Iman Shumpert disagrees with Shaquille O'Neal about the 76ers' title favorite status

Iman Shumpert disagrees with Shaquille O’Neal about the 76ers’ title favorite status originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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With the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers‘ roster, they are now being called one of the favorites to win the 2027 championship. It is fair to have those expectations because adding two Finals MVPs to the roster is a massive boost for the team’s chances.

The players who were already in Philly beforehand are happy with the additions. In fact, they actively recruited James to the team, which is a good sign for the team’s culture because it seems everyone wants to learn from the four-time Finals MVP, including sophomore guard VJ Edgecombe.

Iman Shumpert and Shaquille O’Neal discuss the 76ers’ championship chances

It is easy for people to get ahead of themselves when it comes to discussing championship favorites. That has been normal basketball discourse over the years, but crowning the 76ers is too early, especially with all kinds of elite teams throughout the league.

Shaquille O’Neal believes that this is a championship-or-bust season for the 76ers. Those are some extremely high expectations, but it seems he believes the 76ers can finally end their title drought, especially with LeBron as the biggest name on the team.

MORE: Iman Shumpert believes LeBron James appreciates the challenge of leading the 76ers to a title

Considering the New York Knicks are the defending champions, they will have something to say about this. Iman Shumpert has disagreed with O’Neal because he does not want to count out Jalen Brunson and the Knicks, as they are ready to defend their championship.

“Jalen Brunson leads the fourth quarter scoring for the past five consecutive years. Look, Tyrese (Maxey), I love you to death, but you have to show me you can beat Jalen Brunson… Jalen Brunson needs to be stopped before we start considering others for a championship,” Shumpert said on Shaq’s The Big Podcast.

Shumpert brings up a great point because branding the 76ers’ upcoming season as a championship-or-bust campaign means O’Neal sees them as the favorite. With the Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Oklahoma City Thunder all present in the league, this makes it hard for the 76ers to be the favorites.

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