Joel Embiid rejects idea 76ers stars must ‘take a back seat’ as NBA regular season looms
Joel Embiid has rejected the idea that Philadelphia’s star players must sacrifice their roles to make the 76ers work, saying the team should support each player’s strengths. His view comes as the star-laden side prepares for the new NBA season and faces questions about how its leading players will fit together.
In their preseason finale, Embiid scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Philadelphia lost 125-120 in overtime to Boston. Jaylen Brown cited spacing problems behind some turnovers, while he and LeBron James said the new group still needs time to find its rhythm. The 2026-27 season begins Tuesday, with Philadelphia visiting the reigning champion New York Knicks.
- Embiid says no 76ers star needs to take a back seat.
- Philadelphia lost its preseason finale 125-120 in overtime.
- Brown and James say the team is still building rhythm.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Embiid’s case is that a team should organise around what its best players do well, rather than asking stars to suppress their strengths before the group has even had time to develop. That can preserve confidence and attacking options, while allowing roles and chemistry to emerge through practice and play.
The case against
A star-heavy team may need its leading players to adjust their habits and share the ball if their skills and preferred spaces overlap. Making those compromises early could improve spacing, reduce turnovers and help the group find a workable identity before the regular season gets under way.