The Philadelphia 76ers may have assembled one of the most talented rosters in recent NBA history, but Shaquille O’Neal isn’t convinced instant success is guaranteed.
After the blockbuster arrivals of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, O’Neal believes the 76ers have become one of the NBA’s premier championship contenders. However, the Hall of Famer says expectations have now reached a level where anything less than a title would be viewed as a failure.
Shaq: “It’s Championship or Bust”
Speaking on The Big Podcast, O’Neal praised Philadelphia’s star-studded roster but warned that talent alone doesn’t guarantee a championship.
“I want it to work, but I don’t think it’s going to work right away,” O’Neal said.
“They’re going to win 40, 50 games, but championship or bust. Philly got a squad now. That’s a legendary squad on paper already.”
With LeBron joining Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and highly regarded rookie VJ Edgecombe, the 76ers boast arguably the deepest starting lineup in the NBA heading into the 2026-27 season.
Shaq Believes the Pressure Has Changed
O’Neal said LeBron’s arrival has completely altered expectations in Philadelphia.
Rather than simply competing for the Eastern Conference title, the former NBA champion believes the 76ers now have no excuses if they fail to contend for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The four-time NBA champion also rejected criticism that James is “ring chasing,” instead arguing the veteran superstar is attempting to build another championship team late in his career. O’Neal has previously described LeBron’s move as “ring creating” rather than ring chasing.
Iman Shumpert Isn’t Quite as Confident
Former NBA champion Iman Shumpert agreed the 76ers have enormous potential but stopped short of calling them immediate title favourites.
Shumpert said the roster still has significant questions to answer, particularly surrounding LeBron’s age, Joel Embiid’s durability and whether the new group can develop chemistry quickly enough.
“When I actually take a look at the roster and how things stack up, I don’t think I’m so convinced that this is just a championship team off the rip,” Shumpert said.
“I think they become dangerous, but they’re still going to have to compete with the youth of this league. That’s going to compete against LeBron’s age and Embiid’s health.”
The Biggest Question Remains Embiid
Despite backing Philadelphia as a genuine contender, O’Neal believes much of the team’s success will depend on Embiid remaining healthy.
The former MVP has battled injuries throughout his career, and with LeBron entering his age-41 season, keeping the roster on the floor may prove just as important as the talent assembled on paper.
If the 76ers can stay healthy, O’Neal believes they have every chance of delivering Philadelphia’s first NBA championship since 1983.
If they can’t, one of the most talented rosters ever assembled could become one of the league’s biggest “what if” stories.
