Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James wants his new team to play at a faster pace and take advantage of scoring opportunities before opposing defenses have time to organize.
The four-time NBA champion has already begun influencing Philadelphia’s offensive approach as the franchise prepares for the 2026-27 NBA season.
During his preseason debut last week, James focused primarily on creating opportunities for his teammates, recording five assists in the first quarter.
The 41-year-old believes the Sixers have several players capable of attacking defenses in transition, including VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown.
“I think it’s always important just to be able to attack offensively before the defense is set,” James said.
“So, any time we can get some early transition points or early attacks against defenses, we want to be able to do that. You have VJ (Edgecombe), you have Tyrese (Maxey), you have Jaylen (Brown); we’re able to punch gaps, especially if they have a numbers advantage, or even a one-on-one advantage. Other guys are not going to really be able to stay in front of them.”
James believes Philadelphia can benefit from pushing the ball up the court quickly rather than allowing opponents to establish their half-court defense.
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His passing ability could also help the Sixers create better scoring opportunities for their younger players, particularly when they have favorable individual matchups.
According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, James has already introduced changes to Philadelphia’s style of play since arriving during the offseason.
