The Philadelphia 76ers have lots of reasons to feel good about what's coming next, and ESPN's latest projection adds another one. ESPN's panel of experts has the Sixers tied for fourth among the teams expected to make a major leap in 2026, giving Philadelphia 15 points in the voting. It's not the highest total on the list, but considering where the team is coming from, it's still a big vote of confidence.
The Sixers certainly gave their panel plenty to think about this offseason. Philadelphia got Jaylen Brown. Then came the much bigger headline: LeBron James is joining the Sixers.
Philadelphia signed the all-time leading scorer on a veteran's minimum salary, adding another enormous name to a roster that already has plenty of star power. That's where things get extra cool. The Sixers now have to figure out how all of these pieces fit together.
Coach Nick Nurse has a starting lineup featuring four ball-dominant stars with All-NBA credentials, along with potential star VJ Edgecombe. On paper, that's a lot of talent. On the court, though, it's going to require some work.
That's the obvious question hanging over Philadelphia heading into 2026. Having big names is one thing. Getting them to play well together is another.
Still, it's hard to look at the Sixers' offseason and not understand why expectations have risen. More sports: Baker Mayfield’s Season Could Get off to Rocky Start, NFL Analyst Says ESPN's panel gave Philadelphia 15 points in the "Surprise teams" voting, tying the Sixers with the Dallas Mavericks. The Washington Wizards finished ahead of them with 20 points, while the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz led the voting with 46 points apiece.
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