Even at age 42, LeBron James continues to boast significant responsibility as one of the best players in the NBA. Now on the Philadelphia 76ers squad, former player Kendrick Perkins views James to be even more important than Joel Embiid.

James is gearing up for the 24th season of his career in the league, his first with the 76ers. He represented the Los Angeles Lakers for eight years before leaving and departing for the 76ers.

It was a big summer for Philadelphia, landing both James and Jaylen Brown in the same offseason. This elevates their chances of title contention, but that didn't stop Perkins from valuing James' impact more than Embiid due to the latter's injury history.

“The problem is what is a healthy Joel Embiid, right? Like, is that MVP Joel Embiid? I don't believe so. I watched him throughout the course of the preseason. He looks in great shape. I don't see the lift right now. Adding Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason first made them, to me, a Conference Finals type. Then you add LeBron James, and all of a sudden, they become real legit championship contenders. It's exactly why LeBron James is the important piece on this 76ers team,” Perkins said on ESPN's NBA Today.

“LeBron James is the important piece on this 76ers team.” @KendrickPerkins weighs in on LeBron's impact for the 76ers' success ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/gEBHXAtvt2

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 16, 2026

What lies ahead for LeBron James, 76ers

Article Continues Below

LeBron James starts a new era as he approaches the twilight years of his NBA career. He will easily be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he still has a fifth championship to compete for as he begins his stint with the 76ers.

Philadelphia finished with a 45-37 record last season, securing the seventh seed in the East standings. They stunned the Boston Celtics in seven games before falling to the eventual champion New York Knicks in a four-game sweep.

The 76ers have one more preseason contest to deal with, hosting the Celtics on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. ET. Their regular season gets underway on the road when they face the Knicks on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. ET.