Joel Embiid believes the Philadelphia 76ers’ collection of star talent should allow each player to become more efficient rather than forcing anyone to sacrifice their individual game.

Following Saturday’s Blue vs. White scrimmage, Embiid discussed how he sees his role alongside LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey as Philadelphia prepares for the 2026-27 season.

“Not changing,” Embiid said when asked about his offensive role. “I can do everything on the basketball court. Whether I’m at the top of the key, middle, left side, right side, three-point line. So, nothing changes. It’s just about making sure everybody succeeds at the same time.”

Embiid believes Philadelphia’s transition offense can benefit from having more players capable of handling the ball and pushing the pace.

“It’s always been the same system,” he said. “We just got more guys that like to play in transition and more ball handlers, so it makes it a little easier.”

The center also praised second-year guard VJ Edgecombe, who has reportedly taken on a vocal leadership role during training camp.

“VJ has been great,” Embiid said. “He’s around a lot of great players, great people to learn from. He’s been great, doing a great job leading whether it’s by example or with his voice.”

Embiid also addressed his chemistry with James, with whom he played during the 2024 Olympics. However, he said their existing connection was not necessarily required for them to fit together.

“The Olympics was great,” Embiid said. “But whether we have played together or not, I don’t think it was going to matter.”

The reason, according to Embiid, is the basketball intelligence of the players around him.

“When you put two players, a bunch of players together that have a high basketball IQ, it’s going to be easy to figure out,” he said. “Both want to pass, make the right play, so I think it just helps the whole thing.”

Embiid also pushed back on the idea that Philadelphia’s stars need to sacrifice their games to accommodate one another. Instead, he believes playing alongside elite talent should create better opportunities.

“Everybody keeps talking about sacrificing, but I don’t really see that,” Embiid said. “Sacrificing is just being the best version of yourself.”

He added that reduced touches could be offset by additional space on the floor.

“You might get less touches, but you might also get more space. So what are you going to do with that space?” Embiid said.

For Embiid, the goal is for everyone to become more efficient within their respective roles.

“The roles don’t even matter,” he said. “It’s just about making the right play for each other over and over and over and find a way to be, I think for me, more efficient than you’ve ever been.”

Embiid also provided a lighthearted assessment of his physical condition after blocking Edgecombe and throwing down a left-handed dunk during the scrimmage.

“I feel good,” Embiid said. “Yeah, I don’t know, that’s probably—I said I would never dunk again.”

He then joked about the dunk being the final one of his career.

“That’s probably the last dunk of my career,” Embiid said.

The 76ers are entering a new era after acquiring Brown for Paul George and signing James to a two-year minimum contract with a player option for the second season. Maxey averaged 28.3 points and 6.6 assists last season, while Embiid averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 38 appearances.

Philadelphia finished 45-37 last season before being swept by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The 76ers will open the regular season against New York on October 20.