Durant: When I joined the Warriors, people said it was unfair. James now has four 25-plus point scorers on the 76ers.

On August 2, Rockets forward Kevin Durant said during an interview that the 76ers, with their revamped lineup led by James, have enough scoring ability to challenge for the 2027 NBA title.

Durant praised Philadelphia's roster: a formidable scoring group featuring James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. He compared it to the Golden State Warriors team where he won two championships, which had Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

"The last time the league saw three players averaging over 20 points on the same team, people said it was unfair—that was my Warriors team," Durant said at a Team USA basketball event today. "Now the 76ers have four players who are all averaging 25 points per game. So there's no doubt they'll be serious title contenders. This team is incredibly entertaining to watch, definitely worth getting NBA League Pass for."

Last season, Brown, Embiid, and Maxey all averaged at least 25 points per game. Over his 23 NBA seasons, James has averaged 25 points or more in 20 of them, the last time being the 2023-24 season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

After more than three weeks of careful deliberation as a free agent, the 41-year-old James officially announced his signing with the 76ers on July 25, turning down offers from the Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat. The 37-year-old Durant said he had no prior knowledge of the move, but he believes the massive buzz around the 76ers will only further boost NBA attention.

"I had no idea beforehand," Durant said. "LeBron always keeps things low-key. There are endless rumors about him, but you can never guess what he's really thinking. I'm happy for him. Choosing a team with championship potential is a great move for him. Philadelphia has a strong fan base and a big market—this signing is good for the whole league. Fans were glued to every step of his decision."

The 76ers acquired Brown from the Boston Celtics via trade and signed James to a two-year, $8 million contract. In the latest championship odds from bookmakers, the 76ers are among the top favorites, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.

Philadelphia has not won a championship since 1983. James, meanwhile, has a chance to make history as the first NBA player to win titles with four different teams.

Durant appeared at a Team USA Basketball Foundation charity event in Southern California, where he also revealed he hopes to play in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The 2014 regular-season MVP will be 39 by then. If the U.S. men's team wins a sixth straight Olympic gold, Durant could become the first male athlete to win five Olympic gold medals in basketball.

Durant and James have won Olympic gold together at the 2012 London Games and the 2024 Paris Games.

"The final decision is up to Team USA general manager Grant Hill and the coaching staff," Durant said. "I'll keep myself in shape and hope to receive an invitation, but there are so many great players in the league—many of them deserve a spot."