LeBron James' 'LeGM' nickname didn't come without a reason. Anytime he has moved from one team to another, the four-time NBA champion always has had a championship in his mind. According to ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania, his Philadelphia move is no different.

James had the Warriors, Miami and Cleveland as his landing destinations. But he chose the Sixers because it was the deepest team that gave him a clear shot at the title. He made that clear in his X post on July 24.

"It's always about the rings. And there's no doubt LeBron is playing for a different legacy," Charania told Stephen A. Smith on Monday. "The legacy being the only player in NBA history to win a championship with four different teams."

LeBron is already the only player in NBA history to have won titles and the NBA Finals MVP with three different teams. He won two with the Miami Heat (2012, 2013), one with the Cavaliers (2016), and one with the Lakers (2020).

The Sixers mark the fourth team of LeBron’s career. At 41 years old, he continues to perform as a top-five player, an achievement unprecedented for his age.

"To be playing in seasons that have never been seen in the NBA, 23 has already happened. Now he's at 24 and 25. To say you are...in that top three, four option and potentially lead a championship. That has to be something in the cap of LeBron James when you think about his legacy," Charania said on the Stephen A. Smith Sports show.

Things look promising for LeBron and the Sixers. However, when looked at closely, they have significant hurdles to clear even before they start dreaming of a title.

The big hurdle that LeBron James and the 76ers need to address for the title

Philly is already planning to make LeBron James their primary point guard for the next season. On paper, it looks like a perfect fit given his elite playmaking and finding mismatches.

But a deeper problem lurks: their starting five is crowded with ball-dominant players.

Tyrese Maxey has spent the last few seasons as the point guard for the Sixers. He had the most possessions for the Sixers last season, and for most of his career, he has been a 30% on-ball player.

Last season, Jaylen Brown also played a similar game with the Celtics. According to Stadium Rant, Brown controlled 28.8% of Boston's possessions.

Rookie VJ Edgecombe also had a similar pattern. He took 34% of his shots either in isolation or as the primary ball handler in pick-n-roll.

While Joel Embiid is an exception on the roster, it creates a complex puzzle for HC Nick Nurse. How to maximize production of his three primary players while they play off-the-ball.

Moreover, the Sixers can't afford to make LeBron their primary point guard. Making a 41-year-old run the offense will exhaust him and force turnovers.

He will have to rely on other young players to carry the ball across and hand it to LeBron to make plays.

The Sixers have a lot to figure out. But the silver lining is LeBron himself. He tends to figure out the solution. He has always been able to figure it out. We will have to wait to see it.

Do you think LeBron and the Sixers can win a title next season? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore