Sixers Suddenly Have A Title Question Few Teams Ever Face

With the addition of stars like LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, the 76ers are on the brink of achieving a scoring feat unprecedented in NBA history.

The 76ers may be lining up for a scoring feat the NBA has never seen.

After bringing in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown this offseason, Philadelphia suddenly looks loaded at the top end. On paper, the roster is built to pile up points without much strain, and the most striking possibility is this: the 76ers could become the first team in league history to have five players finish a season averaging more than 18 points per game.

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey already give Philadelphia two obvious high-volume scorers, and Brown and James push that number even higher. The fifth name in the mix is VJ Edgecombe, who is expected to build on his freshman season and raise his scoring output in Year 2.

No team has ever gotten to five players over that 18-point mark in a full season. The closest benchmark belongs to the 2019-20 LA Clippers, who had four such players in Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Montrezl Harrell, and Lou Williams. Philadelphia has the firepower to top that.

What makes the idea even more realistic is the way the offense could sort itself out. The 76ers may not have a rigid scoring hierarchy, and that kind of uncertainty could actually work in their favor. Any one of their five main pieces could take over a game on a given night.

Embiid, Brown, and Maxey look like safe bets to land well above 20 points per game. James is expected to handle more of the playmaking load, but he should still clear 18 points a night comfortably. Edgecombe is the swing piece, though the team believes there is room for him to take a bigger jump than some expect.

Nick Nurse is also expected to lean into staggered minutes to maximize the roster’s talent and keep scoring options on the floor. That setup should create plenty of chances for the main scorers to rack up numbers.

The plan should also include regular rest for older players like Embiid and James, which would open the door for the others to carry more of the offense when needed.

Philadelphia is not chasing a record for its own sake. But with this kind of depth and shot-making, the milestone could come as a natural byproduct. If it helps the 76ers win, it will fit right into a title push.

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