Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham was surprised by LeBron James’ decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers. James signed a two-year deal with the Philly franchise in his last stretch in the NBA.
Even though Sophie Cunningham is excited to see James be a part of another super team, she has her doubts as well. During a recent conversation with Complex, the 29-year-old said:
“There’s only one ball among a lot of stars, but like, how cool. I think that team will draw a lot of attention. I’m curious to know how it’s gonna pan out but like, good for him.”
Even before the James trade, Philadelphia had a strong roster full of star players on each position. Now with the 41-year-old in the lineup, their starting five will consist of Tyrese Maxey PG, VJ Edgecombe SG, Jaylen Brown SF, LeBron James PF, and Joel Embiid C.
It’s undeniable that the Philadelphia 76ers will go into the 2026-27 season as one of the favorites to win the title. However, Sophie Cunningham’s concerns about the team setup are also valid.
Apart from Embiid, who has had injury troubles over the last few years, all four players in the potential starting lineup have high usage ratings. They’re used to having the ball in their hands to create chances for themselves.
A lot of sacrifices will have to be made for the 76ers to emerge as top contenders. The team will have enough time to figure out the right fit. Other than that, on paper, they are arguably the strongest team in the Eastern Conference.
Fever Head Coach Heaped Praise on Sophie Cunningham
Sophie Cunningham has always played fearless basketball. Her aggressive approach has made her a fan favorite despite being on a team full of stars. Head coach Stephanie White talked about Cunningham’s qualities that make her a standout player.
“You know she’s going to have your back. That kind of fearlessness, that toughness, it’s contagious. When you see somebody do it, then you want to do it. I think you saw us from the beginning of last season to the end of the season get tougher physically, mentally, emotionally. And Sophie was a big part of that,” as per ESPN.
Her teammate Kelsey Mitchell said that it’s always good to have someone like Sophie Cunningham on your side because she “doesn’t mind getting dirty, she doesn’t mind making it ugly.” Cunningham developed these qualities at a very young age, and with time, she’s only getting better at it.
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