecutive years. Look, Tyrese (Maxey), I love you to death, but you have to show me you can beat Jalen Brunson... Jalen Brunson needs to be stopped before we start considering others for a championship," Shumpert said on Shaq's The Big Podcast.
His point is simple: if the Knicks are the defending champions, they deserve to be treated like the team standing in the way. And with the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder also in the mix, the road is crowded enough that calling the 76ers the favorites feels like a stretch.
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Knicks May Be Running Out Of Time On A Roster Option
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Minnesotas reported interest now adds a little urgency to the picture, since the Knicks have not re-signed Sochan and may not want to let the conversation linger too long. For a team trying to shore up depth without overcommitting, the decision is less about splash and more about timing, and the longer this drags on, the more it starts to feel like a race against another teams patience. [Read more 🡒]
Shaqs Knicks Title Take Will Have Fans Arguing All Day
Shaquille ONeal has never been shy about a hot take, and his latest Knicks conversation is already the kind that will keep New York fans talking. On a recent podcast episode, ONeal looked back at the Knicks run to the championship and suggested that luck had a hand in the outcome, pointing to the kind of late-game breaks and wild swings that defined the playoff stretch.
He highlighted OG Anunobys tip-in and the Knicks rally from a 29-point hole as examples of how thin the margin was on the way to the title, even while giving Jalen Brunson his due for playing through injury and carrying so much of the load. ONeal even drew a comparison between Brunsons demeanor and Kobe Bryants, which only added another layer to a discussion that figures to linger in New York for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face A Tricky Center Decision Before A Bigger Move Opens Up
The Knicks are still piecing together the end of their roster, and the center spot remains one of the more interesting decisions left on the board. One name that fits the discussion is Kelly Olynyk, whose value has always been tied more to what he can do with the ball than what he can stop on the other end. His shooting and passing would give New York another layer of offensive depth, which matters for a team that has tried to keep its frontcourt options flexible.
Olynyk also comes with some familiar tradeoffs, including age and defense, but there is a practical angle here beyond the skill set. He spent time in San Antonio recently, so there is at least some familiarity with the Spurs system as the Knicks weigh whether he is the right fit for a third-string role. With a bigger move still potentially waiting in the wings, this is exactly the kind of small but meaningful roster call that can shape the next step. [Read more 🡒]