LeBronJames

Preseason question: LeBron’s got one more in him. But this last(?) run will be unlike anything else in his decades-long career. For starters, he’s buying into an already-established business rather than starting from the ground floor, with most of the Sixers’ pillars, including fellow new addition Jaylen Brown, already in place at the time of his commitment. He’ll also be 42 years old in December, and he’s reportedly managing both sciatica and chronic arthritis—so be prepared for more than a few DNP-olds. But make no mistake: James will be the engine of this Philly superteam. Brown and Tyrese Maxey may rank higher in the Top 100, and Joel Embiid is still a singular force when healthy, but LeBron’s brain—his playmaking, his ability to dip into his power reserves and turn back the clock at a moment’s notice—will be what stitches together this ultimate heist crew. The real question might be whether Philly will come to lean on James too much, especially if a thin frontcourt forces him to regularly serve as a small-ball center. But as long as he manages his aches and pains and the skies are clear enough for him to chopper back to New York after game days, the Sixers could be the optimal basketball fit to leverage LeBron’s cerebral brilliance.