“It’s Trouble”: Ex-76ers Star Reacts to Viral Workout Video of LeBron James & Jaylen Brown
Ubong Richard
Aug 26, 2026, 9:01 AM CUT
Back in 2019, Jimmy Butler joined a Sixers team that already had Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, and Philadelphia has been chasing that kind of star-powered roster ever since, without ever quite getting it right. But this week, a different trio caught the league’s attention: LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey put out an offseason workout video together, and the reaction around the league suggests this one might actually have some real legs to it
Trainer Chris Johnson posted 81 seconds of footage showing James, Brown and Maxey running drills together. Former 76ers player Pat Beverley watched the same footage everyone else reacted to, and didn’t mince words on Instagram
“It’s trouble, man. Belt. Philadelphia belt. They look so nice.”
James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia this offseason, a massive pay cut from the $53 million he was making with the Lakers. But the money clearly wasn’t the priority. He took that cut specifically to chase a championship with this group
Brown, meanwhile, arrivedigree with him. He’s walking into a roster that already has Embiid and Maxey, both All-Stars, so the pieces are very much in place
Why the Belt Comment Actually Lands
Beverley’s “belt” statement carried real weight, given who’s now sharing a locker room. Brown is an NBA champion and Finals MVP. James has four championships and is chasing a fifth in what he has described as genuinely his final chapter
Embiid is the franchise’s former MVP. He is still searching for his signature playoff run. Maxey has become the face of the franchise over the past two seasons while Embiid battled injuries
Put together, it’s the kind of top-heavy star power that hasn’t existed in Philadelphia since the Butler experiment. Except that this version arrives with more accumulated accomplishments and, based on the workout footage, actual chemistry being built before training camp even opens on Sept. 29
The changes don’t stop at the headline names, either. Philadelphia also added Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Labaron Philon Jr. this offseason, giving head coach Nick Nurse, a championship-level coach, a genuinely deep roster to work with
One notable absence from the workout video, though, was Embiid. Reports suggest he’s been working his way back to full fitness after a late-season appendicitis surgery that limited him during Philadelphia’s playoff series against Boston
Maxey has already publicly urged the group to check any egos at the door as they build toward the season. With the Sixers opening the year against the champion Knicks on Oct. 20, informal sessions like this one are buying the new-look roster something training camp alone can’t fully provide: time
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Ubong Archibong is an NBA writer at BasketballNews, bringing over two years of experience in basketball coverage. Having previously worked with BasketballNews, Sportskeeda and FirstSportz, he has developed a strong foundation in delivering timely and engaging content around the league. His coverage focuses on game analysis, player performances, and evolving narratives across the National Basketball Association. Blending statistical insight with storytelling, Ubong aims to go beyond the immediate headline by placing performances and moments within a broader context, helping readers better understand the dynamics shaping the game. His work prioritizes clarity, accessibility, and a fan-first approach that connects audiences to both the action and the personalities behind it. Before joining BasketballNews, Ubong covered the NBA and WNBA across multiple platforms, building experience in fast-paced reporting and deadline-driven publishing. His background in content writing has strengthened his ability to balance speed with accuracy, ensuring consistent and reliable coverage for a global audience.
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