Jaylen Brown Gives Sixers New Scoring Option Alongside Maxey

Philadelphia's revamped offense has gained another scoring option after Jaylen Brown produced 40 points in his first two preseason appearances, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia on October 10, 2026. His scoring versatility could help the 76ers reduce their reliance on Tyrese Maxey while managing the workloads of LeBron James and Joel Embiid during the 2026-27 NBA season.

Brown played 41 minutes across those games, shooting 59.1% from the field, 50% from three-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. His ability to create shots independently and operate as a ball-handler offers Philadelphia additional ways to generate offense.

In the preseason opener against the New York Knicks on October 5, Brown scored 22 points in the first half while James, Embiid and Maxey sat out. Philadelphia won 120-97, according to NJ.com, as New York limited its starters' playing time during the exhibition.

Brown's role changed when Philadelphia's projected starting lineup appeared together against the Brooklyn Nets. He benefited from ball movement involving James and Embiid, although his scoring opportunities became less frequent while Maxey was on the floor, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Philadelphia relied heavily on Maxey last season, when he averaged 38 minutes per game, the highest figure in the league. Embiid appeared in 38 regular-season games, while Paul George played 37, leaving Maxey with a substantial offensive burden, NBC Sports Philadelphia reported.

The team's isolation-heavy approach also created opportunities for another creator. Philadelphia attempted 9.3 shots per game from isolation possessions in 2025-26, the NBA's second-highest rate, but averaged only 0.92 points per isolation possession, ranking 15th in efficiency.

Brown recorded 1.01 points per isolation possession with Boston in 2025-26, placing him in the 77th percentile, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. He also shot 45.9% on 6.4 attempts per game from midrange, defined in the report as shots taken from 10 to 19 feet.

His production in pick-and-roll situations could provide another solution. Brown generated 0.93 points per possession as a ball-handler on 6.4 such possessions per game last season, placing him in the 70th percentile, while Maxey averaged 0.92 points per possession in those situations.

Brown's physical profile gives Philadelphia another way to attack defensive switches. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 223 pounds, he can use his strength against smaller guards and his quickness to create jump shots against larger defenders, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Managing the veteran stars' availability remains another consideration. RotoWire reported on October 10 that James would sit out a preseason game against Boston as Philadelphia rested several projected starters, including Embiid and Brown, with the regular-season opener against the Knicks scheduled for Tuesday, October 20.

Philadelphia opened its preseason without James, Embiid and Maxey, according to ESPN's October 5 report. James joined the 76ers as a free agent during the summer after spending the previous eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, adding a veteran presence to a roster built around multiple established scorers.