Key Takeaways
- Magic Johnson says LeBron James’ playmaking will help the 76ers’ star-studded lineup click because “he gets everybody involved” and creates easy shots.
- Johnson believes James can unite Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, easing his earlier concerns about Philadelphia’s chemistry and ball distribution.
- The 41-year-old James joins the revamped Sixers after averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds last season, with the team expected to reduce his workload ahead of the playoffs.
Magic Johnson is no longer wondering whether LeBron James can make Philadelphia's collection of superstars work. Weeks after questioning the 76ers' chemistry following James' blockbuster move, the Lakers legend now says LeBron's greatest strength may be exactly what keeps Philly's loaded lineup together.
Speaking with ScoopB.com on Thursday night, August 20, at the Harold & Carole Pump Foundation Gala at The Beverly Hilton, Johnson was asked how James will coexist with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and newly acquired Jaylen Brown—all players accustomed to significant offensive roles. For Magic, the answer was simple.
"Well, it's going to be easy when you're a playmaker, you know," Johnson said. "He gets everybody involved in the game, he gets people easy buckets and shots."
That's a notable shift from Johnson's initial reaction to Philadelphia's offseason overhaul. After the Sixers traded Paul George and draft compensation to Boston for Brown and then landed James, Johnson praised the team's offensive firepower but openly wondered how head coach Nick Nurse would manage so many players accustomed to having the ball.
At the time, he identified defense and "team chemistry" as Philadelphia's two biggest questions.
Now, Johnson believes James can help solve at least one of them.
"When you think about Maxey, Embiid… all those guys, now Jaylen Brown," Johnson said. "One thing that he knows how to do is also bring everybody together."
Few players are better positioned than Johnson to evaluate that part of James' game. Both built their reputations as oversized playmakers capable of controlling an offense without simply hunting their own shots.
Johnson won five championships, three MVP awards and three Finals MVPs while orchestrating the Lakers' "Showtime" dynasty. James enters his Philadelphia chapter with four championships, four MVPs and four Finals MVPs while also ranking among the NBA's greatest scorers and passers.
Their careers are intertwined beyond the comparisons. Johnson personally recruited James to Los Angeles in 2018 while serving as the Lakers' president of basketball operations. James eventually delivered the Lakers their 17th championship in 2020 before leaving Los Angeles this summer for Philadelphia.
The Sixers are betting that his playmaking can unlock an already formidable roster. James joins a core featuring Embiid, Maxey and Brown after Philadelphia dramatically reshaped the team following last season's playoff exit.
James, 41, averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds last season and is expected to carry a reduced offensive workload as Philadelphia tries to preserve him for another postseason run.
His arrival has made the Sixers one of the NBA's biggest stories before training camp even begins. Allen Iverson summed up his reaction to Philadelphia's new firepower with, "Ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun," while Charles Barkley criticized James for once again joining a roster stacked with stars.
