The Sixers’ 2026-27 on-court journey began in Camden on Tuesday morning, and the big story was simple: LeBron James took part in official basketball activity as a member of the Sixers for the first time. In a camp already drawing unusual attention, that first practice gave the new season an immediate sense of occasion.
It also underlined how different this camp looks from last year’s Abu Dhabi setup, when the team had to deal with flights to and from the UAE that added about 20 hours both ways. This time, the work started at home, and the mood around the first day of training camp reflected that change.
Nick Nurse admitted the travel-heavy experience of last year was still on people’s minds, saying they were “still trying to recover.” But the tone around Tuesday was less about fatigue and more about the unusual level of interest surrounding a roster that now has real star power on the floor.
All eyes on the Sixers
VJ Edgecombe was blunt about the attention. “All eyes on us,” he said, adding that “it’s just more fun than I would say pressure.” For a 21-year-old entering his second NBA season, that is the kind of spotlight that can sharpen focus rather than overwhelm it.
Edgecombe also made clear that he is welcoming the challenge. “I’m looking forward to that,” he said, while stressing that he is trying to make sure he is “in top-tier shape” so he can handle the demands that come with the team’s point-of-attack responsibilities.
That role matters because Edgecombe described the defensive job in practical terms: “That’s important, to be [at the] point of attack, because that’s who starts most possessions. I want to be able to set the tone for us defensively.” In a camp where the conversation has centred on high-profile names, that kind of detail is a reminder that the Sixers will still need structure, energy and discipline to match the hype.
What comes next for the Sixers?
The first week of camp now moves quickly. Saturday brings the Blue x White Scrimmage at Xfinity Mobile Arena, before Monday’s preseason opener at home against the New York Knicks. Those are the first chances to see whether this early momentum can turn into something more meaningful.
Anfernee Simons summed up the mood with confidence, saying, “The world is ours,” and that sentiment fits the scale of the attention around the group. But the real significance of Tuesday was not the noise around it. It was the fact that LeBron James and Jaylen Brown finally shared official basketball activity as Sixers players, and that the new season has now properly started.
