Julius Erving sends clear message to LeBron James and 76ers: ‘They have to do it on the court'

Julius Erving understands what it takes to win a championship on a talented team. He hopes that the Philadelphia 76ers can win it all in 2027 after landing LeBron James and Jaylen Brown this offseason. Philadelphia has sheer determination to make a championship run, pulling off major additions to the roster. They landed Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George and draft compensation. To top off the summer, they signed veteran superstar LeBron James to bolster their chances of being firm title contenders. While talking with Scoop B, Erving was relatively passive, and he somewhat beat around the bush when it comes to his thoughts on James joining his former team. Erving played for the 76ers from 1976 to 1987, winning the title in 1983. 'I usually talk about retired players being part of all-time teams, not current players,' Erving said. 'James is not retired yet, so it's hard to put him in his position until his career is over… As for what's going to happen in Philly, it's going to be very exciting for the fans of Philadelphia and for LeBron. That particular team can set some records and win some championships, but they have to do it on the court, not with lip service.' What lies ahead for LeBron James and 76ers next season Feb 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) defends Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) Julius Erving knows that the 76ers have high expectations as a title contender. With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown on the squad, it is par for the course as they prepare for the 2026-27 campaign. Philadelphia finished with a 45-37 record last season, securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference standings. They stunned the Boston Celtics in a 3-1 series comeback before losing in a four-game sweep to the New York Knicks in the East Semifinals. The 76ers enjoyed an incredible offseason, adding James and Brown to the roster. They also bolstered their overall depth by signing key role players in the backcourt with Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, making the team a possibly fierce contender for the 2027 championship. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —