Can Jaylen Brown, LeBron and Embiid Make Philly Work?

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Pushing The Odds with Matt Perrault

Questions Surround Jaylen Brown’s Fit With LeBron James and Joel Embiid in Philadelphia

The easiest way to describe the dynamic between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum may be to look at their different priorities. Tatum became a father at a young age and had to grow up quickly. His mother moved to Boston to help him raise his son, Deuce, and becoming a parent changed his life and outlook.

Brown, meanwhile, became a vocal advocate for social change in the Boston community. He wanted to lead marches in Atlanta, speak out on social media, hold rallies and organize events at MIT and Harvard. There is nothing wrong with that, but I think Tatum wanted Brown to focus solely on basketball. While the Celtics could understand the importance of Brown’s work, it could also distract from the team’s primary goal of winning a championship.

Social issues can become lightning rods in Boston. It is a polarizing city where people have strong beliefs and are not afraid to share them. Players can receive considerable criticism from sports radio callers, columnists, talk-show hosts and podcasters when they take positions that conflict with those beliefs.

That raises a significant question about how Brown will fit in Philadelphia. If fans believe his priorities include his platform, live streams and sneaker line, how will they respond? More importantly, how will LeBron James handle it?

LeBron is focused on championships and his platform, but he has also always been the biggest star and the alpha from both talent and personality standpoints. He does the talking, goes to the podium and sets the stage. The question is whether Brown will be comfortable acquiescing to LeBron when he was not willing to do that with Tatum.

That tension became apparent after Tatum was injured and Brown had an unbelievable regular season. Despite a horrific playoff loss, Brown called it his favorite season. That surprised people in Boston because he had previously won a championship and Finals MVP. The reaction was that it had been his favorite season because he was the focal point, and Brown then spent roughly two weeks trying to walk back the comment.

Philadelphia fans are similar to Boston fans. They will criticize a player if they believe he is not focused on the sole goal of winning a championship. That makes Brown’s addition to the roster particularly intriguing.

I have no concerns about LeBron and Joel Embiid playing together alongside Edgecombe and Philadelphia’s young talent. The Sixers have a strong core, but Brown’s place within it raises questions about how the personalities and priorities will work together.

Health is another concern. LeBron or Embiid could be injured, and Philadelphia may not have its starting five together for long stretches. We will see them tonight and get an initial look at how the lineup functions, but something that works for one or two months may not necessarily last.

On paper, the Sixers are the best team in basketball. However, that is only on paper. The Rams were also expected to be a super team, and sportsbooks offered wagers on them finishing 17-0. Through six weeks, they had four losses.

That does not mean the Sixers will fall apart, lose 25 or 30 games and finish 52-30. Still, I do not expect them to resemble the Warriors or produce a 72-10 season. Their health alone presents a major problem, and the dynamic between Brown, LeBron and the rest of the team is my biggest question entering the NBA season.