Kevin Durant is clearly impressed by the Sixers, but that doesn’t mean Philadelphia belongs ahead of the 2016-17 Warriors just yet.
In an Instagram comment, Durant laid out his case for why the Sixers look better on paper. He pointed to “Joel, MVP recently," Durant said in an Instagram comment.
“Jaylen, recent finals MVP, Tyrese Maxey, all-star the last 3 years. We all know what Bron does.
Klay Thompson, never a MVP candidate in nothing, 22ppg. Draymond, 14ppg 7 rebounds 6 assist, Steph a MVP just like Joel was.
I don't get how the Warriors team is better on paper.”
It’s a strong argument, and the Sixers do bring a loaded starting five to the table. Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid give Philadelphia a lineup that looks more balanced than the one Golden State rolled out in 2016-17.
But paper only goes so far.
The Warriors team that season wasn’t a theoretical exercise. That group actually played together, and it remains one of the most overwhelming teams the league has ever seen. Until the Sixers prove it on the court, it’s hard to put them above that standard.
If you compare the stars one by one, Golden State still has the edge. Stephen Curry is plainly the better player than Maxey.
Klay Thompson has the upper hand over Edgecombe. Durant himself was at worst the fourth-best player in basketball in 2016-17, which puts him ahead of Brown.
The one matchup that invites a real debate is Draymond Green against James. Green was more than a role player; he anchored a defense that finished second in the league in defensive rating, and he knocked down 41% of his 3-point attempts during the Warriors’ 2016-17 Finals run. James still gets the nod, but not by as much as it might seem at first glance.
That’s where Durant’s point lands: Philadelphia may have the more talented starting five overall, but Golden State’s top-end firepower was better, and that matters. The Warriors also had the cleaner fit. Durant’s scoring, Curry and Thompson’s shooting, and Green’s two-way glue created a machine that produced one of the most devastating offenses in NBA history and lost just one game on the way to the Finals.
Philadelphia’s depth, though, is a real separator. Golden State’s only legitimate reserves were Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston, while the Sixers appear much deeper.
Durant also sounded bullish on what this Sixers group could become. On LeBron James’s 76ers, he said: “The last time they put three 20-point scorers on a team, they said it was unfair, which was the [Warriors] team I was on.
They have got four 25-point scorers on this team. So, hell yeah, I think they’re going to be a contender.”
There’s no denying the ceiling here. The Sixers could win 55 or more games and reach their deepest postseason run since 2000-01. If they do, this debate will get a lot more interesting.
For now, though, they haven’t taken the floor yet. And until that happens, the Warriors still deserve the benefit of the doubt.
In Other News...
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For now, though, there is no sign the 76ers are treating Morris as a serious option. That leaves his public push more as a self-made twist than a true momentum shift, even if it does underline how the last spot on a contender can attract veterans willing to fit almost any role. Philadelphia still has the final say, and until the team shows more than passing interest, Morris is left hoping the hometown angle is enough to keep him in the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid Gives Sixers Fans A Reason To Believe Again
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Gansey also pointed to the way Embiid and LeBron James meshed at the 2024 Olympics as a sign the fit can work when the coaching staff starts building out the new lineup. The next step is turning that promise into something practical, with the staff expected to manage Embiid carefully while trying to make the most of a group that now has far more star power and far more expectations. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Said Exactly What Sixers Fans Needed To Hear
Jaylen Browns first public turn in a 76ers uniform gave Philadelphia exactly the kind of tone-setter fans wanted to hear. At his introductory press conference, he talked with clear enthusiasm about joining the team, working alongside the fanbase and settling into a group that expects to matter right away. He also framed the move in familiar Philadelphia terms, putting winning at the center of everything while nodding to the importance of team chemistry and the citys energy.
Brown did not stop at basketball, either. He said he wants to stay active in the community and continue the philanthropic work that has long been part of his profile, which matters in a city that likes its stars to show up beyond the court. The bigger question now is how all of that translates once the games start and the expectations tighten, because in Philadelphia, words are appreciated, but the real test comes fast. [Read more 🡒]