After LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2026 offseason, many analysts immediately installed the franchise as championship favorites. The expectation is reasonable given the impressive talent assembled across the roster. However, a prevailing narrative still positions James as the team’s best player—a stance his former teammate Channing Frye publicly challenged.
Frye Sets Realistic Expectations for James’ Role
The 76ers enter the 2026-27 season with considerable hype. Philadelphia already possessed a star-studded core featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and V.J. Edgecombe. The front office then executed a significant swap, moving George to acquire both James and Jaylen Brown—two superstar-level talents.
Despite the blockbuster additions, Frye wants fans and analysts to temper expectations regarding James’ standing on the depth chart. While the four-time MVP can still produce standout performances, the reality of his age—41—means he is no longer the same dominant force, even if he delivers occasional vintage moments.
Frye’s Explicit Player Hierarchy
During an appearance on Road Trippin’, Frye laid out a clear pecking order for the 76ers’ top talent:
“Jaylen Brown is an NBA Finals champion, and LeBron has won. Joel Embiid is 34 or 35, however old he is. He’s the best player on the team when healthy. Jaylen Brown is the next best player on the team. Then the next best player is LeBron, maybe Tyrese Maxey, depending on what you’re doing. So, stop. I think people got to say stop,” Frye said about James on Road Trippin’.
Frye’s assessment places a healthy Embiid at the apex, followed by Brown, with James and Maxey battling for the third spot depending on tactical deployment.
Balancing Star Power in Philadelphia
James will likely still deliver signature games, but the 76ers’ primary challenge involves balancing an abundance of star power. With Embiid and Brown commanding significant usage, James may find his greatest impact in a playmaking role—orchestrating the offense and leveraging his basketball IQ rather than shouldering the primary scoring burden.
