LADERA RANCH, Calif. -- Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant said Saturday that LeBron James and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers have the offensive firepower to compete for the 2027 NBA championship.
What's more, Durant evoked his two Golden State Warriors championship teams, which also featured Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, when praising the combined scoring prowess of Philadelphia's James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
"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," Durant said at a USA Basketball event Saturday. "[The 76ers] have got four 25-point scorers on this team. 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."
Brown, Embiid and Maxey all averaged at least 25 points per game last season. James has averaged 25 points per game or more in 20 of his 23 seasons, most recently for the 2023-24 Los Angeles Lakers.
James, 41, announced on July 24 that he would join the 76ers rather than the Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers or Miami Heat after weighing his latest free agency move for more than three weeks. While Durant, 37, said he had no advance notice about the decision, he believes the growing buzz around the 76ers is "only going to help" grow interest in the NBA.
"I didn't know at all," Durant said. "LeBron is stealth like that. I know there's a lot of noise around him, but you never know what's on his mind. I'm happy for him. It's a great decision for him to go to a team that has a good chance to win. Philly is a great fanbase, a great market, and it's great for the league. There were so many eyes that were tuned in to his decision."
After acquiring Brown from the Boston Celtics in a trade and adding James on a two-year, $8 million contract, oddsmakers now view the 76ers as one of the leading title contenders, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
Philadelphia is seeking its first championship since 1983, and James is vying to become the first player in NBA history to win a championship with four different franchises.
Durant, who spoke at a USA Basketball Foundation charity event in Southern California, also said he wants to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The 2014 NBA MVP, who would be 39 years old during the upcoming competition, could become the first men's basketball player to win five Olympic gold medals if the Americans can win the men's tournament for the sixth straight time.