NBA power rankings put LeBron's 76ers at No. 4 after Philly move
CBS Sports moved Philadelphia into its top five after LeBron James joined a loaded 76ers lineup with Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
The latest NBA power rankings LeBron 76ers shake-up has Philadelphia crashing the top five, with CBS Sports ranking the 76ers fourth after LeBron James announced he is joining the team.
Brad Botkin of CBS Sports wrote that James’ decision gives the league its clearest summer roster picture so far, while noting that more business could still change the board. He pointed to the expected Kawhi Leonard trade to Toronto and Jalen Duren remaining unsigned in Detroit as two situations still hanging over the offseason.
Philadelphia jumped from No. 8 to No. 4 in Botkin’s rankings, slotting behind the San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Indiana Pacers round out the top five.
Where did LeBron's 76ers land in the NBA power rankings?
CBS Sports placed the 76ers at No. 4, citing the star power of a projected group featuring James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and V.J. Edgecombe. Botkin called the talent level of that lineup extraordinary, while stressing that coach Nick Nurse still has to make the pieces work together.
The main question in Philadelphia, according to the ranking, is not whether the roster has enough ability. It is whether there are enough touches to keep everyone effective. Botkin wrote that those five players combined for a 143.1% usage rate last season, meaning their roles would have to shrink sharply when they share the floor.
The CBS Sports analysis framed James as the player who can organize the group. Botkin cited Cleaning the Glass data showing James has ranked in at least the 98th percentile in assist percentage in every season of his career, and noted that he averaged seven assists per game last season.
Philadelphia also gets a regular-season cushion, in Botkin’s view. With James, Maxey and Brown available for staggered lineups, the 76ers may be better protected if injuries hit before the playoffs. Embiid’s health for late April through June was described as the bigger target.
Why are the Spurs ahead of the Knicks?
San Antonio stayed at No. 1, just ahead of New York, because Botkin sees more room for internal growth around Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. He also pointed to the Spurs beating Oklahoma City in a road Game 7 in the conference finals and leading the Knicks for more than 72% of Finals minutes played.
The Knicks remained No. 2 after a postseason run that CBS Sports described as 13 straight playoff wins and a 15-1 finish after falling behind Atlanta in the first round. Botkin wrote that the loss of Mitchell Robinson is offset in part by Andre Drummond, while Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and New York’s wing depth keep the Knicks near the top.
Oklahoma City sits third, with Botkin writing that the Thunder can reasonably believe injuries to Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell affected their series against San Antonio. He also listed the departures of Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort as real losses, while naming Chet Holmgren as the key swing player in any renewed matchup with Wembanyama.
Indiana checks in fifth, one spot ahead of Toronto. CBS Sports ranked the Raptors sixth on the assumption that the Leonard trade is completed, while noting that the deal remains pending as the league reviews Leonard and the Clippers over possible salary-cap circumvention.
The rest of the visible top nine: Boston at No. 7, Minnesota at No. 8 and the Lakers at No. 9. Botkin wrote that Los Angeles paid a steep price for Walker Kessler after losing James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.