Kevin Durant has no doubt about LeBron James‘ chances of making things work with the Philadelphia 76ers, as he predicted the new-look superteam will become a juggernaut.
During a special episode of The Boardroom Talks with Speedy Morman, Durant was asked what he thought about LeBron joining the Philadelphia 76ers, and his initial assessment couldn’t have been much stronger.
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Speedy Morman: “LeBron going to Philly, what do you think about that?”
Kevin Durant: “That’s going to be a juggernaut. That’s what I think.”
Speedy Morman: “You think so? Yeah, ’cause I feel like we’ve seen him try this a couple times. He tried it in Cleveland. It didn’t really work like that.”
Kevin Durant: “It did.”
Speedy Morman: “I mean, when they had, like, D-Wade, Derrick Rose.”
Kevin Durant: “They won in Cleveland, though.”
Speedy Morman: “Okay, he won in Cleveland. But I’m talking about when he, like, recruited, like, D-Rose.”
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Kevin Durant: “You got to think why that happened, though. That only happened because of the Kyrie situation. Kyrie leaving, they had to figure it out quickly. And you see, they tried to figure it out in a matter of a month or so, and it just don’t work like that in basketball sometimes, especially when you’re trying to win the championship. And it’s not a bad thing that it doesn’t work. It’s just like, you tried some shit, then they traded most of those guys and went to the Finals.”
“So it’s like, what he does actually does work. You know what I’m saying? He understands how to put a winning basketball team together. He’s been in the league for 24 years. He should know how to understand how to do that.”
“And then he knows how to put himself in position to be successful. And I feel like for him to take a minimum says a lot about his mindset and how he’s going to come into the team.”
“And they need a connector of guys that kind of—somebody that understands, like, all right, everybody’s not going to average 25 points on this team. But it’s going to be nights where you’re going to be the man. It’s going to be nights where you got to be the second guy, but it’s going to be moving parts throughout the whole season. Everybody’s role is going to change.”
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“And I think LeBron understands that. He’s been around for so long. Then you got those guys, not young either. They’re 25-plus. They’ve been in the league for six, seven years. Played Game 7s in the playoffs before.”
“So, yeah, that’s what I say about that team. They got the intelligence to make it all work.”
Speedy Morman: “You think? So you think it’s actually going to pan out?”
Kevin Durant: “Yes. I think it’s no ifs, ands or buts about it. You got to realize they also have a championship-winning coach who knows how to put some pieces together, and the GM in the front office who won a championship with us, with the Warriors, who know how to put a dynasty together.”
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“So, like, they got the parts right now if you’re just looking at it on paper. But obviously, you got to play the games, and you got to hope for good health and all of that stuff. But I feel like they got the basketball minds over there to figure it out.”
LeBron has joined an already loaded Sixers roster, which features Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey, and gives this franchise a massive collection of established talent.
And Durant thinks LeBron’s decision to accept a minimum contract also shows something important about his intention. James’ biggest responsibility won’t be scoring, and Durant thinks the 41-year-old can become the connector that the Sixers so desperately need to manage a roster that is filled with players who are accustomed to major offensive nights on a daily basis.
Not everybody is going to average 25 points on this team. There will be nights when different players will become primary options, while responsibility could navigate throughout the season, and James’ experience should make him very equipped to manage these dynamics.
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Durant also doesn’t think the Sixers’ stars will struggle with the sacrifices that need to be made in order to contend. These aren’t inexperienced players who are just learning playoff basketball for the first time.
The Sixers’ core has spent years in the league, and Jalen Brown is already a legitimate playoff performer, and he has nearly a decade of experience in high-pressure playoff situations.
On top of that, Durant also pointed out the championship-winning head coach Nick Nurse and a front office that is guided by former Warriors executive Bob Myers, who helped construct the dynasty that Durant was part of.
There’s obviously one major concern with the Sixers’ current core, which is health. Embiid’s availability will still remain the biggest factor for the Sixers’ championship hopes.
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But still, Durant thinks the necessary pieces are there.
Durant has previously defended James against criticism over his decision to join the Sixers. Now he is going one step further. He is predicting that this experiment won’t merely work. He expects the Sixers to become a powerhouse.
