PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers opened training camp by unveiling a revolutionary new offensive system designed to solve the difficult problem of having LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey on the same basketball team.
The solution: four basketballs.
“We looked at touches, usage rates and personalities,” a Sixers assistant said. “Eventually somebody asked why the rulebook only gives us one ball.”
During the experimental offense, Embiid operated from the post with his own basketball, Maxey pushed another in transition, Brown worked from the wing and LeBron slowly walked a fourth ball up the floor while pointing at everyone.
Early results were encouraging.
Coaches praised the improved spacing, although defensive players complained that guarding four simultaneous possessions was “probably not basketball.”
Philadelphia is reportedly still determining who gets the fifth ball during crunch time.
Team officials stressed that the system remains experimental and will only be necessary until all four stars agree on which one of them is supposed to sacrifice touches.
Sources said that discussion has not yet been scheduled.
