CAMDEN, N.J. - Tuesday morning at the Sixers’ practice facility felt bigger than a normal training camp day before anyone even touched a ball. More than 50 media members crowded around the two full-length courts, a far louder and busier scene than usual as the 2026-27 Sixers officially opened their on-court work.
For the first time, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown took part in official basketball activity as Sixers. And unlike last year’s camp, which sent the team on those long flights to Abu Dhabi, this one is staying close to home.
Nick Nurse said with a smile, "Still trying to recover," before laying out a 30-minute presentation on his vision for the season and moving into the first of four straight practice days in Camden. Saturday brings the Blue x White Scrimmage at Xfinity Mobile Arena, followed by Monday’s preseason opener at home against the New York Knicks.
VJ Edgecombe is already embracing the spotlight that comes with this roster. He knows his second NBA season will draw far more attention than his rookie year, but he doesn’t sound burdened by it.
"All eyes on us," Edgecombe said, "so it's just more fun than I would say pressure."
Last season, Nurse gave Edgecombe room to grow by letting him work through mistakes in a wide range of roles on both ends of the floor. Now the job looks different. With fewer offensive touches available on a star-heavy team, Edgecombe said he wants to give the Sixers a defensive edge and expects to become their primary point-of-attack defender.
"I'm looking forward to that," Edgecombe said. "I'm just trying to make sure I'm in top-tier shape so I can do that...
That's important, to be [at the] point of attack, because that's who starts most possessions. I want to be able to set the tone for us defensively."
The Sixers know the offense should have plenty of answers. Anfernee Simons said, "The world is ours," when discussing the team’s versatility.
Tyrese Maxey also said on Monday that Brown has been talking about being a defensive "monster" for the group. Simons made it clear that Edgecombe’s role will be to keep bringing the same energy and talent, while also taking on the challenge of guarding top players.
"VJ’s super talented. Obviously his athletic ability speaks for itself, his ability to rebound the ball speaks for itself.
We’re just going to continue pushing him," Simons said. "Obviously there’s going to be a lot of opportunities to go out there [and] guard the best player.
Just push him that way to continue to be special. Obviously VJ's going to continue to have to go out there and be himself, and we’re going to expect him to be VJ."
Edgecombe also had his first real look at James as a teammate, and the reaction was immediate.
"Yo, that's Bron"
That was Edgecombe’s thought when he saw James in the locker room Tuesday morning. James, at 41, was the oldest player in the building and the first one there, already working by the time Simons arrived.
"Just the ultimate professional. He's been that for 20-plus years now," Simons said.
"You hear the stories about him being here early and getting his work done, and we saw that today. He was here already getting warmed up by the time I walked in the door.
Just speaks to how he's able to play like this for 24 years. It's crazy."
Edgecombe said he isn’t intimidated by anyone and has already tested James, including during a switch that led to a miscommunication in their first practice together. Still, he also grew up with James’ Miami Heat as the team The Bahamas followed, and he knows exactly who he’s dealing with.
"I ain't going to be like that no more," Edgecombe said.
James’ own role is still being sorted out, even if he joked on Monday when asked whether he was this team’s point guard or a connecting power forward: "I think the luxury of my game is I can do everything. Literally, I can do everything."
Nurse didn’t offer much more clarity after that. With James, Edgecombe, Maxey and Joel Embiid all capable of thriving in different ways, the coach said he wants to work with the group over the next "couple of weeks" before narrowing anything down.
"I have an idea, as I do with every guy, what their role should be," Nurse said. But he wants to "collaborate" with his stars and see how everything fits before he tries to "really narrow that down."
Even with all that uncertainty, Nurse said one thing has to be established quickly.
"I think that's one thing we need to do," Nurse said, "is clearly define roles for everybody."
And just as the day seemed to settle, another odd little reminder of this new setup arrived. As Simons wrapped up his media session, a helicopter could be heard leaving from atop the facility. James was on his way out.
Welcome to a brave, new world.
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