Kevin Durant has it clear. The team that the Philadelphia 76ers have assembled for the 2026-27 season is no less a championship contender than any other squad. And no, it doesn’t require a lengthy analysis either; he simply lists the offensive talent of a group of players that is hard to match.
Thinking about what the Sixers could become—and looking back—KD doesn’t hesitate to recall that something similar happened with the Golden State Warriors, two-time champions in which he shared the court with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Now in Philadelphia they will enjoy LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey.
“The last time they put three players who averaged 20 points per game on the same team they called it unfair, and that was the Warriors team I played for. The 76ers have four players who score 25 points per game on this roster. So, yes, I think they’re going to be contenders. They’re going to be a fun team to watch. It’ll be worth watching them on League Pass,” Durant says at a USA Basketball event.
Doing the math, Brown, Embiid, and Maxey averaged at least 25 points per game last season. James has averaged 25 points or more per game in 20 of his 23 seasons, most recently with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023-24 season. It’s reasonable to think all of them will come down a bit, but the potential remains what it is.
Durant Got a Real Surprise
Regarding LeBron’s decision to join the Sixers, which was announced on July 24 by the four-time champion, Durant notes that he had no information about it, since The King tends to be very cautious about keeping such moves under wraps.
“I had no idea. LeBron is that discreet. I know there’s a lot of buzz around him, but you never know what he thinks. I’m happy for him. It’s a great decision to join a team with good chances to win. Philadelphia has an incredible fan base, a great market, and it’s fantastic for the league. A lot of people were following his decision,” he states.
