Gilbert Arenas believes the Philadelphia 76ers’ leadership question comes down to one thing: whose instructions will the players follow when someone wants to change the play?

His answer is LeBron James.

During a discussion on Gil’s Arena this week, Arenas explained why he sees James as Philadelphia’s alpha alongside Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey. His argument centered on who can organize those players and command their attention.

“You don’t have to lead the team in scoring,” Arenas said. “But who’s going to be running the structure of the team? The best person fit for it is LeBron James.”

That assessment offered a direct answer to a question Brown declined to entertain during Philadelphia’s media day in late September.

Gilbert Arenas says LeBron James is going to be the alpha on the Sixers:

“In that locker room if the coach draws a play and LeBron says no, no we going to run the 1-4 me, Maxey doing pick and roll and then you going to pass it to me then Jaylen Brown back door we going to get… pic.twitter.com/ON9Bf8SGvr

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) October 16, 2026

Gilbert Arenas explains his LeBron James pick

Arenas illustrated his point with a hypothetical disagreement over a play. If a coach proposed one action and James called for something different, which voice would carry more weight?

In his example, James directed a pick-and-roll involving Maxey before setting up a Brown cut toward the basket. Arenas used that sequence to explain the authority he believes James would hold within Philadelphia’s offense.

“Who the fu*k think the rest of the team is going to listen to? That coach? Or LeBron James? Then that’s the alpha.”

Article Continues Below

Brown offered considerably less when reporters asked him about that hierarchy at media day, Yahoo reports.

“Next question.”

His offseason move from Boston brought him into a lineup featuring Embiid, James, and Maxey. That collection of players prompted the question about who would assume the leading role.

Brown left it unanswered. Arenas made his position clear: James’ ability to direct the group determines his choice, regardless of who finishes with the most points.