Channing Frye isn’t buying the idea that LeBron James is the top dog in Philadelphia anymore.
That conversation has followed James into the 2026 offseason, when he signed with the 76ers and immediately helped turn them into one of the league’s most talked-about title picks. With a roster already loaded with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and V.J.
Edgecombe, the ceiling looked high before James ever arrived. Then the 76ers flipped George for both James and Jaylen Brown, and the talent level only got louder.
But Frye, who played with James, thinks the hype needs a reality check. At 41, James can still flash, still put together strong nights, and still tilt a game with his playmaking. He just isn’t the same force he was in his prime.
“Jaylen Brown is an NBA Finals champion, and LeBron has won. Joel Embiid is 34 or 35, however old he is.
He’s the best player on the team when healthy. Jaylen Brown is the next best player on the team.
Then the next best player is LeBron, maybe Tyrese Maxey, depending on what you’re doing. So, stop.
I think people got to say stop,” Frye said about James on Road Trippin'.
That’s the crux of it for Philadelphia: there’s a lot of star power to sort through, and James may wind up being more of the playmaker than the centerpiece. He can still deliver big moments, but Frye’s point is clear - the 76ers’ best player label doesn’t belong to LeBron anymore.
In Other News...
Former Sixers Big Man Suddenly Tied To Another Knicks Move
The Knicks are still sorting through the ripple effects of their backup-center shuffle with the 76ers, and now one of the names tied to their next move is a familiar one in Philadelphia. Tony Bradley, who spent time with the Sixers earlier in his career, is reportedly under consideration in New York as the team looks to add another big man alongside Andre Drummond.
Bradleys path makes the possibility a little more interesting for Philly watchers because he was already on the floor against the Knicks in playoff games last season, after stints with the Pacers and Hawks. For the Sixers, it is another reminder that a move involving Drummond has not just altered their own depth chart, but may also be shaping what New York does next in the frontcourt. [Read more 🡒]
Dwight Howard Just Made A Sixers Reunion Harder To Dismiss
Dwight Howard has made a late-career detour that keeps his name in the basketball conversation, announcing he will play overseas for Black Fortress Tbilisi in Georgias Superliga even after officially calling it a career earlier this year. For a player whose time in Philadelphia still lingers in the memory, it is the kind of move that naturally pulls old possibilities back into view, even if only as a what-if rather than a plan.
The idea of a Sixers reunion still lives in the realm of speculation, but it is no longer easy to dismiss entirely. Philadelphia continues to sort out its center depth behind Joel Embiid after losing Andre Drummond, adding Ariel Hukporti and banking on Adem Bona, which leaves any veteran reinforcements worth at least a second look. Howards past stint with the team gives the thought some familiarity, but for now the discussion remains just that, a discussion. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Face More Pressure To Solve Their Joel Embiid Backup Problem
The market for backup centers is getting tighter, and that matters for Philadelphia because the 76ers are still trying to solve the depth issue behind Joel Embiid. Philadelphia has had limited options in reserve, which makes the search for another capable big man more than just a nice-to-have. Any front office looking for help in the middle is now staring at a thinner pool and a longer list of teams with the same need.
Phoenix only added to the pressure on that market after losing Mark Williams to a shoulder injury, a development that leaves the Suns in the same lane as the 76ers and New York Knicks. With another team now expected to chase center help, the 76ers may have to act in a more crowded field than they would have liked. For a team already balancing Embiid's workload, that kind of competition can make a backup solution harder to find and more expensive to secure. [Read more 🡒]