Channing Frye believes it's time to admit that LeBron James is not the 76ers' best player

After LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2026 offseason, many tapped them as the favorites to win the championship. It is a reasonable expectation because they have impressive talent throughout the roster.

However, it seems that people still believe LeBron is the best player on the team. Unfortunately, he is an older player now, so his production is not at the highest level anymore. This has led James' former teammate Channing Frye to admit that the four-time MVP is not the best anymore.

Channing Frye admits LeBron James is not the 76ers' best player

The 76ers are entering the 2026-27 season with considerable hype. Beforehand, they already had a star-studded group with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and V.J. Edgecombe.

They managed to swap out George for both James and Jaylen Brown. That is a big deal because those are superstar-level talents. However, Frye wants people to have realistic expectations when it comes to James.

MORE: Tyrese Maxey could become the best 76ers player in the 2026-27 NBA season

Of course, LeBron can still stand out and perform at a high level. However, the reality is that he is 41, and that means he's not the same player he once was, despite some amazing moments from time to time.

"Jaylen Brown is an NBA Finals champion, and LeBron has won. Joel Embiid is 34 or 35, however old he is. He’s the best player on the team when healthy. Jaylen Brown is the next best player on the team. Then the next best player is LeBron, maybe Tyrese Maxey, depending on what you’re doing. So, stop. I think people got to say stop," Frye said about James on Road Trippin'.

James could have some standout games here and there, but the reality is that there are plenty of talented players on the roster. They have to balance all this star power, and James might be the one who stands out in a playmaker role.

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