Julius Erving: LeBron James, Jaylen Brown raise bar for Embiid, Maxey

The 76ers legend says the championship pedigree of James and Brown should push Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as Philadelphia opens camp for 2026-27.

Philadelphia 76ers great Julius Erving says the championship resumes of newcomers LeBron James and Jaylen Brown should command attention from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as the team heads into training camp next week for the 2026-27 season.

In an interview with Kyle Odegard of Action Network, Erving noted that Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, and Maxey have not reached the NBA Finals, while James and Brown bring proven title-winning experience to the locker room. "Embiid's an MVP but not a champion. So they bring a lot to the team other than just their skillset," Erving said.

Erving also described how he views James' role after the veteran joined Philadelphia from the Los Angeles Lakers. He said James does not need to lead in scoring, rebounding or assists, but should contribute across all of those areas while adding value that goes beyond the box score.

James is entering his 24th NBA season and will continue playing into his 40s. Erving pointed to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone and Vince Carter as precedents for long careers, while calling James "1-of-1" for the career he has built since high school.

Erving said he has not yet met James or Brown since they joined the 76ers, but expects to see them during the preseason and at Philadelphia's opening-night game against the New York Knicks. He added that he would offer advice to any player who seeks him out.