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The lab · Reading time 6 min · Updated Nov 14, 2026 · first published Oct 25, 2026

LeBron's Sixers… or Maxey's?

LeBron James signed with Philadelphia for the minimum in his 24th season, and the Sixers are 10-3. But when you look at who's on the floor when they win, the hero isn't necessarily who you'd think. And their record is shakier than it looks: Boston made that clear on Tuesday.

Alex

Update, November 14: this feature was first published on October 25, after three games and three wins. It has been rewritten with the first thirteen games (10-3).

The Sixers had a busy summer. In early July, Philadelphia landed Jaylen Brown by sending Paul George and four draft picks to Boston. In late July, LeBron James picked the Sixers for what he called his “last decision”: two years, about $8 million, the veteran’s minimum. It is his 24th season, a record.

The preseason? Four games, four losses. The season? Nine wins in the first eleven games, the franchise’s best start since 2000-01, including a 29-point comeback against Cleveland, a franchise record. Then Boston came to Philadelphia on Tuesday and won 123-101, with 36 points from Paul George, the man traded for Jaylen Brown. The Celtics took back first place in the East. The Sixers bounced back on Thursday against Toronto (123-112), after trailing by 17.

  • +30point differential when Maxey, Brown and Embiid share the floor, in 179 minutes
  • 26.7points per game for Tyrese Maxey, in 36 minutes
  • +1.8average point differential per game: a good team’s record, not a leader’s

The engine: still Maxey, Brown, Embiid

After three games, the trio was +63 in 61 minutes. It was huge, and bound to come down. Thirteen games later, it’s +30 in 179 minutes: much less spectacular, but still the team’s best group. When any of the three is missing, the Sixers are −7 in 445 minutes, roughly break-even.

With Maxey, Brown and Embiid+30point differential in 179 min444 scored, 414 allowed
Without Maxey, Brown and Embiid−7point differential in 445 min1001 scored, 1008 allowed

Maxey is averaging 26.7 points, Brown 21.2. Embiid is at 17.9 points and 8.8 rebounds, and he has played eleven of thirteen games, which in Philadelphia is still good news. He’s 4 of 36 from three. That’s less good news.

On-court point differential, by player (13 games)
  1. Joel Embiidstarter · 347 min+57
  2. Jaylen Brownstarter · 419 min+35
  3. Tyrese Maxeystarter · 470 min+31
  4. VJ Edgecombestarter · 404 min+31
  5. Kentavious Caldwell-Popebench · 285 min+30
  6. Labaron Philon Jr.bench · 45 min+9
  7. Dean Wadebench · 278 min+4
  8. LeBron Jamesstarter · 326 min0
  9. Jabari Walkerbench · 107 min−22
  10. Anfernee Simonsbench · 282 min−23
  11. Adem Bonabench · 128 min−23

And what about LeBron?

LeBron James is averaging 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists in his ten games. He’s the team’s fourth-leading scorer, and his best game in this jersey is still his 22 points in Chicago. An excellent fourth option, still not the center of gravity.

At the end of October, the Sixers were better with him off the floor (+20) than on it (+5). Today it’s a perfect balance: in the games he played, they’re even in 326 minutes with him, and −4 in 154 minutes with him on the bench. But look at the trio: without LeBron alongside, Maxey, Brown and Embiid are +35 in 54 minutes; with him, −5 in 126 minutes. And the full starting five has slipped into the red: −7 in 120 minutes.

Depending on who's on the floor
  1. Maxey, Brown and Embiid together179.2 min+30
  2. …with LeBron as well125.5 min−5
  3. …without LeBron53.7 min+35
  4. LeBron on the floor325.6 min0
  5. LeBron on the bench154.4 min−4

The two real questions

A shaky 10-3. Over thirteen games, the Sixers have outscored opponents by just 23 points in total, +1.8 a game. That’s a good team’s margin, not a dominant leader’s. The difference came in close games: they had won all 8 before Boston came to town. It’s a strength, and Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe shoot 50% in those moments. But it’s also what varies most from one season to the next, and Boston didn’t leave them a close finish to play.

The bench. Anfernee Simons is −23 in 282 minutes, Adem Bona −23 in 128 minutes. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, +30 in the same playing time as Simons, has found his place. If Nick Nurse is looking for minutes to hand out, they’re still there.

As for Maxey’s workload, it has come down a little (36.2 minutes, down from 39 in the first week). You’d still rather see that kind of number in May.

Our verdict

These are Maxey, Brown and Embiid’s Sixers, with LeBron as a luxury. The luxury has made itself useful, and at $8 million, a fourth option with 7 rebounds and nearly 7 assists is still the bargain of the summer. But the franchise’s best start in 25 years rests on close games won one by one, and the first real test, against Boston, ended at −22. The Sixers are a good team. For now, not yet the best in the East.

Method: the five players on the floor were rebuilt from the substitutions in ESPN’s play-by-play (the maj:cinqs script); the per-player differentials match the official plus/minus within 5 points. “LeBron on the bench” only counts the games he played. Sample: 13 games, from Oct. 20 to Nov. 12. Original version (October 25, 3 games): +63 for the trio, +5 with LeBron, +20 without him.

Sources

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