The Viral Workout Was the Easy Part: Chemistry Now Determines If Philly's Superteam Is Real

The Philadelphia 76ers have spent the entire offseason being told they're a superteam. This week, the league finally saw one — on video, at least.

LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey hit the gym for a workout session that went viral, drawing a reaction from former 76ers guard Patrick Beverley, who called it "trouble" and warned the NBA about what he dubbed the "Philadelphia Belt." At a glance, the trio looked effortless together: Maxey's burst, Brown's two-way fluidity, and LeBron directing traffic with the kind of ease that has defined two decades of dominance.

But a 60-second clip of a summer workout was never going to be the hard part for this franchise. The hard part is what comes in late September, when training camp opens and four stars who all need the ball in their hands have to figure out how to share it.

The Talent Is Undeniable

There's no sugarcoating the firepower. Looking at 2025 production, Brown averaged 28.7 points per game, Maxey put up 28.3, Embiid dropped 26.9 in just 38 games, and LeBron still added 20.9. That's four players who combined for over 100 points a night last season — and likely would have been higher if not for LeBron's reduced role and Embiid's workload management.

The numbers say Philadelphia has the most talent in the Eastern Conference. The market agrees: BetMGM has the 76ers at +850 to win the championship — the shortest title odds on the board for Philly in years — with a regular-season win total set at 50.5. Translation: oddsmakers believe this team is a legitimate contender, but not a lock. The margin between "favorite" and "champion" is exactly where this roster's chemistry questions live.

The Warning Signs

The concerns are loud enough that even franchise royalty has weighed in. Dr. J issued a strong public warning this week about this superteam's chemistry, a notable moment given how rarely the Hall of Famer inserts himself into Sixers commentary. His message mirrors what several analysts have pointed out: star power assembled on paper and star power realized on the court are two very different things.

The basketball world remembers 2019, when Jimmy Butler joined Embiid and Ben Simmons and Philadelphia fell short. This iteration is more talented — but it's also more ball-dominant. LeBron has always functioned best with shooters around him. Maxey needs possessions to be effective. Brown just enjoyed a career year as a primary creator in Boston. And Embiid remains one of the most usage-heavy big men in NBA history.

That's a lot of mouths to feed with one basketball.

The Opening Test Is Brutal

The schedule does Philadelphia no favors. The regular season opens at home against the New York Knicks in a game that one 76ers outlet already described as "putting their championship hopes on trial" immediately. Lose that one, and the narrative shifts from "superteam" to "superteam in crisis" within 48 hours.

The early slate is a gauntlet: New York three times in the first month, plus Boston, Cleveland, and Milwaukee, among others, before Halloween.

What Actually Matters

The viral workout was a glimpse, nothing more. What decides whether this works is the dirty work — rotations, defensive communication, sacrifice on offense, and Embiid's health. Maxey has consistently been willing to share the load. LeBron has adapted his game before. Brown took a secondary role in Boston's title run and thrived.

The pieces could mesh. But the margin for error is thin, the pressure is enormous, and everyone from Dr. J to the Knicks is watching to see if Philadelphia can turn a collection of superstars into an actual team. That process starts now — not when the cameras are rolling, but in the quiet weeks of preparation ahead.