Philadelphia 76ers' New-look Squad Gains Respect from Kevin Durant
The Philadelphia 76ers have been making waves in the NBA after LeBron James joined the team for the 2023-24 season. Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant recently defended James' decision to join Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown on the Sixers. Speaking at a Team USA event last week, Durant compared the Sixers' roster to the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors, saying, "The last time they put three 20-point scorers on a team, they said it was unfair, which was the [Warriors] team I was on." He added, "So, hell yeah, I think they're going to be a contender. They're going to be a fun team to watch. It's going to be League Pass-worthy."
Draymond Green Disagrees with Durant's Comparison
While some agreed with Durant, others didn't. A former teammate of his in Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was one of those on the latter side. Green took to his podcast on Tuesday, where he addressed LeBron James' decision to join the 76ers and Kevin Durant's comments about the new-look 76ers. "Everyone's making a big deal out of KD's comments on LeBron joining the Sixers," Green said. "KD said the last time they put three 20-point scorers on the team, they said it was unfair, which was the Warriors team I was on. The Sixers got four 25-point scorers on this team. So hell yeah, I think that's KD is giving them their respect."
Green's Perspective on Durant's Comments
Green believes that Durant's comments were not meant to be a direct comparison between the two teams. "I think to understand his statement though, you also have to understand the way KD views basketball," Green said. "The way KD views basketball is very Uncle Drew-ish. This game will and always will be about buckets. That's how KD views the game. So when KD say yo, 'they got four 25-point scorers,' you have to understand in KD's mind what that means."
Recent Form
The Philadelphia 76ers have been struggling lately, with a recent form of 0W-0D-5L (LLLLL, most recent first). Their last result was a 114-144 loss to the New York Knicks on 2026-05-10.
What Comes Next?
The 76ers will look to bounce back from their recent struggles and make a push for the playoffs. With a roster that includes LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown, they have the talent to make a deep run in the postseason. However, they will need to improve their defense and find a way to stop their opponents' high-powered offenses. Only time will tell if the 76ers can live up to the hype and make a serious run at the championship.
