“Championship or Bust”: VJ Edgecombe Sets Clear Expectations After LeBron James and Jaylen Brown’s Arrival to 76ers

The balance of power in the Eastern Conference may have shifted for the 2026-27 season, and the rest of the NBA should be paying attention. Philadelphia has assembled what could be the league's most intimidating roster, turning the 76ers into a legitimate superteam. Their projected starting five features LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and rising star VJ Edgecombe- a lineup stacked with four proven All-Stars and one of the NBA's brightest young talents.

On paper, few teams can match Philadelphia's combination of star power, experience, and two-way talent. The question now isn't whether the Sixers have enough firepower- it's whether anyone in the East can stop them. In a recent interview with ESPN, VJ set his expectations with the 76ers now that Brown and James are on the roster.

"It's a championship or bust," Edgecombe said about his expectations. "You know how it is, especially with a team like us. It's like either a championship or 'they suck.' ... I know I'm playing alongside great players. Nobody has egos. ... I'm really happy."

Given the circumstances, many are expecting the 76ers to win the 2027 NBA Championship. According to statistics, Philly has +900 odds of winning the title, making them the fourth favorite team to win the gold.

While the odds indicate that the 76ers are the fourth favorite to win the championship, it seems that Brown is also expecting them to win the title this coming season. In his most recent Twitch livestream, Brown shared how he already has plans for a championship celebration.

"I told the team, I told VJ (Edgecombe), (Tyrese Maxey), LeBron (James), and (Joel) Embiid, and you can ask them, if we win a championship, everybody is going skydiving," Brown said.

For now, everything remains to be seen. One of the biggest concerns right now is whether the new 76ers squad can get its chemistry down. They'll hold NBA training camp in September to build synergy before the season begins in late October.

Former NBA Star Names 76ers the Best Team in the Eastern Conference

While the Western Conference was always known to be more stacked in talent compared to the Eastern Conference, this coming season seems to be a different case. The East looks stronger than ever, thanks to several moves that transpired earlier this summer.

AJ Dybantsa was drafted to the Washington Wizards, teaming up with Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to form a solid duo with Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat. Then, of course, there's LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joining forces with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia.

With so many stacked East teams, former NBA player Kendrick Perkins named his top five teams in the conference. At the top of his list was none other than the Philadelphia 76ers. To Perkins, the arrival of Brown and James has dramatically increased the Sixers' chances to contend for the title this coming season.

"Listen, you get Jaylen Brown and LeBron James without having to give up your core guys in (Joel) Embiid, (Tyrese) Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe," Perkins noted on NBA Today. "LeBron James has adjusted his game over the course of his years. He can fit in any system. They will see a better Joel Embiid. By the way, they have a championship head coach that's leading the way."

It's easy to see why expectations are soaring in Philadelphia. By pairing two proven superstars with an already talented core, the Sixers have built a roster capable of competing for a championship from day one.

Of course, assembling a star-studded lineup is only the first step. The real challenge begins once the 2026-27 season tips off, when Philadelphia will have to prove that its talent can translate into wins, and ultimately, a title.

Until then, the NBA world can only speculate about just how dominant this new-look Sixers team can become.