The Philadelphia 76ers have turned their offseason into a full-blown statement. Trading for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James in free agency has pushed the conversation in one direction: title expectations.
That belief is getting louder, too. Former Lakers guard Rajon Rondo said on the ‘Road Trippin’ podcast, per Nico Martinez of Fadeaway World, that James’ next stop could work because of the people around him as much as the talent on the roster.
“I think it’s the personalities in the locker room that make a big difference. LeBron is at a point in his career where being around the right personalities matters just as much as the talent,” said Rondo on the ‘Road Trippin’ podcast, per Nico Martinez of Fadeaway World. “He wants teammates he can genuinely enjoy being around, have fun with, and build real chemistry with.”
Rondo didn’t stop there. He also made it clear where he stands on Philadelphia’s championship outlook.
“If you give him these types of pieces to play with, you know, I’m an early bet with them being the favorites to win. You know, and my, and my book, I’m not a bettor, but if I were to bet, I would bet the Sixers early,” he said.
He’s hardly alone in seeing the 76ers as a real threat. There are still questions hanging over health, defense, and how all the pieces fit together, but Philadelphia’s talent level is drawing plenty of attention. If Nick Nurse can get the group moving in sync, the Sixers could be a problem for just about everybody.
Philadelphia opens the 2026-27 season on October 20 on the road against the New York Knicks.
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