Shaquille O’Neal believes the Philadelphia 76ers have left themselves no room for a long-term adjustment period after assembling a roster featuring LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey.
“Championship or bust,” O’Neal said of the new-look Sixers. “You got the great LeBron. You got great Embiid.”
Philadelphia added LeBron James in free agency after acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in a July 6 trade that sent Paul George and four draft picks to Boston. The moves transformed a team that finished 45-37 and seventh in the Eastern Conference before being swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks in the second round.
O’Neal placed particular emphasis on Embiid, who averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 38 games during the 2025-26 regular season.
“It was like three, four years ago Charles and I would always say how he’s the best big man,” O’Neal said. “Joker has surpassed him, will be honest, making a name for himself. My question to Joel: Does he want it back? And if he does, please show me.”
Embiid’s limited availability remains a central variable for Philadelphia. The 76ers received elite production when he played, shooting 48.9% from the field, but he appeared in fewer than half of the team’s 82 regular-season games.
James, meanwhile, joins Philadelphia with a championship résumé that O’Neal believes gives the Sixers an immediate mandate.
“I know LeBron wants to get one last one,” O’Neal said.
Brown arrives after the Celtics went 56-26 and won the Atlantic Division last season, while Maxey is coming off the most productive year of his career. The 25-year-old guard averaged 28.3 points and 6.6 assists in 70 games, earning All-Star recognition and All-NBA Third Team honors.
O’Neal also pointed to Brown’s potential motivation following his move from Boston.
“Jaylen is feeling slighted,” O’Neal said. “Maxey is making a name for himself, definitely the team to watch.”
The Sixers have supplemented their stars by signing Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons, while also drafting Labaron Philon Jr. with the 22nd overall pick. Those additions follow the departures of George, Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes and Andre Drummond.
For O’Neal, however, the standard will be determined by Philadelphia’s star power rather than its roster turnover.
“I don’t wanna hear next year,” O’Neal said. “This team was put together to win a championship now. They have all the pieces they need.”
Philadelphia’s 2026-27 season will therefore begin with a dramatically different core and a clear expectation from one of the league’s most prominent former players: the Sixers must contend immediately.
