Will ‘sacrifice’ define the Sixers’ season? Depends on who you ask.

NEW YORK — In LeBron James’ first public appearance as a 76er, he used the phrase “collective sacrifice” to describe the way his new team’s star-studded roster should strive to blend together.

“It’s not a negative thing,” James immediately clarified during the Sixers’ media day last month. “ … [If] we’re trying to do something special, which I believe we are, then it’s a positive.”

Fellow newcomer Anfernee Simons concurred with James that day, saying sacrifice is “going to be the word of the year” for the 2026-27 Sixers. The next day, coach Nick Nurse bristled slightly at the term, then later considered “maybe it’s going to take me getting over that I don’t like the word.” Joel Embiid twice said he does not believe in the “concept” of sacrifice, garnering some social media criticism over the weekend.

That word can come with an icky connotation. “Sacrifice” also is a natural way to describe outside expectation for these Sixers with four players who, in the past, have been their team’s leading scorer and All-NBA performers and are now joining forces to vie for a championship. There is only one basketball, as the cliché goes.

» READ MORE: LeBron James chose the Sixers in his ‘final decision.’ Now he’s bringing a championship ‘blueprint’ to Philly.

Though others might prefer a different label, the Sixers, who were asked about this word in recent weeks, generally described the selfless steps to swiftly gel — and the required focus on impacting winning — in order to contend in a suddenly deep Eastern Conference. That quest officially begins with Tuesday night’s opener at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks, a run-it-back roster of players who masterfully understood and executed their roles on their playoff tear to the 2026 championship.

“I want the players to be who they are,” Nurse said. “And I want them to enjoy being who they are as they collaborate and come together. That’s the deal.”

A reminder of the talent that must converge after the Sixers shockingly acquiring James and Jaylen Brown during a transformative offseason:

On paper, Knicks coach Mike Brown recently called the Sixers’ revamped roster “just loaded.” He compared it to James’ Miami Heat teams that won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, while also being led by Hall of Famers Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Maxey acknowledged that means it feels as if “everybody’s talking about” the usage rates — which estimate the percentage of team possessions that end with an individual player taking a shot or free throw, or committing a turnover — among those stars. Yet the point guard views the Sixers’ too-frequent preseason turnovers as “unselfish” and evidence that they are attempting to push the pace and make the right play for teammates.

“It wasn’t turnovers where guys were dribbling around and not passing to each other,” Maxey said. “ … They’re getting the ‘aggressive’ turnovers to set their teammates up. That’s a step in the right direction. You can tell that we’re going to play together.”

James’ examples of the “collective sacrifice” he seeks? Trading one or two shots for more fourth-quarter “bursts of energy” to take a charge, crash for an offensive rebound, or sprint for a chase-down block. He also rolled out the “comfortable being uncomfortable” phrase, mostly referring to the meticulous and methodical daily habits that yield on-court results. And James did take a dig at unspecified players across the league who have “never made a sacrifice in their career” while compiling impressive statistical numbers but few playoff wins.

“If that’s the way you want your career to be, then that’s fine,” James said. “Everyone has different goals. … I don’t think anybody in the locker room [has] that feeling or [wants] their career to be like that, or we wouldn’t be here.”

» READ MORE: Why a healthy Joel Embiid has been essential for the new-look Sixers during the preseason: ‘Everybody’s pushing each other’

Outside of the Sixers’ assembled big four, VJ Edgecombe might not take the statistical leap typical of somebody with his talent and athleticism in Year 2. But, in Maxey’s words, Edgecombe could still be the Sixers’ “most important player” because of his impact potential on both ends. Players who logged significant minutes last season, such as former starting forward Dominick Barlow, will slide down the rotation pecking order but create more reliable depth. Newcomer Dean Wade, best known as a versatile defender and offensive floor-spacer, automatically exemplifies the complementary attributes this team needs.

“I wouldn’t say I had to sacrifice anything,” Wade said. “I just have to play hard.”

Maxey added that the word “sacrifice” can apply to a player shifting their personal routine to do extra on-court work with new teammates in an effort to build camaraderie and timing, or in speaking up to hold each other accountable.

Nurse, meanwhile, still anticipates moments throughout the season for specific players to provide “something super special.” Preparing for on-court responsibilities to fluctuate on various nights comes with any 82-game NBA season, but especially one during which James and Embiid are expected to at least periodically rest to manage their health. Nurse also remains in the early stages of experimenting with different lineup combinations throughout each game, and how the offense will run through them during those stretches.

Some alternatives to “sacrifice” that Nurse might prefer? When asked which trait his team had demonstrated during the preseason that he hopes translates to the games that count, Nurse said the players have been “tremendously connected.” Nurse also has worn bracelets featuring the word “commit,” which have been spotted on players.

Embiid views things in a similar lens. The big man wants each Sixer to be the “best version” of himself, including being “more efficient than we’ve ever been in our lives, in our career.” The significant talent boost might leave each player with fewer touches per game, but more space to operate when the ball does find them.

“It’s just about being a star in your role and doing what you do best,” Embiid added. “I don’t think anybody should be put in a box. Just go out there, be yourself. Good shot, great shot, bad shot, we’ve all got each other’s backs.”

The only public glimpse at the Sixers’ full new-look starting lineup came during the first half of a preseason game at the Brooklyn Nets. The small sample size featured five first-half assists — and only one shot attempt — from James in a sign that he is ready to be a facilitator first. And an Edgecombe finish in transition and off a slick James bounce pass. And catch-and-shoot opportunities for Maxey, a skill he did not get to showcase much while needing to generate so much offense for himself with the ball in his hands in recent seasons.

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Beat reporters Gina Mizell and Chris Hine break down their most intriguing quotes from LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey during the preseason, along with what they most hope to learn about this revamped roster during the first month of the season. Watch here. 

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Wade also recently marveled at that group’s offensive creation — not just from the ballhandler, but through teammates’ cutting and spacing — while going up against the starting unit during practice.

“It’s not like we’re messing up on defense at all,” Wade said. “ … It’s, like, impossible to keep those guys out of the paint, keep them out of the extra shot, extra sprays [passes to the perimeter], and everything. It’s tough, you know?

“When they’re all, like, super engaged and flowing like they were today, they are a tough team to deal with.”

Is “sacrifice” the appropriate way to characterize what it takes to achieve that flow? Depends on who is asked. But the Sixers have generally described the same goals — and the steps it will take to swiftly gel — entering this highly anticipated season.

“Everybody has really bought in and been a part of it,” Wade said, “that I wouldn’t even say anybody really has sacrificed. They’re just playing their own game, and … the puzzle pieces are fitting in.”