The 76ers application for superteam status is pending: TBD

The superteam label been thrown around a lot since LeBron James announced he was signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, pairing one former MVP with another and two other all-stars.

But are we so sure the Sixers qualify? Past accolades do not a superteam make.

James will turn 42 years old next season. Joel Embiid hasn’t played 40 games in three years. Only Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey are in or near their primes. Neither is as good as the best player was on past teams we applied the superteam label too.

The 76ers should be good next season. One of the best teams in the Eastern Conference even. On paper, the players compliment each other well. Vince Carter even called it “cheating” for them to land James. But is it a superteam?

Using the standard of past so-called superteams, the answer is no. James’ last “superteam” was made up of three all-stars who were each in the middle of their primes when they came together. Golden State, which didn’t become a superteam until Kevin Durant showed up, had four.

Boston‘s superteam, with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, came together with each later in their primes but still in their early 30s. And the emergence of Rajon Rondo helped solidify that core.

By comparison, Philadelphia is less superteam and more verygoodteam — with a chance to graduate to superteam depending on a few factors.

The first is whether VJ Edgecombe, like Rondo, can develop into an all-star caliber player, giving Philly a reliable presence next to Brown and Maxey when James and Embiid are inevitably unavailable. The next is whether Embiid can stay relatively healthy. No one is expecting him to play 70 games, but if he can be available when the team needs him most, he’s still a force. That also applies to James for obvious reasons.

The Sixers also need Brown to play within the offense. Though he’ll enter the season with added motivation after enduring all the slander that came with his Boston departure, the 2024 finals MVP still has a role to play. Which leads to the last factor: whether these pieces actually fit the way they do on paper. It’s a team with a rare mix of old and young, including several alphas, who need to build chemistry and mesh.

If all goes well, the 76ers have superteam potential. But with all the uncertainty today about just how good they’ll be (are they even the best team in the East?) and who will still be healthy when the playoffs roll around, it’s too soon to give them that stamp now.

Which NFL teams have the best wide receiver corps? FTW’s Christian D’Andrea ranked all 32 teams, and no, the Cincinnati Bengals with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins did not come in at No. 1. Though they did rank high:

“Chase and Higgins continue to wreak havoc on opposing defenses with their versatility. If this were solely a ranking of wideout duos, they’d be at the top. Alas, the depth behind them is concerning.”

“Chase and Higgins continue to wreak havoc on opposing defenses with their versatility. If this were solely a ranking of wideout duos, they’d be at the top. Alas, the depth behind them is concerning.”

Check out the full rankings to see where Cincinnati (and your favorite team) landed.

• Charles Curtis graded the trade between the Red Sox and Nationals, who swapped Curtis Mead for Connelly Early.

• The difference between being a Knick and Net in New York was on full display when Jalen Brunson and Michael Porter Jr. showed up to the same venue.

• Lionel Messi’s World Cup teammate Leandro Paredes may have revealed the legend’s future with the Argentina national team.

• The Mets changed their uniform schedule for Friday night’s game to accommodate an Emma Stone movie shoot.

Charles Curtis graded the trade between the Red Sox and Nationals, who swapped Curtis Mead for Connelly Early.

Lionel Messi’s World Cup teammate Leandro Paredes may have revealed the legend’s future with the Argentina national team.

The Mets changed their uniform schedule for Friday night’s game to accommodate an Emma Stone movie shoot.

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This article originally appeared on For The Win: The 76ers application for superteam status is pending: TBD