The Philadelphia 76ers have wasted little time making noise in the Eastern Conference, and Skip Bayless believes the balance of power has already shifted. Following Philadelphia's impressive 8-1 start, the outspoken sports commentator delivered a pointed message to his longtime debate partner, Stephen A. Smith.

The Sixers have quickly emerged as contenders behind a star-studded roster featuring LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid. Their strong opening has added momentum to the championship expectations that followed James' arrival in Philadelphia.

Bayless made his position clear in a post on X, directly addressing Smith while dismissing the significance of last season's results.

“Sorry, Stephen A: Last year was last year. The East now belongs to the Sixers,” Bayless wrote.

The comment carries extra weight given the history between the two personalities. Bayless and Smith spent years debating NBA storylines on ESPN's First Take, often disagreeing over which teams deserved championship consideration.

Smith has also expressed strong opinions about Philadelphia's roster. He previously reacted with surprise to James choosing the Sixers, a move that dramatically changed the team's outlook.

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Philadelphia's early success provides ammunition for Bayless' argument, although the Eastern Conference remains competitive. The Detroit Pistons and other contenders still have plenty of time to challenge the Sixers.

For now, Bayless isn't waiting until the playoffs to make his declaration. Nine games into the season, he already sees Philadelphia as the team everyone else must beat.

However, sustaining that momentum over an entire season will be the real test of Philadelphia's championship credentials and Bayless' confidence