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‘Every Star Doesn’t Play Well Together’ — LeBron James’ Ex-Teammate Reignites 76ers’ Chemistry Debate With Blunt Reality Check
Oct 16, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in a game against the Boston Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena. © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Oct 16, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in a game against the Boston Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena. © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia 76ers open the regular season Tuesday with four All-Stars in their expected starting lineup after trading for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Ahead of the regular season, one of James’ former teammates has claimed that all this talent is no guarantee the pieces will fit. Shawn Marion, a four-time All-Star who played with James in Cleveland in 2014-15, has now weighed in on the 76ers’ chemistry debate.

LeBron James’ Former Teammate Offers Blunt Take on New Look Philadelphia’s Fit

Marion’s concern starts with how James and Brown will function in a lineup already boasting the likes of Embiid, Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.

“There are a lot of guys over there and ain’t but one ball,” Marion told Action Network. “They don’t really call plays anymore so that’s the uniqueness of the game now, but a lot of guys don’t play well without the ball. Every star doesn’t play well together.”

“We see it time and time again,” Marion continued. “We’re going to see how it rolls out. I’m optimistic, but I want to see what happens.”

Marion’s second concern was health. An aging James and Embiid, who appeared in just 96 regular-season games over the last three seasons, naturally raise questions about their availability.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in Philly,” Marion said. “Are they going to be healthy? What are they going to do?”

However, Embiid sees the team fit differently. After Friday’s preseason finale, the seven-time All-Star got honest about the team’s fit and players having to take a back seat.

“I’m against the concept of sacrificing,” Embiid said. “I think the way I explained it was you do what you do best, and we’re going to support you. … I don’t think anybody has to take a back seat.”

Nonetheless, the 76ers will still need a pecking order when all four share the floor, especially late in close games, and Nick Nurse’s biggest challenges would involve handling this star-studded locker room.

The Boston Celtics traded Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. With Jayson Tatum out most of last season recovering from a torn Achilles, Brown averaged a career-best 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists and led the Celtics to the No. 2 seed in the East.

Meanwhile, James announced in July that he was joining Philadelphia after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. Joining the Sixers, the 41-year-old knows what it takes to manage expectations.

Playing beside Luka Dončić last season, James wasn’t the clear No. 1 option for the first time in his career, but still averaged 20.9 points and 7.2 assists on 51.5% shooting and made his 22nd All-Star team.

When Dončić and Austin Reaves were injured at the start of the playoffs, James led the Lakers past Houston and averaged 23.2 points and 7.3 assists over 10 postseason games, a run that ended in a second-round sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Nurse has already started reshaping roles and reportedly wants Maxey to move to shooting guard, explaining that with more players able to bring the ball up the floor, the two-time All-Star will naturally play off the ball.

The real test starts Tuesday against the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, offering the first regular-season look at the two questions Marion and other analysts have raised about the team’s chemistry and availability.

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