The key word of the offseason for the 76ers going into the 2026-2027 campaign is \u201csacrifice.\u201d If everybody has the same goal, then they can\u2019t focus on playing hero ball to get them there. LeBron James made the biggest financial sacrifice of his career by choosing to join the 76ers on a minimum salary just one year after collecting over $50 million from the Lakers.<\/p>\n
Technically, nobody else is playing for a big payday for the 76ers in 2026-2027. Tyrese Maxey landed his max deal two offseasons ago. Jaylen Brown is extension-eligible, but he\u2019s still got three years left on a five-year, $285.3 million deal. Joel Embiid\u2019s massive three-year extension is just beginning, while VJ Edgecombe is only heading into his sophomore season. There isn\u2019t any financial incentive on the table for this year\u2019s starting five. So, the ideal level of buy-in for the Sixers should be easy to achieve.<\/p>\n
Who could be better?<\/p>\n
The Oklahoma City Thunder just won a championship two postseasons ago, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams being core members of the group. They come in at No. 4. The New York Knicks\u2019 guard-center combo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns could be rivaled by Joel Embiid-Tyrese Maxey, but the higher group (No. 3) just won a championship. It\u2019s hard to debate.<\/p>\n
The Denver Nuggets still have an intriguing duo in every-year MVP candidate in Nikola Jokic, and the finally-an-All-Star guard in Jamal Murray. This one might be a little too high these days, but again, championships give duos higher placement by default. As for the top dogs in San Antonio, the Spurs have the No. 1 combo mix with Victor Wembanyama and\/or Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. <\/p>\n
They haven\u2019t reached the championship yet, but they got a taste in 2026. Let\u2019s face it: Wemby is the NBA\u2019s darling. That\u2019s not going to change anytime soon. Everybody above the 76ers has proven something. Now, this loaded Philly roster enters the new league year with sky-high expectations and will face plenty of pressure to find a combo that could shoot up this rank. <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
Add us as a preferred source on Google