Magic Johnson believes LeBron James may have the one skill that can smooth out the Philadelphia 76ers’ crowded new roster: his passing.
Philadelphia has loaded up on names, bringing LeBron and Jaylen Brown alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and V.J. Edgecombe. That kind of talent gives the Sixers a star-packed lineup, but it also creates a simple problem that can get complicated fast - too many players are used to having the ball.
Johnson isn’t sweating it.
In an interview with Scoop B Robinson, the Lakers legend pointed to LeBron’s playmaking as the piece that can make the whole thing click.
“Well, it’s going to be easy when you’re a playmaker, you know. So he gets everybody involved in the game. He gets people easy buckets and shots.”
“And so when you think about Maxey and Embiid, all those guys, now Jaylen Brown. One thing that he knows how to do is also bring everybody together.”
That has been a LeBron trademark for years. He’s been an elite scorer for more than two decades, but he’s also long been the kind of creator who turns possession after possession into clean looks for everyone around him.
Philadelphia, at least on paper, has plenty of finishers ready to take advantage. Maxey brings explosive backcourt scoring.
Embiid is still one of the league’s most dominant offensive forces when healthy. Brown adds another proven wing scorer.
Even Edgecombe is coming off a great rookie season.
Still, the real issue is how the touches get divided.
Johnson had already raised that exact concern when he first reacted to LeBron’s move. He said LeBron, Brown, Embiid, and Maxey all are used to having the ball in their hands, and he wanted to see what kind of offense Nick Nurse would run.
He also flagged defense and chemistry as the two biggest questions facing the Sixers, while warning that if they clean up both areas, “the NBA needs to watch out.”
His latest comments show where he thinks Philadelphia’s best solution lies. Johnson clearly trusts LeBron to handle the chemistry piece.
And LeBron has done this before. He has shared the floor with stars in Miami with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, in Cleveland with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, in Los Angeles with Anthony Davis, and later with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as well.
That’s been a huge part of his career: adjusting, recalibrating, and making room for other elite talent.
Doing that in Philadelphia would be another major shift, especially at this stage of his career. But it could also lighten his load by putting him next to multiple players who can create their own shots.
Johnson has been supportive of LeBron’s departure from Los Angeles, too. He thanked LeBron and Rich Paul for meeting with him during his time as Lakers president in 2018 and credited LeBron with ushering in a new era in LA and winning the 2020 NBA championship.
He also said Lakers fans should welcome LeBron when Philadelphia comes to Los Angeles on Christmas Day.
So Johnson sees more than just star power in this setup. Yes, the Sixers have plenty of mouths to feed. But in his view, LeBron’s ability to involve everyone and bring different personalities together might be exactly what makes this superteam work.
In Other News...
Sixers Just Made A Staff Move That Could Matter Fast
A familiar name is on the way back into Nick Nurses orbit. Phil Handy is reportedly finalizing a deal to join the 76ers coaching staff, bringing a rsum that includes previous work alongside Nurse in Toronto, plus stops with the Cavaliers and Lakers. For a Philadelphia team trying to keep tightening its edges on the bench, this is the kind of move that can matter quickly because it adds a voice Nurse already knows and trusts.
Handy had already joined the Mavericks for the 2025-2026 NBA season before this development, which makes the shift notable even beyond the usual coaching carousel. For the Sixers, the appeal is clear: experience, familiarity with Nurses style and another veteran presence in a room where every detail can carry weight. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Could Target An Intriguing Bucks Guard As Depth Questions Loom
The Sixers still have an open roster spot, and the front office appears likely to keep exploring both the trade and buyout markets as it looks for another piece. Center depth remains a concern, but there is also some room to evaluate the guard rotation, especially if the team wants more insulation behind its current options and a clearer answer on how the younger pieces are coming along.
One name now in the mix is Milwaukee guard Kevin Porter Jr., who has reportedly drawn interest from Philadelphia as the Bucks head into a rebuild phase after Giannis Antetokounmpo's departure. For the Sixers, that kind of availability can be appealing at this stage of the offseason, even if any pursuit will likely depend on how the market develops and whether the team decides the backcourt or the front line needs the stronger immediate fix. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers New Big Three Just Sent An Early Message
The early days of a new star pairing can tell you a lot, and the Sixers already have one sign that their revamped core is taking shape. Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown recently shared a joint practice session, giving Philadelphia a first look at how the pieces might fit together on the floor. Maxey came away encouraged by the chemistry and work ethic he saw, while James made it clear he has quickly taken to the guards approach and the bond they have started to build.
For a team trying to turn a headline-grabbing overhaul into something workable, those kinds of first impressions matter. James praise of Maxey also adds another layer to why this partnership feels different, with the veteran pointing to Maxeys dedication as part of what helped bring him to Philadelphia in the first place. The talent is obvious, but the more interesting question now is how fast that comfort turns into something the Sixers can rely on when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]